Prosecutors are defending the tactics used to gather evidence against Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of stabbing four college students to death in one night in 2022.
Previously, Kohberger's defense attorney argued that police violated Kohberger's rights and "omitted" key information in attaining search warrants, according to The Idaho Statesman. Prosecutors responded to those allegations in flurry of filings Thursday, most of which remain sealed. In the filings made public, prosecutors defended the collection of evidence and how warrants were obtained.
Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ashley Jennings stated in court documents that "broad language may be permissible where the warrant constrains the search to evidence of a specific crime...The rationale is that 'criminals don't advertise where they keep evidence,'" according to ABC News 13. Prosecutors further noted that evidence "could be located in multiple formats and areas."
Kohberger is accused of stabbing to death four University of Idaho students: Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20 and Ethan Chapin, 20. The attack occurred at an off-campus house the morning of Nov. 13 2022. At the time of the incident, Kohberger was a Ph.D criminology student at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, located about eight miles from the crime scene.
Previous defense motions have challenged the DNA evidence as well as evidence found through search warrants for Kohberger's Google, Amazon, Apple iCloud and AT&T cellphone accounts, the Statesman reported. Other motions have addressed evidence found at the Pennsylvania home of Kohberger's parents, his student apartment and in his white Hyundai Elantra.
DNA evidence on a knife sheath left at the crime scene allegedly connects to Kohberger, The Columbian reported.
Prosecutors didn't address the challenges to the DNA evidence or a search of Kohberger's Amazon account in the Thursday filing, ABC News 13 reported.
Jury selection in the case is slated to begin July 30, 2025.
