Larry Conners is an FBI veteran and founding SPK member who becomes Near’s liaison to the Japanese Task Force at the start of the Near-Mello arc. Operating under the alias “John McEnroe,” he talks his way past a hostile, suspicious Soichiro Yagami and helps establish the tenuous alliance between the SPK and the Task Force — and survives Mello’s mass execution of the SPK, one of only a handful who does.
Composed, diplomatic, and unshaken even when physically confronted — when Soichiro accuses the FBI of being behind Takimura’s kidnapping, Conners de-escalates through calm logic rather than authority. He genuinely prioritizes the hostage’s life over the mission’s success, and treats the Japanese Task Force as a partner rather than a subordinate, in contrast to some of his more arrogant SPK colleagues.
Conners arrives in Japan under the alias “John McEnroe” to request the Task Force hand its Death Note over to American custody, and is immediately confronted by a furious Soichiro over Director Takimura’s kidnapping. He talks Soichiro down, convinces him the FBI wasn’t responsible, and offers the SPK’s resources to help — establishing a working alliance. After the Sayu Yagami exchange in the American desert, Conners personally recovers the Yagami family by helicopter and brings them to a secure SPK facility. Shortly after, Mello executes most of the SPK using the stolen Death Note; Conners is one of the few who survives, though he doesn’t reappear in the active investigation afterward.
vs. Soichiro Yagami (Ch. 60–61)
A furious Soichiro physically confronts Conners, believing the FBI is behind Takimura’s kidnapping. Conners talks him down and secures a working alliance between the SPK and the Task Force — giving the US a real foothold in the Japanese investigation.
Major: Ch. 60, 61.
Minor: Ch. 63, 65.
Mentioned only: Ch. 62, 66.
Near
His superior, whose orders he follows precisely, including the Yagami family’s recovery.
Anthony Rester
An SPK colleague he works closely with during the Takimura negotiations.
Soichiro Yagami
An initial adversary who becomes an uneasy ally once Conners proves his intentions.
Mello
The adversary whose attack on the SPK kills most of his team.
“In order to solve the Kira case, we want you to hand over the notebook to America.” — Chapter 60
“Mr. Yagami… I understand the situation now. What’s most important is Director Takimura’s life. But you can’t just hand over the notebook to these criminals. Allow us to assist you.” — Chapter 61
- One of only four SPK members confirmed to survive Mello’s notebook attack, alongside Near, Anthony Rester, and Halle Lidner.
- The first American agent to meet the Japanese Task Force face-to-face after L’s death.
🇯🇵 Japanese Voice Actors
Koyanagi, Motoi
🇯🇵 Japanese
🇺🇸 English Voice Actors
Cole, Ted
🇺🇸 English