Kohberger’s defense set to receive DNA records

According to documents filed this week, Latah County Superior Court will release some of the DNA records requested by Bryan Kohberger's defense team. 

The former Washington State University (WSU) criminal justice graduate student, Bryan Kohberger, 29, is accused and has been charged with murdering Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, in Nov. 2022. Kohberger's death penalty murder trial date has not been set.

"The Court has now completed its review of the information provided by the State and orders the State to discover to the defense a portion of the IGG [invesitgative genetic genealogy] information. The specific material to be provided is set forth in a sealed order to protect the privacy of the IGG information, including individuals on the family tree," says a court order signed by Judge John Judge on Thursday, Jan. 11.

Court records show Judge John Judge ruled against Kohberger's team to dismiss the grand jury indictment in the quadruple murder case. Police apprehended Kohberger at his parents' house in Pennsylvania on Dec. 30, 2022.

Reports say Kohberger was linked to a white Elantra matching one seen in surveillance footage near the King Road house. 

In addition, court documents indicate that his cell phone records placed him near the crime scene between 9:12 a.m. and 9:21 a.m.

The Idaho State Lab was also able to narrow a DNA profile by linking Kohberger's trash to a tan leather knife sheath found at the scene of the killings, the court documents state.

The IGG evidence collected from the leather knife sheath was allegedly used to name Kohberger as a suspect in the initial investigation.

IGG involves comparing DNA from a crime scene to data from commercial online genealogy services often used by consumers to investigate their family tree. Defense attorneys for Kohberger have tried several times to obtain the evidence but have been unsuccessful before this week.

The trial had been set to begin on Oct. 2, 2023. However, it was postponed indefinitely in August after Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial.

The trial is expected to begin sometime in 2024.