Bryan Christopher Kohberger, the suspect in the murder of four University of Idaho college students, plans to waive his extradition hearing this week in order to expedite his return to Idaho, where he faces four counts of first-degree murder and one charge of felony burglary. Kohberger, a PhD student at Washington State University, was arrested in his home state of Pennsylvania on Friday, nearly seven weeks after the murders occurred.
According to Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, the victims – Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20 – were found stabbed to death in an off-campus home on November 13. Since then, investigators have conducted over 300 interviews and received around 20,000 tips in the case. Despite this, they have not yet publicly confirmed Kohberger’s motive or whether he knew the victims, and the murder weapon has not been located.
The case has frustrated some members of the community, as authorities have released limited details about the killings, including the victims’ activities leading up to the attacks and individuals who have been ruled out as suspects. State law limits the information that can be released before Kohberger makes an initial appearance in court, according to Moscow Police Chief James Fry. The probable cause affidavit, which outlines the charges against Kohberger, will remain sealed until he is physically in Latah County and has been served with the Idaho arrest warrant.
LaBar, attorney for Bryan Kohberger, said Kohberger’s eager to be exonerated
Kohberger’s attorney, Jason LaBar, said that his client is “shocked a little bit” by the arrest and is “eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible.” LaBar released a statement on behalf of Kohberger’s family expressing their condolences for the families of the victims and their support for Kohberger, saying, “We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother.” LaBar added that Kohberger plans to waive the extradition hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, because “he doesn’t contest that he is Bryan Kohberger.”
Kohberger was identified as a suspect through DNA evidence and the confirmation that he owned a white Hyundai Elantra seen near the crime scene, according to law enforcement sources. He is believed to have driven the car cross-country to his parents’ house in Pennsylvania following the murders. Kohberger’s family has fully cooperated with the investigation, according to their statement.
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