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98-Year-Old Dies After Controversial Newspaper Raid
22 Jun
Summary
- A 98-year-old woman died following a police raid on a Kansas newspaper.
- The raid tested constitutional protections and led to a documentary.
- The police chief's actions resulted in his job loss and local controversy.
A 98-year-old woman's death followed a controversial police raid on the Marion County Record newspaper in Marion, Kansas, in August 2023. This incident, which tested First and Fourth Amendment protections, is documented in "Seized," a film that premiered at Sundance and screened at the Bentonville Film Festival. The raid, led by then-Police Chief Gideon Cody, targeted the newspaper office and the home of publisher Eric Meyer and his elderly mother, Joan Meyer.
Filmmaker Sharon Liese, based near Marion, began documenting the story after hearing of the raid. The documentary delves into the complex relationships and long-standing community tensions that preceded the event. The dispute reportedly stemmed from a complaint by local business owner Kari Newell regarding the alleged illegal acquisition of her driving record by the newspaper.
Chief Cody's subsequent actions led to his termination. Tragically, Joan Meyer, the newspaper's co-owner, died the day after the upsetting intrusion into her home. "Seized" has garnered awards, including the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Film at the Florida Film Festival, and has been acquired by HBO, with discussions underway for a potential fictionalized adaptation.
