Bryan Kohberger’s defense team has revealed a major development in his upcoming trial. A newly unsealed court filing shows that investigators found three unknown DNA profiles under victim Madison Mogen’s fingernails. Clippings from Mogen’s left hand contained the samples, but testing has not determined their source. Comparisons between the profiles and Kohberger’s DNA were inconclusive, meaning he has neither been confirmed nor excluded as a contributor.
Kohberger’s defense is seeking to have the DNA evidence dismissed, arguing that the term “inconclusive” could mislead a jury into believing he might be one of the three individuals whose DNA was found under Mogen’s nails. The attorneys also argue that likelihood ratios, which simply compare the state’s hypotheses, may be wrongly interpreted as a probability of identity. Kohberger claims that independent testing by the defense excluded him as a contributor.
His defense team is also arguing that his autism diagnosis should bar him from receiving the death penalty. The attorneys claim that symptoms of autism could prejudice jurors against him, citing his ‘limited facial expressions’ and ‘atypical eye contact’ as behaviors that might be misinterpreted as a lack of remorse or disrespect in the courtroom. Attorney Anne Taylor specifically points to media descriptions of Kohberger’s expression as an ‘eerie’ or ‘creepy’ stare.
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[Feature Photo:Bryan Kohberger/Ada County Sheriff’s Office]
