An Idaho judge has put a stop to the release of graphic photos gathered by investigators following the murders of four University of Idaho students by Brian Coberger in 2022.
Second District Judge Megan Marshall made the decision on Wednesday, citing that the circulation of these “incredibly unsettling” images could unintentionally violate the personal privacy of the victims’ families.
She instructed the city of Moscow to immediately obscure any depiction of the victims’ bodies and any blood present in those images.
Nonetheless, judges retain the authority to release other relevant photos, videos, and documents, considering the public’s interest in accessing the investigation records.
Coberger was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in July for the stabbings of Kayley Goncalves, Zana Carnordal, Madison Morgen, and Ethan Chapin at an off-campus rental house in Moscow.
The families of Morgen and Chapin requested the judge to keep certain crime scene images and videos private, expressing concerns that they are invasive and distressing.
This criminal case has garnered global attention, leading the Moscow police to receive numerous requests for the release of investigation records.
Generally, Idaho law permits the unsealing of investigation records once a criminal investigation concludes.
After Coberger’s sentencing, the city responded to public record requests by releasing some images and videos taken at the crime scene, after blurring out the bodies of the deceased students and the faces of other victims and witnesses who interacted with police outside the location.
Judge Marshall noted, “When looking at depictions of the deceased’s body, blood-soaked sheets, blood-splattering, etc., it is rare for the public to acquire these.” She has recognized that such images already cause “extreme emotional distress” for the victims’ families.
In her statement, Marshall remarked, “The facts remain. Murder investigations and criminal cases are closed.” She added, “Releasing these records has a small impact on those who continue to be confused by the facts or who are stuck in unfounded plots, but it continues to have a major impact on the loved ones of our ancestors.”
