BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Could Kohberger defense get DNA tossed?

  • Four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death Nov. 13, 2022
  • Judge in Kohberger trial set Dec. 1 deadline for DNA evidence
  • Familial DNA, used to identify Kohberger, plays a critical role in the case

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

(NewsNation) — A critical DNA deadline in the case against Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, was set to Dec. 1. However, a gag order remains in place until the trial.

The judge in the case ordered prosecutors to turn over every piece of DNA evidence, saying he preferred to review all of the evidence at one time.

“An expert in DNA analysis will probably be there going over every bit of this. … to walk them through every piece of this evidence,” Forensic analyst Joseph Scott Morgan told “Banfield.” “They (defense) are going to look at this with an incredibly intense light shining on it.”

Kohberger is facing charges in the deaths of four University of Idaho college students, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. The four students were found dead in an off-campus house in a stabbing that shocked the small town of Moscow, Idaho.

It took more than a month for investigators to arrest Kohberger, a graduate student in criminology at Washington State University, located just a few miles from Moscow.

Investigators identified Kohberger using genetic genealogy, a process that takes DNA evidence and compares it to genetic information from family members that may be found on genealogy sites like Ancestry.com or 23andMe.

Investigators use DNA to identify possible family connections which, combined with other evidence like the white Hyundai Elantra seen near the scene, can help narrow down a suspect.

Kohberger was arrested at his family’s home in Pennsylvania before being brought back to Idaho where he has remained in jail.

He is facing four charges of first-degree murder and one charge of burglary. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

NewsNation’s Steph Whiteside contributed to this report.

Banfield

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

62°F Sunny Feels like 62°
Wind
2 mph S
Humidity
68%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Cloudy skies during the evening with areas of fog developing after midnight. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
51°F Cloudy skies during the evening with areas of fog developing after midnight. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph ENE
Precip
14%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Crescent