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Stupidity: Lucas was called to the Principal's office a few times - including two times when a police detective was present - but his father was not contacted or asked to be present during questioning. The last time Lucas was in the office, he was told "You're expelled" and to go home. Even though Lucas drove a car to school, this is no reason to send him home without contacting his father (who was home at the time). Moreover, at least Mr. Butler was aware that Lucas' father was a criminal defense attorney. The school and the police detective should have handled the situation more professionally and done things "by the book" to avoid a lawsuit. [It is possible that Lucas was 18 and an adult, but even adults should have an attorney present.].

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Stupidity: While Mr. Butler was upstairs taking a shower, Lucas goes into his house, kills his wife, and takes the baby to the school (into Mr. Butler's classroom). Lucas wanted to take away Mr. Butler's family, so all he needed to do was also kill the baby at the house (or leave the dead baby outside on the porch for Mr. Butler to panic while searching). Lucas could have left the house without getting caught for committing a double murder; instead, he keeps the baby alive and assumes Mr. Butler will know he took the baby to his classroom. (01:17:53)

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Other mistake: The grade report that Lucas received in the mail indicated that they were "Final Grades" (Sixth Cycle). When Detective Speck asked Lucas why he thought Mr. Butler believed he "had it out for him", Lucas responded that he was trying to figure that out but it had been "ever since he gave me an 'F' on my midterm report card." Also, now that instructors in many/most (all?) schools submit grades on-line, students are able to view their grades on-line and hard copies of report cards may no longer be sent to students or parents via USPS. (00:51:15 - 01:03:38)

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Character mistake: In Principal Fremont's office, Lucas was asked why Mr. Butler thought that he "had it out for him in some way." Lucas responded that he was trying to figure that out himself and added Mr. Butler gave him an "F" even though all of his assignments were "A's." Principal Fremont replied, "Lucas, I don't want you to worry about your grade, okay? I will personally see to it that you get the "A" you deserve." This is not something a principal would say to a student, or say without first checking with his teacher to verify his grades and ascertain if there was a legitimate reason for issuing the "F." (01:03:50)

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Continuity mistake: Mr. Butler returned the paper Lucas wrote ("A Defense of Iago"), but it is back in his home office when he uses it to highlight words in it that were also in the paper he believed Lucas substituted in his application to fill a professorship position. (00:35:37)

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Continuity mistake: Mr. Butler parks his car close and parallel to his house. The night/morning Lucas slashed his tire, the car was parked away from and perpendicular to the house. It is worth mentioning that instead of Lucas going on the passenger side of the car where he would be hidden between the car and the hedges, he slashed the tire out in the open where he would have been more likely to be seen and caught. (00:27:15 - 00:28:30)

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Plot hole: Detective Speck essentially believed everything that Lucas told him about Mr. Butler's "love relationship" with Becca. The detective took the word of a student over that of a teacher and by using what could hardly be called an "investigation." This trusting of what a new high school student said, especially in combination with the teacher's denial, is extremely poor and inexcusable behavior on the part of a detective (who appeared to be old enough to be quite experienced and even retire... years ago). Believing the word of Lucas fed into the plot that Lucas was a sociopath - capable of fooling a seasoned detective and thereby remaining uncaught and not exposed for what he really was - and help build suspense.

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Trivia: Lucas told Mr. Butler that his mother died when he was very young. Assuming this is true, when his dad asked him, "Is there anything you want me to tell your mother for you?" his father was planning on committing suicide or believed Lucas was going to kill him. (The empty prescription bottles suggest suicide). (01:12:48)

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Other mistake: The courses on Lucas' grade report are not given numbers or specific titles that would distinguish them from other courses (and levels) within a department. They are listed in general categories: "American History" (a minor distinction), "Calculus", "Chemistry", "English", and "French." A cover page for one of Lucas' assignments shows he was enrolled in "English 301" - still no descriptive title, but at least discernible from "English 101" and "English 201." (00:23:00 - 00:51:54)

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Continuity mistake: Lucas received his mid-term grades in the mail BEFORE Mr. Butler actually entered his grade on the computer. Lucas got the mail and took his unopened grade report to his bedroom then the camera shifts to Mr. Butler contemplating what grade to fill in for Lucas. Mr. Butler made the entry (grade not shown) and closed his laptop. The camera returns to Lucas, who opens his mid-term grade report and sees the "F" from Mr. Butler. (00:51:21)

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