In an unusual decision on a mass shooter's diaries, a judge has ruled that they will not be released because the copyright is owned by the victims' families.
The ruling concerns the writings of shooter Audrey Hale, also known as Aiden Hale, who was fatally shot by police after killing three 9-year-old students and three adults last year at the Covenant School for Children in Nashville. Hale had been a former student at the school.
In an effort to keep the writings out of the media's hands, Hale's parents transferred ownership of the copyright to the victims' families.
Nashville Chancery Court Judge I'Ashea Myles agreed in a ruling late Thursday with the families who had argued that they alone have the right to determine what is done with the material. The ruling was an exception to Tennessee's copyright law.
Several groups had filed public records requests for documents seized by Metro Nashville Police in the case.
One theory about the killings was that they may have been hate crimes against Christians because Hale identified as a male but was "assigned female at birth," according to police. Hale's writings could confirm or disprove the theory.
The families argued that releasing the writings could create a media frenzy exposing the families and other victims of the attack to additional trauma, and could inspire "copycat" crimes with the notoriety Hale may have sought, The Tennessean reported. Myles wrote that he was "mindful of the impact on the parties involved."
In a statement released through their attorney, the family of adult murder victim Cindy Peak said that the time since her death has "been difficult. But today brings a measure of relief in our family. Denying the shooter some of the notoriety she sought by releasing her vile and unfiltered thoughts on the world is a result everyone should be thankful for," the statement added.
Dr. Erin Kinney, the mother of 9-year-old victim Will Kinney, said in a statement: "This opinion is an important first step to making sure the killer can't hurt our babies anymore."
The shooter left behind at least 20 journals, a suicide note and a memoir, according to court filings.
