‘They Wanted Me Dead’: NJ School Board Member Says Vile Texts Upended Her Family — Protective Order Extended

Danielle Bellomo, a Marlboro Township school board member and mother of three, says a string of threatening and obscene text messages — including one that read, "She can’t die soon enough" — has dramatically disrupted her family’s life and prompted a judge to extend a temporary protective order.

What happened

A Monmouth County judge read aloud a series of text messages attributed to Mitesh Gandhi, the husband of another local board member, and kept a temporary protective order in place through January, when a full hearing is scheduled. Screenshots reviewed by reporters include a group chat labeled "This B---- Needs to Die" and messages allegedly calling Bellomo "a lying c---" and saying, "Mission is to just let her die by herself lol."

“Nipplegate” and fallout

Another exchange, widely shared online and nicknamed "Nipplegate," appears to show former board candidate Scott Semaya typing a lewd comment about Bellomo during a public meeting. The revelations prompted widespread condemnation in the community and led two candidates involved in the chat to withdraw from the school board race.

Criminal and civil responses

Bellomo says the Marlboro Police Department forwarded the matter to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, but prosecutors declined to file criminal charges despite a police recommendation. At the civil level, the judge allowed Gandhi’s protective order to remain in place after finding a continuing risk to Bellomo.

Local leaders and safety concerns

Bellomo criticized district leadership for not enforcing policies she says should have prevented threatening individuals from being on school property. She named Superintendent Dr. Michael Ballone and board president Brian Cohen as officials who did not act to her satisfaction. The superintendent responded that the district takes safety seriously, has worked with law enforcement, and has strengthened internal safety protocols, though some details were not disclosed publicly.

Personal toll

Bellomo describes sweeping effects on her household: her nearly-teen son worries someone will come to their home, her 8-year-old cries at the thought of a board meeting, and her family limits public appearances and school events. She says dozens of women have told her the incident has discouraged them from pursuing local public service.

Bellomo’s response and broader message

Despite the threats and the emotional toll, Bellomo says she intends to remain on the board to continue advocating for parental rights, curriculum transparency, local control and age-appropriate curriculum. She urges that political disagreement never escalate into calls for violence and hopes the district will fully implement safety policies designed to protect board members and families.

Names mentioned: Danielle Bellomo; Mitesh Gandhi; Scott Semaya; Dr. Michael Ballone; Brian Cohen; board members Annette Siewert and Valentina Mendez.