Judge Weighs DNA Evidence in Idaho Quadruple Murder Case

MOSCOW, Idaho — A judge is deliberating whether to suppress critical DNA evidence in the high-profile murder case against Bryan Kohberger, accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. The decision could significantly impact the prosecution’s case as the trial approaches later this year.

During a two-day hearing, Kohberger’s defense team challenged the admissibility of DNA evidence and cellphone data, arguing that investigators violated his constitutional rights. Prosecutors, however, maintain that the evidence is crucial to linking Kohberger to the crime scene.

Judge Steven Hippler heard arguments on whether investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) evidence, used to identify Kohberger as a suspect, should be thrown out. Defense attorney Anne Taylor argued that the FBI‘s use of a public genealogy database without a warrant violated Kohberger’s privacy rights. “The court should suppress the IGG identification and everything that flows from that,” Taylor said.

Prosecutors countered that there is no legal precedent establishing an expectation of privacy for DNA left at a crime scene. “I struggle with the idea that at a crime scene, there’s any expectation of privacy,” Judge Hippler remarked during the hearing.

The defense also questioned the credibility of a key eyewitness, a surviving housemate who reported seeing a masked man leaving the scene. Taylor highlighted inconsistencies in the witness’s statements, including her claim of hearing a victim running upstairs, despite the victim being found dead in bed. Latah County Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Jennings defended the witness, emphasizing that her description of the suspect as a tall, slender White male remained consistent.

Another point of contention was the collection of Kohberger’s cellphone data. Defense attorneys argued that search warrants used to obtain the data were overly broad and lacked specificity. “A search warrant must be particular enough so that nothing is left to the discretion of the officer executing the warrant,” Kohberger’s attorney argued. Prosecutors maintained that the warrants were lawful and specific to the crime.

Judge Hippler has yet to rule on the motions but indicated he would issue decisions soon. If the defense succeeds in suppressing the DNA evidence, it could weaken the prosecution’s case ahead of the trial, scheduled for later this year.

Kohberger, a former criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, faces four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. He has pleaded not guilty and could face the death penalty if convicted.