The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) has declared that all possible investigative routes have been explored in their attempt to uncover the individual who leaked the manifesto of Covenant School shooter, Audrey Hale.
This was confirmed in a press release issued on Friday.
MNPD Chief, John Drake, affirmed that the investigation, which focused on identifying the person who leaked three pages of Hale's manifesto, has not implicated any current employees of the MNPD or any associated agency. "The investigation has not identified current MNPD employees, or employees of any partner agency, as engaging in the unauthorized release of the images," the press statement read. It was also noted that those who were temporarily reassigned during the investigation have since returned to their regular duties.
However, the authorities did point to a "former employee" and two detectives from the Specialized Investigations Division. The former employee, who remains unidentified, allegedly had possession of the images due to their official responsibilities but declined to participate in an interview with the department.
The press release further stated, "A number of individuals were interviewed, cooperatively, and electronic devices forensically examined, as part of the investigation. Attempts were made last month to interview a former MNPD detective who possessed the images as part of his official duties." The individual in question declined the interview and is no longer part of the law enforcement community. The department does not have the power to force former employees to provide statements or cooperate.
In November, conservative commentator Steven Crowder obtained three leaked pages penned by Hale, who murdered six individuals, including three nine-year-old students, in March. While Chief Drake denounced the "unauthorized release" of the pages and pledged to "identify the person responsible," he also verified their authenticity.
The MNPD's Office of Professional Accountability reportedly discovered "three cell phone photographs" taken immediately after Hale's journals were found in her vehicle. The two unnamed detectives allegedly photographed the manifesto as part of an intelligence-gathering operation, aiming to gain more insight into the shooter and ascertain if others were involved.
Chief Drake confirmed that the Metropolitan Director of Law, Wally Dietz, has been updated on the investigation's progress. The case file will now be forwarded to District Attorney Glenn Funk's office for review.
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