MOSCOW, Idaho— Prosecutors in the case against Bryan Kohberger, the alleged murderer of four University of Idaho students, were granted access to the crime scene where the brutal stabbings took place. The victims, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, were killed in an off-campus residence referred to as the “King Road house” on Nov. 13, 2022.
The purpose of the visit and the specific actions taken at the house were not disclosed by the prosecutors, according to a statement from the University of Idaho. The trial of the primary suspect, Bryan Kohberger, was indefinitely delayed in October, leading to various entities involved in the case being given permission to enter the crime scene for further investigation in preparation for the pending trial. Over the past two months, the FBI, prosecution, and defense teams have examined the house.
The Thursday visit took place amidst the urgency of the University of Idaho’s plans to demolish the house on Dec. 28. The university stated that neither the prosecution nor the defense requested the retention of the house, and they will proceed with the demolition. However, the defense and the families of three of the victims expressed their preference to preserve the house.
At the time of the murders, the home was being rented out by an individual to three of the four students killed. The university later received the property and decided to demolish the home to eliminate the reminder of the murders. A memorial called “Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial” is planned to be constructed on campus in memory of the victims.
The families of the victims have emphasized the importance of preserving the King Road house, with concerns about evidentiary and emotional value. The families have been vocal about the significance of the crime scene and have urged for its preservation until the case is resolved. The trial date has not been set in the State of Idaho v. Bryan Kohberger case, while the suspect remains charged with first-degree murder and felony burglary in the killings of the four students. Kohberger, a former criminology student at Washington State University, has been found to be a positive match to DNA found at the crime scene.
The families continue to advocate for the retention of the King Road house, emphasizing its critical role in the case as they await justice for their loved ones.