MOSCOW, ID – An order keeping the residence where four University of Idaho students were killed in mid-November a crime scene will stay in place until February 1st or until further order of the Latah County Second District Court.
Newly unsealed records show a judge signed an order on the same day Bryan Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania – December 30th – for the alleged stabbing murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin at the King Road residence in the early morning hours of November 13th.
Cleanup of the crime scene was just getting underway on that day when work was stopped. Court documents show that Kohberger’s defense attorney had filed a motion to preserve the evidence for Defense. In addition to the home, she requested “outbuildings, vehicles and curtilage” be secured.
“This motion is made so that Defense Counsel may take view of the scene in order to effectively and constitutionally represent Mr. Kohberger,” the Motion stipulated.
The Court ordered the home preserved “which means the house will be locked, crime tape will remain, on-site police presence is not required,” the Order says. “IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all samples and evidence collected or generated by the State in this matter including but not limited to bodily fluids, blood, tissues, notes, slides, photographs or other relevant information be held and preserved by the State for the Defense.”
Kohberger will be back in court on January 12th at 10:00 a.m. for a Status Hearing.
Meanwhile, U of I students will be returning to campus next week as the spring semester begins on Wednesday. The University of Idaho has assured the community that counseling and extra security measures continue.
AFFIDAVIT (description of alleged crime): https://coi.isc.idaho.gov/docs/case/CR29-22-2805/122922%20Affidavit%20-%20Exhibit%20A%20-%20Statement%20of%20Brett-Payne.pdf
https://coi.isc.idaho.gov/docs/case/CR29-22-2805/123022%20Motion%20to%20Preserve%20Crime%20Scene%20and%20Evidence.pdf
https://coi.isc.idaho.gov/docs/case/CR29-22-2805/123022%20Order%20to%20Preserve%20Crime%20Scene%20and%20Evidence.pdf
