Global Courant 2023-05-22 21:27:20
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A judge entered a not guilty plea Monday for a man charged with the stabbings of four University of Idaho students, paving the way for a trial that could see him face the death penalty.
The murders of November 13, 2022 stunned the rural community of Moscow, Idaho, and prompted many students to leave campus early and switch to distance learning for the rest of the semester.
Bryan Kohberger, 28, was arrested late last year and charged with burglary and four counts of first-degree murder in connection with the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus.
Kohberger refused to enter pleas in Latah County District Court, prompting the judge to enter them on his behalf.
The judge set the trial date for October 2, although it could be postponed.
He was a graduate student studying criminology at nearby Washington State University at the time, but prosecutors have not released information about how he singled out the victims or if he has met any of them before.
Police released few details about the investigation until Kohberger was arrested early December 30, 2022, at his parents’ home in eastern Pennsylvania. Court documents detail how police pieced together DNA evidence, cell phone records and surveillance videos that they believe link Kohberger to the murders. .
Investigators said traces of DNA found on a knife sheath in the home where the students were murdered match Kohberger, and that a cell phone owned by Kohberger was near the victims’ home dozens of times prior to the murders. A white sedan reportedly matching Kohberger’s was caught on surveillance footage repeatedly driving past the rental home around the time of the murders.
Kernodle, Chapin, Mogen, and Goncalves were friends and members of the university’s Greek system, and the three women lived together in the rented house across campus. Chapin – Kernodle’s friend – was visiting there the night of the attack.
Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson now has 60 days to let the court know whether he will seek the death penalty in this case.
