Audrey Hale manifesto: Families of Nashville Christian school victims claim they own doc in fight over release

Nashville judge could rule on release of manifesto written by trans artist Audrey Hale, who killed six in Covenant Christian School shooting in March 2023.

When Hale died, her parents transferred her estate to her victims' families. The families have intervened in the public records lawsuit against the city and are arguing that the estate includes the killer's manifesto and that therefore they own the copyright. Michael Ruiz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to michael.ruiz@fox.com and on Twitter: @mikerreports

Through that line of reasoning, they are also asking the judge to block its public release.

"You can't just assume there is a copyright interest on any particular writing," argued Doug Pierce, an attorney for plaintiffs Clata Renee Brewer and the National Police Association. "The only way they could get copyright protection established is if they would have to show the documents in federal court — in other words, they gotta let the cat out of the bag."