The attorneys for Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the infamous Idaho murders, have dropped bombshell claims they believe could secure his release. The defense team alleges that blood from an unidentified man was found on a handrail inside the victims’ home, and another man’s DNA was discovered on a glove outside.
These startling revelations could give us a glimpse into Kohberger’s defense strategy ahead of his August 2025 trial, where he faces the possibility of the death penalty.
Latah County prosecutor Bill Thompson previously addressed the presence of DNA from unknown individuals, confirming that it wasn’t uploaded to the FBI’s database because it was “not eligible,” according to The Idaho Statesman. While these DNA samples were acknowledged in court filings last year, it was only recently revealed that at least two of them came from blood.
Kohberger’s attorney, Anne Taylor, criticized law enforcement in a recent hearing, arguing that they failed to disclose the unidentified blood when seeking a search warrant for Kohberger’s arrest in December 2022. Prosecutors didn’t dispute this claim. Taylor contends that this omission should disqualify some of the evidence gathered during the search. However, the judge ruled that there was still probable cause for the arrest, citing Kohberger’s DNA found on a knife sheath at the crime scene.
This move is part of Taylor’s broader effort to challenge the evidence against Kohberger in a Franks hearing, which questions the validity of probable cause and could potentially discredit the evidence gathered.
Kohberger, a criminology student, is accused of murdering University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle on November 13, 2022. The case has captivated the nation, with Kohberger’s DNA found on a Ka-bar knife sheath found at the scene, linking him to the murders through genetic genealogy.
Kohberger’s defense team has also argued that using public databases to identify him through his relatives without their consent violated his constitutional rights.
The case has been plagued by delays. Kohberger has not appeared in court for months, and his trial has been postponed multiple times. The 28-year-old is now set to face trial in August 2025, more than two years after the horrific killings. The lengthy process has left victim’s families frustrated, with Kaylee Goncalves’ mother, Krisi, expressing her anguish: “It’s gut-wrenching how slow everything has to go. Why does this have to be so drawn out?”
Kohberger’s original trial date was set for October 2023, but defense attorney Anne Taylor has sought multiple extensions. Victims’ families have been angered by the delays.
Additionally, Kohberger’s official alibi won’t be revealed until May 2024. When it is, it could add further tension. His defense claims he was “driving alone” on the night of the murders to “look at the moon and stars.”
The defense has also taken issue with cellphone data that prosecutors argue proves Kohberger’s route near the murder scene. A phone data analysis expert will likely be called in to dispute the prosecution’s claims.
Kohberger has maintained his innocence throughout. His arrest in December 2022 followed a month-long manhunt, as social media and internet sleuths became obsessed with his background. Investigators even uncovered old, embarrassing details about Kohberger’s life, from middle school bullying to awkward Tinder dates.
As the legal proceedings drag on, the families of the victims have made their frustration known. They’ve condemned the drawn-out legal process, with the mother of Kaylee Goncalves calling the delays “gut-wrenching.”
Meanwhile, the off-campus house where the four students were murdered was torn down in December 2023, against the wishes of the victims’ families. Though both prosecution and defense agreed to demolish it, the families argued it destroyed a crucial piece of evidence. Before the demolition, exclusive photos revealed blood seeping down the sides of the property, underscoring the grisly nature of the crime.
Kohberger’s legal team also filed a motion to dismiss the case, claiming he was indicted by a biased grand jury and that misconduct by the prosecution tainted the case. This motion was denied.
To add another layer of intrigue, it was revealed that Kohberger had been previously investigated in connection with a home invasion in Pullman, Washington, just 10 miles from the murder scene. He was never charged in that case.