The Court Case

 

How They Came to Suspect Kohnberger

Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of the quadruple homicide in Idaho, has a trial date set for October 2, 2023. There is a bit of evidence that led investigators to believe Kohnberger was responsible for the murders. 

On December 2nd police made their first breakthrough, and announced they were looking for an owner of a white Hyundai Elantra. The car (whose make and model is the same as Kohnberger's vehicle) was seen close to the crime scene in the early morning of the day of the murders. 

On December 15th, Kohngerber and his father were driving cross country to go home for the holidays. That day the pair was pulled over twice by Indiana police, first by a county and then by a state officer, it was minutes in between the two traffic stops. In my personal opinion, these traffic stops didn't give the court any evidence against Kohnbeger and were unnecessary. 

Kohberger was arrested on December 30th at his parent's home in Pennsylvania, and at the time of the arrest, police did not give details on how they came to the charges and arrest. That same day investigators had linked Kohberger's DNA to DNA found on the crime scene, and investigators confirmed it was Kohberger's vehicle seen on surveillance near the off-campus house. 

In the Court Room

The day after Kohberg's arrest, December 31, he was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and a burglary. 

He first appeared in Latah County court on January 5th where he was told his charges, lost his right to bail, and faced the grieving families of the victims. Konberger returned to court on January 12th waiving his right to a speedy trial and his preliminary hearing was set for June 26th.

The Evidence Against Him

On January 19th police obtained a search warrant to search Kohbereger's apartment, where investigators were approved to confiscate items with “blood, or other bodily fluid or materials and items with blood.” Investigators confiscated nine items from his apartment, including his computer, disposable gloves, and a hair strand. 

On May 5th these items were tested for the presence of blood, where two out of nine of the items tested came back positive. The blood was found on a mattress cover and pillow, but it was not disclosed who the blood belonged to. 

Grand Jury Decision 

On May 16th a grand jury formally charged Kohberger on his charges of murder and burglary. The jury believed that he “did wilfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and with malice aforethought, kill and murder." 

I agree with the jury's decision, especially with the murder weapon being a knife and each victim having multiple stab wounds. The grand jury found enough evidence against Kohberger for his case to proceed to trial.

Kohbergers Plea/What Prosecutors Seek

On May 22nd stood silent when asked how he pleaded to his charges. This left Latch County District Court, Judge John Judge, to set Kohberger's plea to not guilty and set a trial date for October 2nd, 2023.

Although Kohberger was silent in his plea and put down not guilty for his charges, Bill Thompson is seeking the death penalty. The prosecutor at Latch County, as well as myself, believe that the extent of the murder is so extreme and inconsiderate of human life, that maximum punishment should be sought.