The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy

A gag order is a legal restriction that prevents parties connected to a case from speaking publicly about it. This is typically to protect the integrity of the judicial process. In this case, Judge Megan Marshall issued one that prohibited investigators, attorneys, court staff, victims’ families’ lawyers, and witnesses from speaking. While the order is intended to prevent misinformation from contaminating the potential jury pool, its impact on the families was significant. It silenced Steve Goncalves, leading him to fear that more rumors and speculation would spread about Kaylee and Jack. The gag order underscores the book’s consideration of the collision of private grief, public tragedy, and control exerted by the legal system.

The term “incel” is short for “involuntary celibate” and refers to an online subculture of (mostly) men who blame women for their sexual frustration. Incels often articulate misogynistic anger rooted in the belief that women owe them sex. In the book, incel ideology plays a critical role in framing Kohberger’s mindset. This is particularly evident in Parts 3 and 4, where Kohberger begins adopting incel language like “Becky” and “Stacy” to categorize and demean women. The affiliation links Kohberger to Elliot Rodger, whose 2014 murders became a touchstone in incel communities and whose manifesto and video Kohberger studied.