David Kernell, Germantown High graduate who hacked Sarah Palin's email, dies

David Kernell, the Germantown High graduate who guessed his way into Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s personal email account in 2008, died last week in California. He was 30.

Kernell, son of Shelby County Schools board member and former Democratic state representative Mike Kernell, died of complications related to progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) late Friday or early Saturday, his family confirmed in a statement Thursday.

In a statement posted Friday on Facebook, Palin extended her "heartfelt condolences" to the family.

"I can not fathom losing a child, at any age, and can only imagine the sorrow," she wrote. "I am so sorry for their loss. As the Kernell family said, the 2008 incident does not define David. He went on to do good for his family and community. I would ask the public to let David’s good memory supersede anything else. My family and I pray that David's family is enveloped in peace, knowing God has their son, awaiting a reunion someday."

Read more: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/08/david-kernell-germantown-high-graduate-who-hacked-sarah-palins-email-dies/319580002/