Internet blames 'ridiculous' leaks as Idaho judge extends gag order to Bryan Kohberger's victims’ families
This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently
MOSCOW, IDAHO: Latah County Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall issued a nondissemination order, commonly known as a gag order, in the quadruple murder case of the University of Idaho students on Thursday, January 19. The Bryan Kohberger case is subject to a gag order that prohibits attorneys representing "any interested party in the case," such as witnesses, victims, or victims' families, from discussing it in public. The new gag order has now prohibited the families of the victims from disclosing any details about the case.
The Idaho suspect, 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger, has been accused of fatally stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, in their off-campus three-story rented home on November 13, 2022. Kohberger was arrested in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, on December 30. The suspect is currently charged with four counts of first-degree murder and felony burglary. Bryan is being held in the Latah County Jail awaiting his next pretrial hearing.
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What is the amended gag order?
The newly issued gag order in regard to the murder case against Bryan Kohberger prohibits "any interested party in the case" from commenting on, including evidence, opinions on “the merits of the case,” and any information likely to be considered inadmissible in court, according to Daily Beast.
The expanded nondissemination order comes after an unsealed search warrant affidavit in the case was made public which revealed a variety of strange items, including a reddish-brown stained pillowcase and a black glove, recovered from the PhD criminology student’s apartment.
What was the previous gag order?
The new ruling is an expanded version of the earlier issued nondissemination order. “On January 3, 2023, Latah County Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall issued a nondissemination order in regard to the murder case against Bryan C Kohberger. The order prohibits any communication by investigators, law enforcement personnel, attorneys, and agents of the prosecuting attorney or defense attorney concerning this case,” MEAWW previously reported.
The directive from the judge also bans the officials from sharing “evidence in the case, a potential confession, the possibility of a plea deal, opinions regarding the merits of the case or the defense, and the ‘character, credibility or criminal record of a party.’”
'It's shady af'
Internet users were quick to speculate why the sudden expansion of gag orders. One user wrote on Reddit, "Given that BK’s lawyer, family and well, HIM, have been silent this entire time while the other side has been in the spotlight of media throwing out allegations — I’m going to go out on a limb and say this was put into place so that BK can have a fair trial." Another chimed, "Yea I agree … I wonder what specifically made this judge react..:)" Third commented, "It's adding Goncalveals lawyer because of all the recent rumor spreads by them." Another exasperated follower of the Idaho murder case said, "It's about time. These "leaks" are getting ridiculous."
Another comment read, "I think that since the official investigation of this crime is ongoing (into “phase 2” as Chief Frye said), there is still a possibility that others may be involved in some way. When an “investigator-attorney” for one of the families starts giving information to media outlets that contradicts what the official investigation has found (or needs to keep private for reasons related to the case or any future arrests), it actually undermines everything they’re doing, as well as the work they’ve already done. It’s also important to remember the families aren’t getting any more information about the official investigation than we are. Neither are their attorneys or investigators," the web sleuth continued, "I have serious doubts about the information that’s been put out by People magazine and subsequently spread across all the media platforms. These things are being put forth as established facts (“because it’s People”), but presented without named sources or actual proof, no differently than if they were coming from the National Enquirer. The so-called “investigator” may be no more skilled than you or I, and maybe less so, for all we know. It does have some impact on a fair trial, but the goal here seems more about impacting the court of public opinion, by reinforcing the suspect’s guilt, especially by having it come from a “trusted source” or “legacy media”. It’s shady af, IMO."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online