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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
'Hair on the back of my neck stood up': Police break silence in Idaho murders
Police are breaking their silence in the University of Idaho murder case hours after Judge Steven Hippler lifted the nondissemination order, revealing information about the status of the investigation and interactions with admitted killer Bryan Kohberger. The order, also known as a gag order, banned police and prosecutors from speaking about the high-profile case that gripped the nation. "We've been focused on the victims and bringing justice for the victims," Moscow Police Chief Anthony Dahlinger told ABC News. "That was our focus ... that was our mission ... so that mission was accomplished." MORE: New book on University of Idaho murders sheds light on Bryan Kohberger's potential motive Asked if police were able to find a clear motive, Dahlinger said he could not answer. All documents in the case that have been sealed will remain sealed for now. Moscow police said they are preparing to release a large amount of information later on. "We're committed to being transparent when we can be," Dahlinger said. Looking ahead to Kohberger's sentencing next week, Dahlinger said, "Our hope is that not only the families, but the friends, even the Moscow community and all the communities that were affected by this, can start to heal and bring some sort of closure to this horrendous act." MORE: Idaho college murders: As Kohberger admits to the brutal crime, here's the full timeline of events Hippler's decision to end the gag order on Thursday came six days before Kohberger's sentencing. Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to all counts at a July 2 change of plea hearing, will return to court for his sentencing on July 23. As a part of the plea deal, Kohberger will be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences on the four first-degree murder counts and the maximum penalty of 10 years on the burglary count. At the July 2 hearing, Hippler asked Kohberger how he pleaded for each count of murder and named the four students: roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin. Kohberger quickly said "guilty" each time. The college students were all stabbed to death at the girls' off-campus house in the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022. Kohberger was arrested nearly seven weeks later. MORE: Idaho college victim's siblings remember arriving at crime scene: 'Not on this earth anymore' Gary Jenkins, the former Pullman, Washington, police chief and current Washington State University police chief, also opened up to ABC News, shedding light on his own interaction with Kohberger, who was a criminology Ph.D. student at WSU at the time of the murders. Kohberger was one of four students Jenkins interviewed over Zoom for an intern position in April 2022, but the chief didn't select him. "This particular position, it requires someone who can develop trust and rapport with my staff, and these are police officers," Jenkins said. "In talking with [Kohberger], he didn't have a real conversational manner about him. He didn't come across as particularly personable, and I just didn't think he would be able to develop that trust and rapport." Months later, on Dec. 20, 2022, Jenkins said he got "chills" when Kohberger's name was brought up in the quadruple homicide investigation. "The hair on the back of my neck stood up," Jenkins said. MORE: Idaho college victims' friends recall moment they responded to home: 'You know something's wrong' "His name definitely rang a bell with me. And I told them that I had interviewed Bryan Kohberger. ... I had his resume and cover letter for the intern position," he said. Jenkins also said he has knowledge of issues with Kohberger's demeanor and relationships with classmates and professors. "There were a couple criminal justice professors who oversee that Ph.D. program who felt just like they were responsible because they made the decision to admit him to WSU," Jenkins said. "I'm a law enforcement professional. I interviewed him, and I couldn't tell you what was to come, and I don't know how they could either. But still, they had a very deep sense of responsibility, feeling like they should have known." Kohberger's attorneys said they will not speak out until sentencing is finished.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Bryan Kohberger case: Idaho judge unseals transcript of closed-door IGG hearing
FIRST ON FOX: An Idaho judge has unsealed a 175-page partially redacted transcript of a closed-door hearing in which University of Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger's defense team sought to undermine the credibility of investigative genetic genealogy research that helped police zero in on him in connection with a quadruple homicide. Ada County Judge Steven Hippler had previously told both the prosecution and defense to propose redactions before releasing the transcript from a Jan. 23 hearing. Taylor tried to portray the investigative genetic genealogy evidence, or IGG, as improperly left out of the probable cause affidavit used to justify several warrants in the case, including her client's arrest and multiple searches. But Moscow Police Detective Brett Payne, the leader investigator, testified that the IGG lead was merely a tip and said authorities dug up more evidence that they allege linked Kohberger to the case. Bryan Kohberger Case: Idaho Judge To Unseal Transcript Of Closed-door Hearing "We made that decision in an effort to independently verify the information that was provided to us as a tip from the FBI, in much the same way we would any other tip in law enforcement," he testified. " So it was not in any way meant to obfuscate any sort of information, it was simply can we validate Mr. Kohberger's involvement in this incident or can we not. That was it." Read On The Fox News App Redacted information includes the identity of the surviving housemate who witnessed a man with "bushy eyebrows" leaving after she overheard sounds of a struggle, as well as the names of two brothers who were identified as potential relatives of Kohberger during the IGG process. The identities of the brothers and other distant relatives are subject to a prior protective order in the case. Matthew Gamette, director of the Idaho State Police Forensic Services crime lab, testified that at Othram's urging, an ISP detective reached out to one of those brothers and asked him to submit his DNA to a database that law enforcement would be allowed to search. The unidentified man at first doubted the detective's identity and later declined to cooperate, telling police not to contact him again. By Dec. 10, 2022, the FBI stepped in. Nine days later, they shared Kohberger's name with Detective Payne. Read the transcript here: SIGN UP TO GET True Crime Newsletter During a two-day public proceeding that followed the closed hearing last month, the defense argued that the FBI violated Kohberger's Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. Four University of Idaho students had been stabbed to death in a home on Nov. 13, 2022 – Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. Under Mogen's body, police found a knife sheath that helped crack the case – it had a DNA sample on it. Witness To Idaho Murders Says Intruder With Bushy Eyebrows Carried Vacuum Out Of Crime Scene: Court Docs GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub Idaho State Police and Othram Laboratories failed to generate leads from the sample, however, according to Payne. The FBI then stepped in with its own resources and supplied Kohberger's name as a tip to be investigated on Dec. 19, 2022, Payne testified. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X Eleven days later, police arrested him at his parents' house in Pennsylvania. On multiple occasions, Taylor attempted to question witnesses about other topics outside the IGG – but Judge Hippler sustained objections from prosecutors, who noted that the hearing was solely dedicated to IGG. Latah County Judge John Judge entered not guilty pleas on Kohberger's behalf at his arraignment on a superseding indictment in May 2023. Kohberger's lawyers later successfully argued for a change of venue, transferring the case to Ada County under Judge Hippler. His trial is scheduled to begin in August and is expected to stretch on for weeks. He could face the death penalty if convicted. This is a breaking news story. Check back with Fox News Digital for article source: Bryan Kohberger case: Idaho judge unseals transcript of closed-door IGG hearing
