Can the executor of a mass murderer’s estate assert a posthumous copyright claim over the murderer’s handwritten confession?
A Nashville judge will consider the issue today as part of a public records lawsuit against the city and police department seeking the release of Audrey Elizabeth Hale’s manifesto in connection with the Covenant Christian School massacre. .
When Hale died, her parents transferred her estate to the victim’s family. Her family has intervened in an archives lawsuit against the city, arguing that the estate includes the killer’s manifesto and therefore owns the copyright.
Through these arguments, they are asking a judge to block its release.
“We cannot simply assume that there is a copyright interest in a particular work,” argued Doug Pearce, an attorney for plaintiff Klata Renee Brewer and the National Police Association. “The only way to get copyright protection established is to file papers in federal court, which means you have to let the cat out of the bag.”
Judge orders FBI to hand over trans school shooter Audrey Hale’s manifesto
Audrey Hale, the transgender woman who murdered six people on March 27, 2023, walks through the halls of Covenant Presbyterian Church. (Nashville Metro Police Department)
Hale, a 28-year-old transgender artist identified by police as a man named Aiden, entered Christian Elementary School with a gun on the morning of March 27, 2023, and was seen wandering the hallways with a firearm before police responded. was caught on a surveillance camera. she killed her
The attack killed three people: Mike Hill (61), Cynthia Peek (61), Katherine Koonce (60), 9-year-old Harry Scruggs, Evelyn Diekhaus, and William Kinney. The lives of an adult and three children were taken.
Before the shooting, she sent a text message to a friend warning her that she was about to attempt suicide and that “you’re going to hear about me on the news when I die.”
Nashville authorities ‘aware’ of alleged leak of Christian school shooter’s manifesto
A text message exchange between Audrey Hale and her friend just before the Nashville school shooting. (Fox News)
Immediately after the shooting, Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said officers recovered a manifesto and a handwritten map from the gunman’s car.
Officials said they would make an announcement soon. A year later, city police and the FBI continue to deny public records requests, claiming they are exempt from releasing the manifesto because it could harm potential investigations. ing.
Even if a judge sided with the plaintiffs, the case would likely be appealed and the documents would not be released immediately.
“Every day, citizens are denied access,” Pearce said.
Nashville murderer Audrey Hale slept with a school shooting diary under her bed, court documents reveal
Police have released one of the three guns used by Nashville school shooter Audrey Hale during the attack on Covenant Christian School. (Nashville Police Department)
The lawsuits ask the court to force the government to release documents, pointing out that Hale was the only suspect and died at the scene when responding officers incapacitated her on the second floor of the school. I am asking you to do so.
“Obviously, there is no investigation pending,” Pearce told FOX News Digital. “It’s been 13 months and we’ve always said the only person involved was the shooter, who died at the scene.”
Audrey Hale police body camera released
In another federal lawsuit brought by the parent company of a local newspaper, a judge asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to allow the manifest to be reviewed by the court when it considers whether there is a legal argument to test the validity of the confidentiality policy. , ordered the manifest to be submitted under seal.
Audrey Hale was identified by police as the gunman who opened fire on Covenant School, killing six people. (Audrey Hale)
The manifesto is expected to reveal more about the killer’s motives and anger.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Several pages appear to be from documents leaked in November. However, the lawsuit seeks the entirety of Hale’s work.
Critics have questioned the government’s motives for continuing to delay the release.
