Judge to consider if sheriff violated murder case gag order

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) – A northwestern Indiana judge will consider allegations Lake County’s sheriff violated a gag order imposed in the case of a man suspected of killing seven women.

The county’s online court system shows Judge Diane Boswell on Feb. 13 will consider a contempt of court order filed by Darren Vann’s attorneys against Sheriff John Buncich.

That docket also shows Buncich was ordered Wednesday to “return property and privileges” to Vann, who’s charged with strangling two women and suspected of killing five others.

The sheriff’s department and prosecutor’s office declined comment Thursday, citing the gag order.

The Munster Times reports Buncich said last week it would take a court order for him to give Vann a baseball-related book, reading and writing materials and other items Vann’s attorneys want provided to him.