The Marion County Record, a small-town newspaper in Kansas, claims to have been investigating allegations of misconduct against the local police chief just months before the newsroom raid. The raid, conducted by the Marion, Kansas police department, resulted in the confiscation of computers, cell phones, and other reporting materials from the newspaper's office as well as a journalist's home. The publisher and co-owner of the newspaper, Eric Meyer, believes that the stress from the raid contributed to the death of his 98-year-old mother, who passed away the day after the raid. The incident has sparked outrage among journalists and advocates for freedom of speech, with major news outlets and organizations condemning the raid. The Kansas Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists called the raid "blatantly illegal" and accused law enforcement officials of violating established federal law protecting journalists and news organizations from searches and seizures of materials. The actions of the Magistrate Court of Marion County, which issued the warrant for the raid, are also being questioned. Critics argue that the raid is a dangerous affront to press freedom and the public's right to know.