Joey Simpson

🚨 #BreakingNews: Blackford County, Indiana, Prosecutor Joelle Freiburger (R) has taken a highly unusual step to prevent any information from reaching the media and the public regarding the murder of 21-year-old Michael Norris during the early morning hours of Sunday, June 29, 2025. Freiburger filed a motion with the court on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, for a "gag order" in this case. Blackford County Circuit Court Judge Brian Bade signed the order "granting the State's motion prohibiting the parties, counsel, law enforcement officials, court personnel, Coroner, and family members from disseminating information or releasing any extrajudicial statements by means of public communication." Freiburger only took that step after we here at 'The Political Spotlight' issued Record Requests to the Blackford County Government, per the Indiana Open Door Laws, in an attempt to get the Sheriff's Department and/or the Prosecutor's Office to hand over certain documents (Probable Cause Affidavits and Charging Information for anyone arrested and/or charged in connection with this case). To be clear, many documents involving an investigation and criminal prosecution CAN BE WITHHELD... meaning they are exempt from record requests, until the investigation and trial are completed. That said, the Probable Cause Affidavits and Charging Information do not fall in that category! They are typically provided quickly to the media and anyone else who requests them. And even in the very few and far between times when those documents are sealed... it is generally only for a short time. After which, they are unsealed and made public. However, in this case, 'The Political Spotlight' issued Record Requests to the Blackford County Government back on July 14, 2025, for various records (some we knew would more than likely not be given over at this time, but others that were only loosely tied to the specific investigation into the murder.) Most of what was requested could have easily been provided without jeopardizing the criminal investigation or prosecution. That said, the Blackford County Sheriff seemed willing to help and provide the documents, but Prosecutor Freiburger appeared to be concerned and opposed the release of the records. According to information 'The Political Spotlight' received from sources within the Blackford County law enforcement community, her unwillingness to have records released aligns with people's concerns about this situation from the very start. It was only after 'The Political Spotlight' pushed for the Probable Cause Affidavits and Charging Information that Freiburger filed the motion for the gag order. Let's discuss gag orders for a moment... "Gag Orders" are EXTREMELY UNCOMMON in the State of Indiana! For example, in the larger counties just south of Blackford County... Delaware and Madison Counties... where bigger, more serious crimes occur more frequently. Looking back, in our memory, and after talking with sources within both the Delaware and Madison Counties Criminal Justice Systems, we are unaware of a time when a gag order has been requested or granted in a case... going back a long time! In fact, even across the state, the only times a gag order has been requested or granted in a criminal case were the recent "Delphi murders" and, before that, the early 90s prosecution of Mike Tyson in Marion County. Even searching "gag order" or "use of gag orders in Indiana" on Google will get results discussing the disfavor of appellate courts towards the use of gag orders. They are usually reserved for significant, high-profile cases. And of course, the case in Blackford County is NOT a "high-profile" case. So what is going on here? Well, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey will be looking at all of this and will be discussing it all tonight (Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 9 p.m.) on the 509th episode of 'The Political Spotlight', which you can tune into LIVE at 9 p.m., by clicking the following link: youtube.com/live/mFGqbZ8KoS4 . . . – at Royerton, IN