Accused killer Brian Kohberger was at a Pennsylvania court today in Monroe County, for a brief extradition hearing in connection with the quadruple murders of four University of Idaho students.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, 28-year-old Kohberger was arrested early Friday morning and charged with murder and burglary. Kohbeger is a doctoral student and teaching assistant in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Washington State University.
He’s accused of killing Ethan Chapin, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, on November 13. The victims were all stabbed to death inside an off-campus rental home, near the school.
During the hearing, Kohberger waived extradition and signed paperwork indicating he wouldn’t fight being transported back to Idaho, where he’ll face charges. A judge said the defendant will return back to Idaho within 10 days.
Kohberger, who reportedly made eye contact with his family and mouthed “I love you” before he left the courtroom, told the judge he was not on any medication and is of sound mind to waive the extradition.
Jason LaBar, Monroe County’s chief public defender, previously said that Kohberger was eager to be exonerated and wants to prove his innocence.
“Mr. Kohberger is eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible,” LaBar told CNN.
“He believes he’s going to be exonerated. That’s what he believes. Those were his words,” LaBar told NBC News.
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Kohberger’s transport to face charges in Idaho will be expedited.
Extradition is the formal process through which a suspected fugitive for a crime in one state who is arrested in a different state is transported back to the state where the crime occurred to face charges.
LaBar told reporters that the hearing is a “formality proceeding” where the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania just needs to prove that Kohberger resembles the suspect in the murders.
“Because of obviously the attention of this case, I assume Idaho is prepared and ready to transport him back already,” LaBar told CBS.
Once Kohberger returns to Idaho and makes an initial appearance in an Idaho court, the affidavit used to secure the probable cause for his arrest can be unsealed, under Idaho law, and the details of the investigation and the arrest will become public.
Pennsylvania State Police plan to hold a press conference today at 4:30 p.m. EST. Check back for updates.
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[Featured image: Bryan Kohberger/Monroe County Correctional Facility]
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