The judge oversees Bryan Kohberger's upcoming four-person murder trial said he wanted to identify people who might have violated the gag order by leaking the information in the investigation to news agencies or anyone else directly involved in the case.

Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler ordered prosecutors and defense attorneys to list all persons, including employees, law enforcement and defense counsel, who may already have access to unreported information about Kohberger's internet search history and other details, which aired on NBC's May 9 "Dateline."

The judge said he would be willing to appoint a special prosecutor to track the leak, which is likely to violate the gag order that has been positioned since 2023.

Kohberger, 30, is a former graduate student in criminal justice at nearby Washington State University, charged In the stabbing of University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. Four are Found dead On November 13, 2022, in a rental residence near campus in Moscow, Idaho.

On his behalf, a request for innocence was filed, and the trial is expected to begin in August.

Prosecutors said they intend to seek death penalty if Koberg is convicted.

Shippler wrote in court documents that people associated with law enforcement or prosecution panels appeared to have violated the court's gag order. The leak could make it more difficult for a fair jury to bring a case that has been long and has been complicated by the courts and to make taxpayers pay more, Shippler wrote.

"It is important that such violations can thwart the ability to ensure both parties have a fair trial," he wrote. "The court therefore believes that it is necessary to try to find out the source of this leak has been identified and taken into account."

Shippler also ordered all persons working directly or indirectly in case work to retain all records of communication with journalists or others outside law enforcement regarding Kohberger or investigations into the killing.

In the closed section of Wednesday's pre-trial hearing, the hippies appear to have discussed the matter with prosecutors and defense attorneys. But he also mentioned the "data line" plot and possible interjection violations during the open portion of the hearing - at one point noted that after the airing day, he decided to provide other alternative jurors for the trial. The digital data and files obtained by "Dateline" tracked Kohberger's actions before and after four students were killed and his browsing history.

Later, Hippler told the lawyers that he wanted them to make a formal request to investigate the matter.

last week, Shippler rule Even if they can be asked to testify, Kohberger's immediate family will be allowed to attend the upcoming trial.

Shippler had previously ruled that family members of the victim could attend the trial. Steve Goncalves' daughter was killed and he attended a hearing with his wife in early April, where lawyers debated what could be proposed during the Kohberger trial.

Steve Goncalves Tell "48 hours" Last year, “there was evidence that she was awake and tried to get out of this situation,” “she was trapped in the way the bed was set up.”