Kal Snyder, known to the mafia and the FBI alike as “Jack Neylon,” becomes the syndicate’s actual Death Note user once they extort it from the Task Force — the man who makes the Shinigami Eye deal with Sidoh to give the mafia a supernatural edge over Near. Unknown to him, Light has already scripted his every move, using him to leak the mafia’s hideout location before killing him along with the rest of the organization.
A tall, lean, weathered Western man with long, straight, light-blonde hair past his shoulders and thin oval-framed glasses. Dresses in casual, semi-formal mafia style — patterned button-down shirts left partly open, paired with a light blazer.
A pragmatic, hardened criminal who relies on legal loopholes to stay out of prison. Initially skeptical and rational, he reacts with pure terror when first confronted by the Shinigami Sidoh — his composure clearly weaker than his peers’ when the supernatural becomes undeniable. Once he adapts, though, he becomes an efficient tool for the mafia, showing little hesitation about trading half his lifespan for the Shinigami Eyes to help the organization win.
After the mafia trades Sayu Yagami for the Task Force’s Death Note, Snyder is chosen to hold and use it under his cover identity, “Jack Neylon.” In October 2009, Misa Amane identifies him through her Shinigami Eyes via a computer screen, revealing his real name to Kira. Soon after, Sidoh tracks his stolen notebook to the mafia hideout, and Snyder — as the owner — becomes the only one who can see him at first. Under pressure from Mello, he makes the Shinigami Eye deal with Sidoh, trading half his remaining lifespan for the ability to read names and lifespans. What he doesn’t know is that Light has already written his name in a hidden Death Note fragment, scripting him to mail the hideout’s address to a specific location within 23 days. Once the task is done, Snyder dies of a heart attack at 11:59 PM on November 10, 2009, as part of Kira’s mass execution of the entire syndicate.
Shinigami Eyes
Can see any human’s real name and remaining lifespan on sight, even through a photo or screen.
Supernatural Ownership
As the notebook’s owner, can see and interact with Shinigami invisible to everyone else.
Criminal Tradecraft
Deep experience in weapons and drug distribution, and navigating the legal system to avoid conviction.
vs. Sidoh — First Contact (Ch. 70)
Sidoh startles the mafia trying to recover his notebook. Snyder, the only one who can see him, reacts with visceral horror — a stalemate that ends with the mafia using Sidoh as a tactical lookout instead.
vs. Kira — The Unseen Control (Ch. 69–72)
Light secretly controls Snyder’s actions over several weeks, forcing him to betray the mafia’s location before killing him — the decisive move that lets Light wipe out Mello’s base of operations.
Major: Ch. 69, 70.
Minor: Ch. 68, 71.
Mentioned only: Ch. 72, 73, 75.
Mello
The tactical leader who uses him as the mafia’s Death Note operator and forces him into the eye deal.
Dwight Gordon (Rod Ross)
His longtime boss of over two decades.
Sidoh
The Shinigami who haunts him, initially terrifying, later a reluctant working partner.
Light Yagami
His true executioner, who views him as a disposable means to reach Mello.
Misa Amane
The one who first unmasks his real identity using her own Shinigami Eyes.
“B-Boss… is this ugly-looking guy in the costume a new recruit or something?” — Chapter 70, on seeing Sidoh
“I can see it. Everybody’s name and lifespan!” — Chapter 70, after the eye deal
- The only mafia member able to see Sidoh, since he’d touched the notebook — his peers initially assumed he was hallucinating.
- His death used the notebook’s 23-day action-control window, one of the longest control periods shown in the series.
- His name is translated inconsistently as “Kal Snyder” and “Kal Snydar” across official publications.
🇯🇵 Japanese Voice Actors
Matsuyama, Takashi
🇯🇵 Japanese
🇺🇸 English Voice Actors
Cole, Ted
🇺🇸 English