Bryan Kohberger—the man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students in November—was denied bail in his first court appearance Thursday, as he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty if he’s convicted.
Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, is escorted to an … [+] extradition hearing at the Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg, Pa., Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.
Associated PressKohberger did not enter a plea during his initial hearing Thursday, and Latah County Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall denied a request from Kohberger’s lawyer Anne Taylor to set bail in the case.
Earlier Thursday, the state of Idaho unsealed an affidavit by police officer Brett Payne breaking down the evidence leading to his arrest, which revealed a tan leather knife sheath was discovered at the scene of the crime, from which a single source of male DNA was uncovered, as well as a shoe print.
Police obtained Kohberger’s DNA from trash at his parent’s house in Pennsylvania on December 27, three days before he was arrested, which matched the profile left on the knife sheath.
One of the surviving roommates in the home where the stabbing deaths took place, identified as D.M., heard a disturbance in the house at the time of the murders, and saw a man with “bushy eyebrows” wearing “black clothing and a mask that covered the person’s mouth” leave the premises.
A vehicle was seen on security cameras driving near the house where the murders occurred around 4 a.m., and speeding away around 4:20 a.m. toward Pullman, Washington, and arrived at Washington State University—an FBI expert ultimately determined the car was a white Hyundai Elantra.
A matching vehicle belonging to Kohberger was discovered on the campus by an officer there on November 29, and further investigation into him showed he matched the description of the suspect.
Using GPS cell phone data, Payne determined Kohberger was “was likely the driver of the white Elantra” seen on the day of the murders, and that he likely “attempted to conceal his location” during the incident so it would not appear to be in the location of the house during that time frame.
It’s not clear why the two surviving roommates, identified as B.F. and D.M—who heard crying and interacted with the suspect—did not call 911 until around noon. However, officers have stated they do not believe either person was involved in the murders.
Kohberger was arrested on December 30 for the murders of Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen, four students who were stabbed to death in the small college town of Moscow, Idaho, on November 13. It was previously reported that police identified Kohberger using DNA and his connection to the car. Kohberger, a Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University studying criminology, drove across country in the Hyundai Elantra to his parents’ home in Pennsylvania in mid-December. He was arrested there and extradited back to Idaho on Wednesday. Documents relating to his arrest could not be released until Kohberger appeared in court in the state.
Suspect Arrested In University Of Idaho Killings (Forbes)
University Of Idaho Killings: Here’s What We Know About The Accused Suspect (Forbes)
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