Bryan Kohberger, 30, can face death penalty if convicted of Idaho quadruple murders, judge rules

Kohberger is on trial for the 2022 brutal killings of four college students at their off campus residence in Moscow, Idaho

Judge Steven Hippler after pretrial hearing, ruled against defense and preserved prosecution prayer to keep death penalty on the table

Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves in their off-campus house on Nov, 13, 2022

Kohberger, a PhD criminology student and teaching assistant at Washington State University’s Pullman campus, 15 minutes from Moscow, was initially arrested Dec. 2022

He has been held without bail after being charged in 2023 with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglar

Kohberger has maintained his innocence since his arrest and filed his alibi in 2023, as ‘late night drives’

The defense successfully appealed to move the trial to Ada County in Boise in hopes of a more favorable jury pool

Jury selection is scheduled to begin July 30, 2025  

A judge has ruled the death penalty is inclusive if multi-homicide suspect Bryan Kohberger, [photo], is convicted of killing four college students in Idaho two years ago. Trial is scheduled for summer 2025 

A judge has ruled that Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger can face the death penalty if convicted of the 2022 killings of four college students.
Kohberger, 29, is accused of brutally murdering University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves in their off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022. 
The suspect was first arrested December 30, 2022. He is being held without bail after being charged in 2023, with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. 
After hearing oral arguments earlier this month, 4th District Judge Steven Hippler in his ruling agreed with the state that the death penalty should remain on the table for Bryan Kohberger, pointing out that capital punishment is constitutional and legal in the state of Idaho. 
In reference to the argument by attorneys for Kohberger during a pre-trial motion hearing, that international, federal and state law all make it inappropriate for the case, ‘The court concludes relief in defendant’s favor is not warranted on any of the motions,’ Judge Hippler said, according to an Idaho Stateman report. 

Bryan Kohberger is on trial for killing four University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, [rear] Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle [front], were killed in their off-campus home on November 13, 2022

While prosecutors noted that the Idaho Supreme Court has already considered many of those arguments in other capital cases and allowed the the death penalty to stand,, Kohberger’s defense team in putting it on record during the motion hearing left the door open to reintroduce their legal arguments on appeal.
On the defense ledger Kohberger’s attorneys successfully argued that Kohberger’s trial should be moved out of Moscow, Idaho, where the murders took place due to strong emotions and extensive media coverage. 
The trial venue was moved to Ada County in Boise, with Judge Hippler became the presiding in the matter scheduled to begin in summer.

The victims Kaylee Goncalves, [left], Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Maddison Mogen, [right], all students at the University of Idaho, it is alleged were killed by a lone knifeman in their off campus residence on November 13, 2022 

Judge Steven Hippler sided with the state in their attempt to leave the death penalty on the table for Kohberger after hearing oral arguments earlier this month

Some experts have suggested that Kohberger, a PhD criminology student, was careful not leave behind critical evidence. Prosecution however, believe they have sufficient circumstantial evidence, including DNA left on a Ka-Bar knife sheath found at the crime scene

Prosecutors have claimed that Kohberger’s DNA was found on a Ka-Bar knife sheath found at the victim’s off-campus home, though no murder weapon was ever found. 
Officials have also claimed that cell phone data and surveillance put Kohberger’s car at the crime scene. 
Kohberger was a PhD criminology student and teaching assistant at Washington State University’s Pullman campus, a 15-minute drive from Moscow, Idaho. 
Kohberger has maintained his innocence since his arrest and filed his alibi in 2023 as ‘late night drives’. 
The Goncalves said they wanted to thank everybody for their help and support and added that the GoFundMe to support them was helping them through the legal process. They have rented a home in Boise so they can attend.