Idaho murders – update: Bryan Kohberger dined at Moscow restaurant where victims worked ‘at least twice’
Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger allegedly ate at the restaurant where two of the victims worked in the weeks before the brutal stabbings at a house on King Road in Moscow.
A former employee of the Mad Greek restaurant, where Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle worked as servers, said Kohberger visited at least twice and ordered vegan pizza, People reports.
The revelation comes after a court in Idaho extended a gag order issued earlier this month prohibiting law enforcement officials from revealing information about the murders of four University of Idaho students and the arrest of their accused killer.
On Thursday Latah County Chief Magistrate extended the previous order to the duration of the entire court proceedings until a verdict is reached.
It has also barred victims’ families from giving out any information relating to the case.
Meanwhile, authorities have seized a trove of evidence from Kohberger’s Washington apartment - but several key items, including the murder weapon, remain unaccounted for.
Key points
Attorney debunks speculation about ‘co-defendant’ discovery
Bryan Kohberger told neighbour he submitted DNA to ancestry website
Survivor of similar student attack defends Moscow roommate
Chilling online comments from suspect as teen revealed
Bryan Kohberger waives right to speedy trial
Judge extends gag order in Idaho murders case stopping police releasing information about Bryan Kohberger
05:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta
A court in Idaho has extended a gag order issued earlier this month prohibiting law enforcement officials from revealing information about the murders of four University of Idaho students and the arrest of their accused killer Bryan Kohberger.
The order, issued by the Latah County Chief Magistrate on 4 January, was extended on Thursday and will remain in place throughout court proceedings until a verdict has been reached or unless the mandate is modified by the court.
Read more:
Judge extends gag order in Idaho murders case
When is Bryan Kohberger’s next court hearing?
13:00 , Andrea Blanco
Suspected quadruple killer Bryan Kohberger appeared in court last week to waive his right to a speedy trial on charges of murdering four Idaho students.
The 28-year-old criminology PhD student made a brief appearance in Latah County Courthouse in Moscow on 12 January for a status hearing in his murder case.
Mr Kohberger spoke only to answer “yes” when asked if he understood his rights to a speedy preliminary hearing within the next 14 days and if he agreed to waive those rights. His public defender Anne Taylor then requested that his next court date be pushed back until June.
The entire week has been set aside for the hearing – when evidence of the case against Mr Kohberger will be laid out for the first time in court and he is likely to enter a plea on the charges.
His request for a delay before the next court appearance came after the defence asked the prosecution to hand over all discovery in the case in the next 14 days - including witness statements, digital media and police reports.
Ms Taylor told the judge that waiving the 14-day deadline would give the defence more time to review all the evidence in the case.
Now, the families of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin will have to wait six more months to face their childrens’ accused killer in the court.
Until then, Mr Kohberger will be held behind bars at Latah County Jail after he was ordered to be held on no bail for a second time.
Bryan Kohberger dined at restaurant where two victims worked
12:58 , Alice Murphy
Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger allegedly ate at the restaurant where two of the victims worked in the weeks before the brutal stabbings at a house on King Road in Moscow.
A former employee of the Mad Greek restaurant, where Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle worked as servers, said Kohberger visited at least twice and ordered vegan pizza, People reports.
Could Bryan Kohberger get a plea deal?
12:00 , Andrea Blanco
If convicted of the four murders, Mr Kohberger faces the possibility of lethal injection, should the prosecution seek the death penalty.
In the state of Idaho, the maximum sentence for first-degree murder is death and the suspect is facing four counts of this charge.
While the Latah County prosecutor has not yet confirmed whether or not he plans to seek the death penalty in the case and he is unlikely to show his hand over the coming weeks due to the gag order now in place.
Goncalves’ parents have already said that they want their daughter’s killer to be sentenced to death saying he “has to pay” for what he has done.
“If you want to play god’s role, you’re gonna have to go answer to him,” Steve told NewsNation in early-January.
Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, spoke to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case and what to expect next as it makes its way through the courts.
According to Mr Levin, in a death penalty case, the only possible plea deal would be for the suspect to be given life in prison instead.
However, he said it is “too early” to tell whether this is likely in this case.
“At this point, it is too early for the two sides to have a discussion about a plea deal,” he said.
“On a death penalty case, the only plea on the table is life in prison but both sides have too much investigating ahead of them to discuss that at this time.”
Kaylee Goncalves had already moved out of murder home before the attack
11:00 , Andrea Blanco
Idaho murders victim Kaylee Goncalves had already moved out of the home where she and three other students were brutally murdered – but tragically returned to Moscow to visit her best friend that fateful weekend.
Goncalves’ parents told NBC’s “Dateline” that the 21-year-old had recently left the student rental property on King Road, Moscow, ahead of her upcoming graduation that December and a move to Austin, Texas, for a new job at a tech firm.
Then, on the weekend of 12 November, she decided to go back to the college town to visit her best friend Madison Mogen.
The two young women had been inseparable since meeting in the sixth grade and Goncalves wanted to show Mogen her new Range Rover that she had saved up for and bought.
The Independent has the story:
Revealed: Tragic reason an Idaho murders victim returned to Moscow after moving out
Possible animal hair found at Bryan Kohberger’s home after Kaylee Goncalves’ dog spared in Idaho murders
10:00 , Andrea Blanco
A “possible animal hair” was among the evidence seized from the home of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger - sparking speculation that it could belong to victim Kaylee Goncalves’ dog.
Records of evidence recovered from Mr Kohberger’s home were unsealed on Wednesday, nearly three weeks after his arrest for the 13 November stabbings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.
Included on the list of seizures was a “possible animal hair strand”. While Mr Kohberger is not believed to have a pet, one of the victims he is accused of killing, Goncalves, had a dog who was at home at the time of the murders.
Read the full story:
Possible animal hair found at Bryan Kohberger’s home after dog spared
Kaylee Goncalves’ family remember ‘hardworking’ slain student in touching interview
09:00 , Andrea Blanco
In a sit-down interview with the YouTube channel Chronicles of Olivia — filmed two days before Mr Kohberger’s arrest– the Goncalves remembered their daughter as a hardworking young woman who was not afraid to go after what she wanted in life.
Among other bittersweet revelations made in the YouTube interview was that Goncalves had taken summer classes to graduate ahead of time.
“It’s almost like she knew she only had a certain amount of time on this planet and she was rushing towards [her goals],” Mr Goncalves said.
The family also spoke of the sheer fear and devastation they experienced after finding out that Kaylee was killed through a family member with connections in Moscow. They first tried to get in touch with both Goncalves and Mogen – to no avail.
When they attempted to call police in the immediate hours after the bodies were found, the family was told no information could be released at the time.
An officer eventually showed up at the door to officially inform them that their daughter had been killed.
“I kept giving [my parents] hope,” Alivea Gonclaves said. “I kept saying ‘If they were killed last night, you guys would know by now.’ I kept giving them hope.”
According to the family, they reached out to the YouTube channel because Kaylee followed it on TikTok and would often watch videos on the true crime account.
VOICES: The eerie online world of the Idaho murders case
08:00 , Andrea Blanco
“They were killed in a drug deal gone wrong.”
“It was revenge for bullying another student found dead months earlier.”
“A disgruntled student blamed them for him being kicked out of a fraternity.”
“A gang of frat boys decided to carry on a fight that broke out at a party earlier that night.”
The list goes on and on, Rachel Sharp writes for The Independent.
These make up only a handful of the countless rumours and conspiracy theories circulating online in the weeks after four University of Idaho students were found butchered to death in the small college town of Moscow.
The eerie online world of the Idaho murders case
Expert attorney says Bryan Kohberger should ‘get an F in criminology’
07:00 , Andrea Blanco
Duncan Levin, the former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office and attorney at Levin & Associates who has represented clients including Harvey Weinstein and Anna Delvey, spoke exclusively to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case against the 28-year-old PhD student.
Based on the evidence outlined in the probable cause affidavit, Mr Levin said that Mr Kohberger did a poor job of “covering his tracks” and that the prosecution has a “very strong case” against him.
“In short, he should get an F in criminology class,” he said. “He did not do a good job of covering his tracks.”
The Independent Rachel Sharp has the story:
Bryan Kohberger should ‘get an F in criminology’ over Idaho murders, attorney says
How new gag order differs from previous one
06:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta
A court in Idaho has extended a gag order issued earlier this month prohibiting law enforcement officials from revealing information about the murders of four University of Idaho students and the arrest of their accused killer Bryan Kohberger.
The earlier court order banned investigators, law enforcement personnel, attorneys, and members of both the prosecution and the defence from sharing any new information about the investigation or the suspect before a verdict is reached at trial.
Thursday’s order both extends and expands the earlier measure.
The order says that attorneys for victims’ families will not allowed to share any information relating to evidence in the case, character, credibility, or criminal record of a party involved, the results of any examinations in the case, or any opinions on the merits of the case.
They will also not be allowed to disseminate anything that might impact a fair trial, including statements, confessions, and admissions given by the suspect or information on plea deals.
ICYMI: The items seized from Bryan Kohberger’s home
06:00 , Andrea Blanco
Police investigating the murder of four Idaho students seized a string of items from suspect Bryan Kohberger’s apartment, including possible hair strands, a disposable glove, items with red and brown stains and a computer, according to a newly unsealed search warrant.
According to the search warrant unsealed on Wednesday, these are the items seized from his apartment:
One nitrite type black glove
1 Walmart receipt with one Dickiestag
2 Marshalls receipts
Dust container from Bissell PowerForce” vacuum
8 possible hair strands
FireTV stick with cord/plug
1 possible animal hair strand
1 possible hair
1 possible hair
1 possible hair
1 possible hair strand
1 computer tower
1 collection of dark red spot (collected without testing)
2 cuttings from uncased pillow of reddish/brown stain (larger stain tested)
2 top and bottom mattress covers packaged separately with multiple stains(one tested)
Wording about ‘co-defendant’ in Bryan Kohberge’s defence discovery request is ‘just part of the standard requests,’ expert says
05:00 , Andrea Blanco
A prominent attorney has debunked speculation that suspected killer Bryan Kohberger had an accomplice in the stabbing murders of four University of Idaho students.
Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office and attorney at Levin & Associates, spoke to The Independent about the criminal case against the 28-year-old criminology PhD student.
Last week, Mr Kohberger’s attorney Ann Taylor filed a discovery request in the case, asking the judge to order the prosecution to hand over all discovery in the case within 14 days. Among the discovery requests were witness statements, digital media and police reports about the case. It also included a request for information about a “co-defendant”.
The Independent has the full story:
Speculation that Bryan Kohberger has ‘co-defendant’ in Idaho murders case debunked
Kaylee Goncalves was considering rekindling relationship with longtime boyfriend before she was murdered
04:00 , Andrea Blanco
Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were killed during a 13 November attack in the small college town of Moscow.
The murders gripped the nation and a secretive investigation by the FBI, Moscow Police, and Idaho State Police eventually materialised into the 30 December arrest of Washington State University PhD criminology student Bryan Kohberger.
Goncalves’ family has now shed new light on why she might have been calling her ex-boyfriend Jack DuCoeur in the hours before she was brutally attacked.
In a sit-down interview with the YouTube channel Chronicles of Olivia — filmed two days before Mr Kohberger’s arrest– the Goncalves said their daughter broke up with Mr DuCoeur ahead of her post-graduation move to Texas, but had later voiced concerns that she “might not ever find another Jack” and was considering getting back together with him.
Read the full story.
Here’s what Idaho murders investigators were looking for at Bryan Kohberger’s apartment
03:00 , Andrea Blanco
In a newly unsealed search warrant application, investigators outlined exactly what they were looking for at the home of the 28-year-old graduate student who was arrested in Pennsylvania last month.
First, the application, filed in Washington’s Superior Court on 29 December, gave police permission to search for “blood, or other bodily fluid or human tissue or skin cells, or items with blood or other bodily fluid or human tissue or skin cells on the items.”
The Independent’s Graeme Massie has the story:
What Idaho murders investigators were looking for at Bryan Kohberger’s apartment
Hit-and-run unfolded outside Bryan Kohberger’s home on night of Idaho college murders
02:00 , Andrea Blanco
A hit-and-run unfolded outside of Bryan Kohberger’s home on the same night that he allegedly murdered four University of Idaho students, it has been revealed.
At around 11.40pm on the night of 12 November, police were called to a report of a crash in front of an apartment complex on the Washington State University (WSU) campus, in Pullman, Washington state, according to authorities.
The apartment complex, which houses mainly graduate or PhD students, had been home to Mr Kohberger since August when he relocated from his home state of Pennsylvania to start a PhD program in criminal justice at the university.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found two pedestrians – a male WSU student and a woman – with injuries after being struck by a car.
The driver had already fled the scene.
Witness Turner Gardner told Business Insider the incident was “horrifying” and the two victims were taken to hospital for treatment for serious injuries.
Hours later, 19-year-old student Carmen Fernandez was arrested and charged with DUI, felony vehicular assault and hit-and-run, the Pullman Police Department said at the time.
It is not clear if Mr Kohberger witnessed the hit-and-run which took place within the eyeline of his apartment.
The prosecution’s case against Bryan Kohberger
01:00 , Andrea Blanco
It will be another six months before Bryan Kohberger and the families of his alleged victims come face to face in court again, after his preliminary hearing was postponed until the summer.
The 28-year-old criminology PhD student could face the death penalty if convicted when he eventually goes on trial for the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin – the four students who were found violently stabbed to death in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on 13 November.
Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, speaks to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case and what to expect next as it makes it way through the courts.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the story:
How strong is the case against Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger?
VOICES: I lived through an attack similar to the Idaho murders. We must defend the survivors
00:00 , Andrea Blanco
“It was an amazing, fun, vibrant summer of 1992,” Alenna Zabel writes for The Independent.
“I was living in a three-level house off campus from the University at Buffalo with five of my Chi Omega sorority sisters. Mine was the front room, a converted patio.”
Zabel’s roommate was attacked at their apartment 21 years ago,
Similarly to the roommates in the Idaho murders case, she did not immediately realise that a crime had taken place.
Now, she explains why it is important for the public to understand what survivor witnesses experience in the aftermath of a violent attack.
I lived through an attack similar to the Idaho murders. We must defend the survivors
Kaylee's ex pens tribute posts on IG account for their dog
Thursday 19 January 2023 22:47 , Andrea Blanco
Goncalves’ mother Kristi Goncalves shared that Jack DuCoeur is behind an Instagram account dedicated to Murphy, the pet dog found inside the home when police made the grim discovery on 13 November.
The dog was handed over to animal services and was later released to Mr DuCoeur.
Although the couple had recently broken up ahead of Goncalves’ move to Texas, they had remained friendly, their relatives have said.
On the account’s first post on Monday, Mr DuCoeur posted a picture of the Labradoodle with the caption: “Missing my mom every day, but trying to live my best life. I got to admire her beauty in the sky this evening.”
“This is a throwback photo of me. My mom loved this one,” another post read.
On Thursday, Mr DuCoeur posted a picture that Goncalves had taken of him and Murphy.
The account already has more than 10,000 followers, with people commenting heartfelt messages.
“This hurts my heart. You’re a good boy Murphy. So happy you and your Dad have each other,” an Instagram user wrote. “You’ll be best pals for life. Much love and sympathy to everyone mourning Kaylee.”
ICYMI: Kaylee Goncalves’ family reveal potential reason why she called ex-boyfriend before Idaho murders
Thursday 19 January 2023 21:31 , Andrea Blanco
Kaylee Goncalves’ family has now shed new light on why she might have been calling her ex-boyfriend Jack DuCoeur in the hours before she was brutally attacked.
In a sit-down interview with the YouTube channel Chronicles of Olivia — filmed two days before Mr Kohberger’s arrest– the Goncalves said their daughter broke up with Mr DuCoeur ahead of her post-graduation move to Texas, but had later voiced concerns that she “might not ever find another Jack” and was considering getting back together with him.
Kaylee’s father Steve Goncalves said that the couple had remained friends and the slain student was looking “for every excuse for [Mr DuCoeur] to pick up the phone.”
The Independent has the story:
Kaylee Goncalves’ family reiterate support for Idaho murder victim’s ex-boyfriend
Could Bryan Kohberger get the death penalty?
Thursday 19 January 2023 20:51 , Andrea Blanco
If convicted of the four murders, Mr Kohberger faces the possibility of lethal injection, should the prosecution seek the death penalty.
In the state of Idaho, the maximum sentence for first-degree murder is death and the suspect is facing four counts of this charge.
While the Latah County prosecutor has not yet confirmed whether or not he plans to seek the death penalty in the case and he is unlikely to show his hand over the coming weeks due to the gag order now in place.
Goncalves’ parents have already said that they want their daughter’s killer to be sentenced to death saying he “has to pay” for what he has done.
“If you want to play god’s role, you’re gonna have to go answer to him,” Steve told NewsNation in early-January.
Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, spoke to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case and what to expect next as it makes its way through the courts.
According to Mr Levin, in a death penalty case, the only possible plea deal would be for the suspect to be given life in prison instead.
However, he said it is “too early” to tell whether this is likely in this case.
“At this point, it is too early for the two sides to have a discussion about a plea deal,” he said.
“On a death penalty case, the only plea on the table is life in prison but both sides have too much investigating ahead of them to discuss that at this time.”
ICYMI: Everything we know about Bryan Kohberger’s next court hearing
Thursday 19 January 2023 20:10 , Andrea Blanco
Suspected quadruple killer Bryan Kohberger made a brief appearance in Latah County Courthouse in Moscow last week for a status hearing in his murder case.
Mr Kohberger spoke only to answer “yes” when asked if he understood his rights to a speedy preliminary hearing within the next 14 days and if he agreed to waive those rights.
His public defender Anne Taylor then requested that his next court date be pushed back until June.
The prosecution agreed to the request and the judge scheduled the preliminary hearing for the week beginning 26 June.
The entire week has been set aside for the hearing – when evidence of the case against Mr Kohberger will be laid out for the first time in court and he is likely to enter a plea on the charges.
His request for a delay before the next court appearance came after the defence asked the prosecution to hand over all discovery in the case in the next 14 days - including witness statements, digital media and police reports.
Ms Taylor told the judge that waiving the 14-day deadline would give the defence more time to review all the evidence in the case.
Now, the families of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin will have to wait six more months to face their childrens’ accused killer in the court.
Until then, Mr Kohberger will be held behind bars at Latah County Jail after he was ordered to be held on no bail for a second time.
Mr Kohberger did not enter a plea at Thursday’s hearing – his second appearance in an Idaho court since being extradited from Pennsylvania last week.
However, he is said to be planning to fight against the allegations that he broke into a student home in Moscow in the early hours of 13 November and stabbed the four students to death in a savage knife attack.
Police seize mattress covers, hairs, computer from Idaho stabbing suspect’s home
Thursday 19 January 2023 19:30 , Andrea Blanco
Investigators seized stained bedding, strands of what looked like hair and a single glove when they searched the Washington state apartment of Bryan Kohberger.
The search warrant for Mr Kohberger ’s home and Washington State University office was unsealed by a Washington state judge on Tuesday.
Mr Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the slayings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in the neighbouring town of Moscow, Idaho.
Investigators did not find anything noteworthy in Kohberger’s office at WSU, where he was a teaching assistant and graduate student studying criminology.
They took 15 things from his on-campus apartment, including a nitrite-type black glove, cuttings from a pillow with a reddish-brown stain, and a stained mattress cover.
She slept through an attack that nearly killed her roommate. Now, she’s defending a stranger in the Idaho murders
Thursday 19 January 2023 19:04 , Andrea Blanco
There are many chilling similarities between the murders of four Idaho students in November and a 1992 attack at a student home in Buffalo – none more so than the experiences of the roommates who survived.
Alanna Zabel tells The Independent’s Rachel Sharp why she feels the need to defend the surviving roommate in Idaho and how she understands the way trauma can shape reactions to such horrifying events.
She slept through an attack in her home - and has a message about the Idaho murders
Speculation that Bryan Kohberger has ‘co-defendant’ in Idaho murders case debunked
Thursday 19 January 2023 18:31 , Andrea Blanco
A prominent attorney has debunked speculation that suspected killer Bryan Kohberger had an accomplice in the stabbing murders of four University of Idaho students.
Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office and attorney at Levin & Associates, spoke to The Independent about the criminal case against the 28-year-old criminology PhD student.
Mr Kohberger is facing the death penalty on charges of murdering Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in Moscow, Idaho, on 13 November.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the story:
Speculation that Bryan Kohberger has ‘co-defendant’ in Idaho murders case debunked
Trove of evidence seized from suspect’s apartment
Thursday 19 January 2023 17:52 , Andrea Blanco
Investigators stated in the search warrant application that they hoped to find hair strands that could link the suspect to the scene of the horrific November crime in Moscow, Idaho.
They said in the application that this could be either through the four victims or through a dog that was at the rental house at the time of the slayings, reported The New York Times.
Police said that one of the items found at the suspect’s apartment at nearby Washington State University was a “possible animal hair strand.”
In the documents, investigators said one item had a “collection of dark red” spotting, and that a pillow had a “reddish/brown stain” on it.
Computer, hair, glove and stained items seized from Idaho murders suspect’s home
Why did the defence request the next court hearing be pushed six months?
Thursday 19 January 2023 17:22 , Andrea Blanco
Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, spoke to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case and what to expect next as it makes its way through the courts.
At his status hearing in Latah County Courthouse on 12 January, Bryan Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial - which would have set his preliminary hearing within 14 days.
Instead, his attorney asked that the next court date instead be delayed until the summer, to give defence more time to review all the evidence in the case.
The prosecution agreed with the request and the judge scheduled the preliminary hearing for the week beginning 26 June, setting aside the entire week for the hearing.
Officers on the scene at the student home on King Road on 13 November
Now, the victims’ families and the public will have to wait another six months to learn further details about the murders and the case against Mr Kohberger.
Mr Levin said that a six-month time gap between a status hearing and preliminary hearing is “somewhat unusual” but it’s a marker of the complexity of the case.
“It is somewhat unusual to see such a long gap but then again nothing is normal in this case,” he said.
“Death penalty cases do mean that everything will take longer and be done a little bit differently than one might expect to see on a typical case.”
The six-month delay is a benefit to both sides, he added.
“The defence wants as much time as possible to conduct their own investigations before they have the opportunity to cross-examine the state’s witnesses. So they’re eager to have more information in their hands before any testimony is heard in the preliminary hearing,” he said.
“Similarly, the prosecution needs time to conduct further investigations. For example they will be likely doing a forensic examination of Kohberger’s automobile and residence. And they are still yet to uncover a motive. They have a lot of work yet to do.”
He added: “Both sides really need more time to review evidence and develop their cases.”
Expert attorney explains ‘unusually detailed, damning’ affidavit
Thursday 19 January 2023 16:49 , Andrea Blanco
Suspected mass killer Bryan Kohberger should “get an F in his criminology class” after the damning affidavit laid out evidence linking him to the murders of four University of Idaho students, according to a prominent criminal defence attorney.
Duncan Levin, the former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office and attorney at Levin & Associates who has represented clients including Harvey Weinstein and Anna Delvey, spoke exclusively to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case against the 28-year-old PhD student.
“In short he should get an F in criminology class,” he said. “He did not do a good job of covering his tracks.”
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the story:
DNA evidence of extreme importance in otherwise circumstantial case
Thursday 19 January 2023 16:22 , Andrea Blanco
Based on the “damning” evidence outlined in the probable cause affidavit, the prosecution has a “very strong case” against Mr Kohberger, according to prominent defence attorney Duncan Levin.
Mr Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, speaks to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case and what to expect next as it makes its way through the courts.
“It’s an exceedingly detailed probable cause affidavit and frankly it’s pretty surprising that the prosecutors would include the level of detail they included in it,” said the attorney at Levin & Associates who has represented clients including Harvey Weinstein and Anna Delvey.
He added: “I have to say looking at it it is a perfect case of where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
“There’s so many damning pieces of evidence. The information here all points to Kohberger as the only person to have committed the crime.”
The suspect - who is presumed innocent until proven guilty - was tied to the murders through DNA evidence, cellphone data, an eyewitness account and his white Hyundai Elantra, according to the bombshell probable cause affidavit released earlier this month.
The DNA evidence in particular is one “very, very important piece of information,” Mr Levin said.
Kaylee Goncalves had already moved out of the murders home
Thursday 19 January 2023 15:46 , Andrea Blanco
Idaho murders victim Kaylee Goncalves had already moved out of the home where she and three other students were brutally murdered – but tragically returned to Moscow to visit her best friend that fateful weekend.
Goncalves’ parents told NBC’s “Dateline” that the 21-year-old had recently left the student rental property on King Road, Moscow, ahead of her upcoming graduation that December and a move to Austin, Texas, for a new job at a tech firm.
Then, on the weekend of 12 November, she decided to go back to the college town to visit her best friend Madison Mogen.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the story:
Revealed: Tragic reason an Idaho murders victim returned to Moscow after moving out
What’s missing from the apartment search warrant?
Thursday 19 January 2023 15:10 , Megan Sheets
Following the release of records revealing evidence seized from Bryan Kohberger’s Pullman apartment, several key items related to the crime are still unaccounted for.
The most important item is the weapon used in the stabbings, which police have said is a Ka-Bar knife. The sheath for the knife was found next to victim Madison Mogen with DNA evidence on it, which led investigators to Mr Kohberger as the suspect.
Also missing were clothing items that the killer wore while carrying out the slayings.
The most substantial evidence seized was a computer tower, which could bear information about the lead-up to the crimes.
Victim’s longtime boyfriend creates Instagram account for their dog
Thursday 19 January 2023 14:48 , Megan Sheets
Goncalves’ mother Kristi Goncalves shared that Jack DuCoeur is behind an Instagram account dedicated to Murphy, the pet dog found inside the home when police made the grim discovery on 13 November.
The dog was handed over to animal services and was later released to Mr DuCoeur.
Although the couple had recently broken up ahead of Goncalves’ move to Texas, they had remained friendly, their relatives have said.
On the account’s first post on Monday, Mr DuCoeur posted a picture of the Labradoodle with the caption: “Missing my mom every day, but trying to live my best life. I got to admire her beauty in the sky this evening.”
“This is a throwback photo of me. My mom loved this one,” another post read.
The account already has more than 10,000 followers, with people commenting heartfelt messages.
“This hurts my heart. You’re a good boy Murphy. So happy you and your Dad have each other,” an Instagram user wrote. “You’ll be best pals for life. Much love and sympathy to everyone mourning Kaylee.”
Police seize mattress covers from Idaho stabbing suspect’s home
Thursday 19 January 2023 14:00 , Andrea Blanco
Investigators seized stained bedding, strands of what looked like hair and a single glove when they searched the Washington state apartment of Bryan Kohberger.
The search warrant for Mr Kohberger ’s home and Washington State University office was unsealed by a Washington state judge on Tuesday.
Mr Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the slayings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in the neighbouring town of Moscow, Idaho.
Investigators did not find anything noteworthy in Kohberger’s office at WSU, where he was a teaching assistant and graduate student studying criminology.
They took 15 things from his on-campus apartment, including a nitrite-type black glove, cuttings from a pillow with a reddish-brown stain, and a stained mattress cover.
Hit-and-run unfolded outside Bryan Kohberger’s home on night of the slayings
Thursday 19 January 2023 13:00 , Andrea Blanco
A hit-and-run unfolded outside of Bryan Kohberger’s home on the same night that he allegedly murdered four University of Idaho students, it has been revealed.
At around 11.40pm on the night of 12 November, police were called to a report of a crash in front of an apartment complex on the Washington State University (WSU) campus, in Pullman, Washington state, according to authorities.
The apartment complex, which houses mainly graduate or PhD students, had been home to Mr Kohberger since August when he relocated from his home state of Pennsylvania to start a PhD program in criminal justice at the university.
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‘Possible animal hair’ found at Idaho murders supect’s home after dog was spared from the carnage
Thursday 19 January 2023 12:00 , Andrea Blanco
A “possible animal hair” was among the evidence seized from the home of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger - sparking speculation that it could belong to victim Kaylee Goncalves’ dog.
Records of evidence recovered from Mr Kohberger’s home were unsealed on Wednesday, nearly three weeks after his arrest for the 13 November stabbings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.
Included on the list of seizures was a “possible animal hair strand”. While Mr Kohberger is not believed to have a pet, one of the victims he is accused of killing, Goncalves, had a dog who was at home at the time of the murders.
The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander and Rachel Sharp have the story:
Possible animal hair found at Bryan Kohberger’s home after dog spared
Why is there a six month gap before Bryan Kohberger’s preliminary hearing?
Thursday 19 January 2023 11:00 , Andrea Blanco
Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, spoke to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case and what to expect next as it makes its way through the courts.
At his status hearing in Latah County Courthouse on 12 January, Bryan Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial - which would have set his preliminary hearing within 14 days.
Instead, his attorney asked that the next court date instead be delayed until the summer, to give defence more time to review all the evidence in the case.
The prosecution agreed with the request and the judge scheduled the preliminary hearing for the week beginning 26 June, setting aside the entire week for the hearing.
Officers on the scene at the student home on King Road on 13 November
Now, the victims’ families and the public will have to wait another six months to learn further details about the murders and the case against Mr Kohberger.
Mr Levin said that a six-month time gap between a status hearing and preliminary hearing is “somewhat unusual” but it’s a marker of the complexity of the case.
“It is somewhat unusual to see such a long gap but then again nothing is normal in this case,” he said.
“Death penalty cases do mean that everything will take longer and be done a little bit differently than one might expect to see on a typical case.”
The six-month delay is a benefit to both sides, he added.
“The defence wants as much time as possible to conduct their own investigations before they have the opportunity to cross-examine the state’s witnesses. So they’re eager to have more information in their hands before any testimony is heard in the preliminary hearing,” he said.
“Similarly, the prosecution needs time to conduct further investigations. For example they will be likely doing a forensic examination of Kohberger’s automobile and residence. And they are still yet to uncover a motive. They have a lot of work yet to do.”
He added: “Both sides really need more time to review evidence and develop their cases.”
What Idaho murders investigators were looking for at Bryan Kohberger’s apartment - and what they found
Thursday 19 January 2023 10:00 , Andrea Blanco
When Bryan Kohberger was charged with the brutal murders of four Idaho students last month, authorities immediately searched his dorm room and office at nearby Washington State University.
In a newly unsealed search warrant application, investigators outlined exactly what they were looking for at the home of the 28-year-old graduate student who was arrested in Pennsylvania last month.
First, the application, filed in Washington’s Superior Court on 29 December, gave police permission to search for “blood, or other bodily fluid or human tissue or skin cells, or items with blood or other bodily fluid or human tissue or skin cells on the items.”
It also stated that officers should look for “knives, sheaths, or other sharp tools, including any danger, dirk, or sword, and any written indicia of ownership of dame, including sales receipts.”
The Independent’s Graeme Massie has the story:
What Idaho murders investigators were looking for at Bryan Kohberger’s apartment
Speculation that Bryan Kohberger has ‘co-defendant’ in Idaho murders case debunked
Thursday 19 January 2023 09:00 , Andrea Blanco
A prominent attorney has debunked speculation that suspected killer Bryan Kohberger had an accomplice in the stabbing murders of four University of Idaho students.
Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office and attorney at Levin & Associates, spoke to The Independent about the criminal case against the 28-year-old criminology PhD student.
Mr Kohberger is facing the death penalty on charges of murdering Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in Moscow, Idaho, on 13 November.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the story:
Speculation that Bryan Kohberger has ‘co-defendant’ in Idaho murders case debunked
Do prosecutors have an airtight cases against Bryan Kohberger?
Thursday 19 January 2023 08:00 , Andrea Blanco
It will be another six months before Bryan Kohberger and the families of his alleged victims come face to face in court again, after his preliminary hearing was postponed until the summer.
The 28-year-old criminology PhD student could face the death penalty if convicted when he eventually goes on trial for the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin – the four students who were found violently stabbed to death in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on 13 November.
Prominent attorney Duncan Levin speaks to The Independent’s Rachel Sharp about the case against Bryan Kohberger and what to expect for the next moves from the defence and the prosecution.
How strong is the case against Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger?
ICYMI: Kaylee Goncalves’ family reveal potential reason why she called ex-boyfriend before Idaho murders
Thursday 19 January 2023 07:00 , Andrea Blanco
Kaylee Goncalves’ family has now shed new light on why she might have been calling her ex-boyfriend Jack DuCoeur in the hours before she was brutally attacked.
In a sit-down interview with the YouTube channel Chronicles of Olivia — filmed two days before Mr Kohberger’s arrest– the Goncalves said their daughter broke up with Mr DuCoeur ahead of her post-graduation move to Texas, but had later voiced concerns that she “might not ever find another Jack” and was considering getting back together with him.
Kaylee’s father Steve Goncalves said that the couple had remained friends and the slain student was looking “for every excuse for [Mr DuCoeur] to pick up the phone.”
The Independent has the story:
Kaylee Goncalves’ family reiterate support for Idaho murder victim’s ex-boyfriend
Could Bryan Kohberger get a plea deal?
Thursday 19 January 2023 06:00 , Andrea Blanco
If convicted of the four murders, Mr Kohberger faces the possibility of lethal injection, should the prosecution seek the death penalty.
In the state of Idaho, the maximum sentence for first-degree murder is death and the suspect is facing four counts of this charge.
While the Latah County prosecutor has not yet confirmed whether or not he plans to seek the death penalty in the case and he is unlikely to show his hand over the coming weeks due to the gag order now in place.
Goncalves’ parents have already said that they want their daughter’s killer to be sentenced to death saying he “has to pay” for what he has done.
“If you want to play god’s role, you’re gonna have to go answer to him,” Steve told NewsNation in early-January.
Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, spoke to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case and what to expect next as it makes its way through the courts.
According to Mr Levin, in a death penalty case, the only possible plea deal would be for the suspect to be given life in prison instead.
However, he said it is “too early” to tell whether this is likely in this case.
“At this point, it is too early for the two sides to have a discussion about a plea deal,” he said.
“On a death penalty case, the only plea on the table is life in prison but both sides have too much investigating ahead of them to discuss that at this time.”
