Patrick Freivald #
Introduction #
Patrick Freivald is a physics and robotics teacher at Naples Central School District, a public school district in upstate New York. In September 2025, he was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation after Facebook posts in which he mocked the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, drawing what Fox News described as swift backlash from parents and the community. Less than two weeks after the posts became public, the district announced that the staff member involved had resigned and that it considered the matter resolved. Freivald is also a self-published horror novelist and a three-time Bram Stoker Award nominee.
Background Information #
Freivald taught physics and robotics in the Naples Central School District. Outside the classroom, he promoted himself as a three-time Bram Stoker Awardânominated horror author whose novels include “Twice Shy,” about a zombie-infected teenage girl navigating high school, and “Murmur,” a dark fantasy about a violinist bound to a demon. He also ran Frog’s Point Honey, a business selling hot pepperâinfused honey and maple syrup. Fox News described him as “no stranger to controversy,” reporting that in August 2025 he had lashed out at critics online, calling them “MAGA f—wads” and boasting about his job security. “I have tenure and seniority in the strongest union in the strongest union state in the country and they only have to put up with me for seven more years,” he wrote at the time, adding, “No space for fascists. No breath. No room. Silence is compliance.”
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation #
Charlie Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University. In Facebook posts reviewed by Fox News Digital, Freivald wrote that Kirk was “interrupted by a bullet to the neck” and added, “Good riddance to bad garbage.” A longer post described Kirk as someone who said gun violence is “a price worth paying for his version of the 2nd Amendment” and stated that Kirk “spent his last coherent moments baselessly blaming transgender people for gun violence and arguing for stripping them of exactly those rights.” “The aspiring Goebbels was interrupted by a bullet to the neck which quickly cured him of HVLD*, and shortly thereafter he became a good Nazi**,” the post continued, before repeating, “Good riddance to bad garbage.” Footnotes clarified the wordplay as “*high-velocity lead deficiency” and “**Because the only good NaziâŠ.” Freivald followed with additional posts, writing, “No media has reported that Kirk took a dirt nap, but Cheeto Jesus has. Edit: Itâs now confirmed by many sources,” and shared a picture of himself wearing a shirt that said, “IS HE DEAD YET?”
Public Reaction and Consequences #
The district placed Freivald on administrative leave pending an investigation, and Fox News reported that the posts drew “swift backlash from parents and the community.” Superintendent Kevin Swartz condemned the posts in an email to families obtained by Fox News Digital, writing, “Like so many of you, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the terrible tragedy that transpired yesterday in Utah, where Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Last evening, the district became aware that an NCS staff member made multiple posts to a personal social media site referencing this tragedy.” He added, “Since that time, we have heard from many community members regarding concerns and outrage related to these posts. I want to be very direct in saying to you that all of your voices have been heard.” Swartz confirmed in the email that “a formal investigation is underway” and that the employee had been placed on leave pending the outcome. On the Sunday after the killing, protesters gathered outside Naples High School, incensed about the employeeâs comments. Naples was one of a number of area school districts where a staff memberâs social-media comments about Kirkâs death created controversy: Hilton said it addressed the issue with a staff member, Greece said an employee was facing “appropriate disciplinary action,” and a Le Roy teacher was placed on leave for remarks.
Current Status #
On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Superintendent Swartz announced the staff memberâs resignation in a message to the community posted on the district website. “I am writing to provide an update regarding the disruption to the Naples Central School District community over the past few weeks. As of today, the staff member in question has resigned from the school district, and we consider the matter resolved. This has been a difficult time for NCSD, and I hope we can now return our focus to all that is positive within our district,” Swartz wrote. He added: “⊠There will always be moments where our emotions run high as events unfold locally, regionally, or nationally. In those times, I encourage us all to pause before reacting and instead embrace reflection, respectful dialogue, and activities that bring us peace.” No criminal charges were reported in connection with the posts; the matter ended as an employment action with the documented resignation.
Impact on Their Career/Life #
The posts cost Freivald his teaching position: within days of the coverage he was on administrative leave, and within roughly two weeks he had resigned from the district, which declared the matter resolved. The outcome contrasted with the job security he had publicly claimed in August, when he wrote that tenure, seniority, and the union meant critics “only have to put up with me for seven more years.” Fox News noted that Freivald and the school district had not responded to its request for comment when the leave was reported. Coverage of the case tied his public identity as a Bram Stoker Awardânominated horror author and honey-business operator to the same news cycle as his removal from the classroom.