Officials released a new mugshot of Brian Kohberger on Monday, days after the Idaho Supreme Court ruled that his trial should be moved out of the county where the four murders took place.
Kohberger’s mugshot was taken in Ada County, as his trial next year is set to take place in Boise. Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler will preside over the high-profile case, which was moved from Latah County to Boise amid concerns about publicity and media attention that could jeopardize Kohberger’s right to a fair trial, according to KOMO.
Before the case was moved to Ada County, Idaho Second District Judge John C. Judge determined that the Latah County courthouse lacked space and local police did not have enough deputies to provide adequate security.
Kohberger’s trial was expected to begin on June 2, 2025, but it is unclear whether the recent ruling will result in a delay.
Even though the state supreme court also ordered that Kohberger be transferred to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Latah County will cover financial costs related to the high-profile trial.
In light of last week’s ruling, Kohberger’s legal team filed a myriad of motions which are aimed at sparing him from the death penalty, according to KOMO. It is unclear whether Judge Hippler or Judge Judge will rule on those motions.
Kohberger, a former Washington State University student, is accused of murdering Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves on November 13, 2022, at an off-campus home near the University of Idaho.
Kohberger’s attorneys have claimed Kohberger was not at the crime scene and was driving around alone the night Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed at the women’s off-campus home on November 13, 2022.
Mogen was found dead in bed next to Goncalves, and a knife sheath was reportedly discovered near their bodies. Downstairs, on the second floor, Kernodle was found slain next to Chapin, her boyfriend. Two surviving roommates discovered the bodies and called the cops.
Police claimed Kohberger visited the area 12 times before the slayings and that he turned off his phone on the night in question.
Investigators tested DNA from a trash can outside Kohberger’s family home in Pennsylvania against DNA found on the sheath at the crime scene. Testing determined that “at least 99.9998% of the male population would be expected to be excluded from the possibility of being the suspect’s biological father.”
At the time of the slayings, Kohberger was obtaining his Ph.D. in criminology from Washington State University, which is located 10 miles from the crime scene. He was arrested in Pennsylvania in December 2022, after taking a cross-country road trip with his father from Washington to Pennsylvania.
Prosecutors filed court documents detailing their intent to pursue the death penalty as they deemed the slayings were “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.”
[Feature Photo: Ada County Sheriff’s Office]
