The co-proprietor of a small newspaper in Kansas, whose offices and staff were subjected to a search by local law enforcement officers as part of a leak investigation, has passed away due to overwhelming stress, as reported by the publication.
Joan Meyer, aged 98, tragically collapsed on a Saturday afternoon and subsequently passed away at her residence, just one day after tearfully witnessing officers arrive at her home armed with a search warrant. They confiscated her computer and internet router, actions that were witnessed by the Marion County Record, a newspaper she co-owned. In addition to seizing her possessions, the officers also documented her son’s bank statements. Eric Meyer is the publisher of the Record. The chaotic state in which her house was left, coupled with the distressing incident, rendered Meyer incapable of eating or sleeping, her newspaper revealed.
The search conducted by the authorities sparked strong condemnation from prominent US media organizations. Over 30 major outlets, including Reuters, the Associated Press, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, collectively penned an open letter to the police, expressing concerns that there seemed to be no valid justification for the extensive and invasive nature of the search.
Described as being “in good health for her age” by the weekly newspaper, Joan Meyer’s sudden passing has been attributed to the police’s decision to conduct raids on the offices of the Marion Record, as well as the homes of its reporters and publishers, a move deemed not only unlawful but also held culpable for Meyer’s untimely demise.
As recounted by the Record, the newspaper’s ordeal began when a confidential source leaked evidence of a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell, being convicted of drunk driving yet continuing to drive without a valid license. While the newspaper refrained from publishing any related information due to suspicions that the source might have ulterior motives stemming from Newell’s divorce, the incident took a turn when police informed Newell of the leaked information. This prompted Newell to accuse the newspaper of illegally obtaining and circulating sensitive documents during a city council meeting.
According to reports from the Kansas Reflector, Newell had indeed admitted to the charges of drunk driving and driving with a suspended license.
