Defense attorneys for Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger hope bombshell new evidence might exonerate him from charges of stabbing four college students to death.
Kohberger, 30, is accused of murdering Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle at their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022.
But his attorneys have claimed police found blood at the crime scene from two still-unidentified males, the Idaho Statesman reported.
Bombshell new DNA evidence could see Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger, 30, walk free as he faces a potential death penalty if convicted of stabbing four college students to death. APOne unknown individual’s blood DNA was discovered on a handrail inside the home, which was demolished in December 2023, Kohberger’s lead defense attorney told the court last month.
Kohberger’s lawyers claim another man’s DNA was found outside the home on a glove.
The stunning revelations could offer a hint as to the criminology student’s possible defense strategy during his upcoming August trial.
Prosecutors have not disputed the claims, meaning that the evidence is likely to feature prominently in Kohberger’s defense.
But at the January hearing, Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler pushed back on the defense, citing a leather knife sheath found in the bed of one of the four victims with DNA that matched Kohberger’s.
Kohberger is accused of murdering Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle at their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022.
“How does that, even if disclosed, preclude a finding of probable cause when there’s a DNA match between the DNA on the sheath and Mr. Kohberger?” Hippler asked defense attorney Anne Taylor.
“Isn’t that probable cause every day and twice on Sunday?”
But Taylor argued that probable cause shouldn’t be considered in a vacuum.
Here’s the latest coverage on the brutal killings of four college friends:
- Why Bryan Kohberger’s guilty plea means he may get the last laugh — and torment his victims further
- Byran Kohberger’s former criminology professor fears her serial-killer courses inspired him
- Prosecutors offered Bryan Kohberger a plea deal despite a mountain of damning evidence — here’s what they had
- Deluded Bryan Kohberger fans known as ‘probergers’ insist he’s innocent – despite guilty plea deal: ‘Reeks of a coverup’
- Families of slaughtered Idaho students vow to fight Bryan Kohberger plea deal: ‘Idaho has failed’
According to the Idaho Statesman, Kohberger’s attorneys said the police found blood at the crime scene from two still-unidentified males. Kai Eiselein“If that’s the only thing she’s told, I can see why she’d find probable cause,” Taylor said of the magistrate judge.
“It’s these other things that are withheld that create a context around it. Do we want to have one thing with no context around it when there’s this other context that really matters?”
If found guilty of the four murders, Kohberger faces the possibility of the death penalty.
The former graduate student at Washington State University faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
A Moscow grand jury unanimously found probable cause and indicted Kohberger on all five felony charges.
In May 2023, a Moscow judge entered a not-guilty plea on Kohberger’s behalf after he refused to speak at his arraignment.
His trial has been moved to Boise and is scheduled to begin in August.
