Judge says gag order 'likely' violated in Bryan Kohberger's Idaho murder case
Jury selection for Bryan Kohberger trial begins July 30
After more than two years of hearings and motions after motions, the trial for Bryan Kohberger is expected to start this summer.
An Idaho judge said on Wednesday it's "likely" someone associated with law enforcement or the prosecution violated a gag order after "sensitive information" was aired during a TV episode about the Bryan Kohberger case in May.
On May 9, a TV episode about Bryan Kohberger case aired which featured new cell phone records, search records, surveillance video and more. Kohberger is accused of killing Xana Kernodle, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
Bryan Kohberger, accused of murder, arrives for a hearing on cameras in the courtroom in Latah County District Court on September 13, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho. (Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images)
New information shared during the "Dateline" episode included surveillance video from a nearby house showing a car similar to Bryan Kohberger's that was in the area of the King Road house several times just before the four students were killed. The episode also claimed that FBI cellphone tower data showed that Kohberger's cellphone pinged nearly a dozen times to a tower that provides coverage to an area within 100 feet of 1122 King Road, where the four University of Idaho students were killed.
In a Thursday afternoon order, Judge Steven Hippler said the court's gag order was "likely" violated by someone, who at one point, was associated with law enforcement or the prosecution team.
Hippler ordered anyone who worked with law enforcement and prosecutors on this case to retain all communications and data relating to the murder investigation.
The judge also ordered prosecutors to submit a list, on camera, of all individuals within law enforcement and the prosecuting agencies that have access to the information shared during the episode, giving them a seven-day deadline.
Fox News Digital reached out to NBC for comment.
This is a developing story.
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