The trial for accused quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger will be moved to Boise, Idaho, weeks after the defense argued for a change in venue, the Idaho Supreme Court announced in its ruling Thursday.
District Judge Steven Hippler will preside over the case, according to the filing reviewed by the Lawyer Herald.
As a result of the location switch-up, Kohberger, 29, has been ordered to be transferred to the custody of the Ada County Sheriff.
"Considering the undisputed evidence presented by the defense, the extreme nature of the news coverage in this case, and the smaller population in Latah County, the defense has met the rather low standard of demonstrating 'a reasonable likelihood' that prejudicial news coverage will compromise a fair trial in Latah County," Judge John Judge ruled Monday, according to ABC News. "Thus, the Court will grant Kohberger's motion to change venue for presumed prejudice."
Kohberger's defense attorneys began arguments last month that Latah County residents possessed a general hostility and "mob mentality" toward the alleged killer, and therefore could not guarantee him a fair trial, according to a theoretical phone study, NBC News previously reported.
If a jury failed to convict Kohberger, respondents said they'd "burn the courthouse down" and that "they would probably find him and kill him."
Another said, "There would likely be a riot and he wouldn't last long outside because someone would do the good ole' boy justice."
Kohberger, a former criminal justice PhD student, allegedly stabbed Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, to death in their University of Idaho off-campus apartment in November 2022.
He was arrested six weeks later during a visit with his parents in Pennsylvania, after DNA evidence, surveillance video and cell phone records allegedly tied him to the scene of the crime.
Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary for the college students' slayings.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges in May 2023 and a motive remains under investigation.
