UPDATE
Feb 20, 2025 7:11 AM CST
An Idaho judge has denied defense lawyers their request to suppress key genetic evidence in the case of Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger, accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. Per the AP, Judge Steven Hippler wasn't moved on Wednesday by the arguments of Kohberger's legal team, which insisted the investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) process used to track down their client was unconstitutional. Hippler also said the assertion of Kohberger's attorneys that detectives lied or otherwise tried to keep information from a previous judge in an attempt to acquire search warrants was unfounded and didn't deserve a separate hearing, per the Idaho Statesman. Kohberger's trial is due to start this summer.
Feb 12, 2025 2:25 PM CST
Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with murdering four University of Idaho students, will go on trial later this year—and DNA from other people may be a key part of his defense case. At a hearing last month, the 30-year-old's lawyers revealed that police found blood DNA at the crime scene from two men who have still not been identified, the Idaho Statesman reports. The unknown DNA samples—found on a handrail and a glove located outside the home—had been cited in earlier court filings, but it had not been disclosed they came from blood. Kohberger's lawyers argue that investigators didn't tell the judge about the other samples when they sought an arrest warrant in December 2022; as such, they claim some evidence should be disqualified.
Kohberger's DNA, however, was found on a knife sheath in the bed of one of the victims, who were all stabbed to death. At last month's hearing, Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler, pushed back against the defense argument that the other DNA could have affected another judge's probable cause finding, the Statesman reports. "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?" he asked. "Isn't that probable cause every day and twice on Sunday?" He said that instead of supporting Kohberger's claims of innocence, the blood could point to the involvement of other suspects, or it could be from some earlier incident in the house.
- Kohberger's lawyers also argue that evidence should be thrown out because his rights were violated when Investigative Genetic Genealogy was used to identify suspects, the AP reports. "The court should suppress the IGG identification and everything that flows from that," defense attorney Anne Taylor told the judge last month. "There was no warrant for several phases of the search that led to the IGG work, and we think for every single one of those stages a warrant was required."
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- Kohberger's lawyers are seeking what's known as a Franks hearing to get evidence obtained through allegedly improper warrants thrown out, the Statesman reports. No ruling has been issued yet, but analysts believe the request is a long shot.
- Kohberger's trial is scheduled to begin in August. If he's found guilty of murdering Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty. Last week, lawmakers advanced a bill to make the firing squad Idaho's main method of execution, Fox News reports.
- Taylor claimed last month that her client had never been to the victims' home. She said the "ultimate question" for the jury will be: "What does a knife sheath at a scene mean?" The judge replied, "If you're killed with a knife, that probably means a lot."
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