Ex-girlfriend of Marysville-Pilchuck shooter wants private text messages sealed



SEATTLE -- The investigation into a deadly shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School is expected to be released to the public Tuesday, but will not include private messages sent by the shooter’s former girlfriend.

The lengthy report is expected to detail what led up to the Oct. 24, 2014, shooting inside the school’s cafeteria. Jaylen Fryberg, 15, shot and killed four classmates, seriously injured a fifth, and then took his own life.

While the release of the investigation has long been anticipated, Fryberg’s ex-girlfriend and her family claim they were notified only days ago that her private text messages and emails would also be made public as part of the probe.

With the report originally set to be released on Monday, attorneys for the 15-year-old girl and her family filed a temporary restraining order in Snohomish County Superior Court to prevent the release of her personal communications.

"I and my family, including my niece, are terrified that the release of any portion of my niece's private communications will subject my niece  – who is already seriously traumatized by the events of that day – to death threats and other threats,” the girl’s aunt wrote to the court.

"I and my family are also deeply concerned that the release on any portion of my niece's private communications will effectively force her to relive the events leading up to the tragedy, as well as the tragedy itself.”

The police chief for the Tulalip Tribe, which both Fryberg and the girl are members of, wrote that release on her personal communications would be used to “haunt her, hunt her, and crucify her in the court of public opinion."

While it is not clear what the messages contain, posts on Twitter leading up to the shooting seemed to suggest that Fryberg was having relationship issues at the time.

A court hearing is set for Thursday to determine whether the girl’s private messages will remain such. Portions of the report not in dispute will be released at noon Tuesday, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

An attorney representing the families of the victims said Monday that they hope the report will shed light on what happened.

“For the families, any more information will help them at least start processing this,” said Ann Deutscher, a personal injury attorney with Seattle-based Dore Deutscher Law Group.

Deutscher also accused the Marysville School District on Monday of withholding documents she requested via public disclosure. She said she was told that the documents, including the school’s policy on bullying, would take a year or more to produce.

“People and organizations that have no concerns about liability would be forthcoming with those polices, including their disciplinary policy and their bullying policy,” she said.

She said the families of those killed wants to know whether the school missed any warning signs or could have otherwise prevented the tragedy from happening.

In a statement, the Marysville School District disputed accusations that it has been uncooperative.

“The Marysville School District has received an extensive public records request from Ms. Deutscher,” the statement read. “We have provided the documents readily accessible, and have given her a time frame required to prepare additional records in response. We have met all legal requirements under the state Public Records Act. Ms. Deutscher has declined requests by our attorneys to clarify her broad request. We had no idea until today that her request has anything to do with her representation of these families or the Marysville-Pilchuck tragedy.”