A civil rights violation defense for
#BryanKohberger
is looking more likely in the
#Idaho4
murder case, according to legal experts. The DNA method prosecutors acknoweldge police used to arrive at the suspect is under constitutional scrutiny.
#SundayReads
BREAKING:
#Idaho
's execution of Thomas Creech was halted at 10:58 a.m. after prison officials were unable to establish an IV for his execution. Death warrant to expire. More coming.
#deathpenalty
BREAKING: Judge in
#Idaho4
murder case dismisses all attempts by
#BryanKohberger
's defense to toss the grand jury indictment against their client on various legal grounds. Still no trial date set, but this brings a determination closer.
#MoscowHomicides
@joey_cranney
A very impressive list of painstaking investigative work from all 50 states over the past year. I’m honored to be included as the
#Idaho
representative. Thank you, and journalism on 📰✊
New: Judge in
#Idaho4
hearing Thursday scolded Anne Taylor, lead attorney for
#BryanKohberger
, over a phone poll she commissioned in change of venue push, and for arguing he violated her client's constitutional rights in prior ruling. Initial story here.
BREAKING:
#Idaho
Supreme Court denies appeal from
#Idaho4
defendant
#BryanKohberger
over his grand jury indictment, removing potential hurdle that threatened to further delay setting his murder trial date. Initial story here.
Breaking: Judge in
#Idaho4
murder case orders prosecution to turn over "portion" of DNA records — known as investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) — to
#BryanKohberger
defense team. Prosecutors fought for months against doing so. Story coming momentarily, via
@IdahoStatesman
.
Judge in
#BryanKohberger
case denied defense motion to stay proceedings based on grand jury, and also rolled back prior limited stay of 37 days related to delay in state turning over grand jury records. We remain on track for Oct. 2 trial, with jury selection one week before.
I'm frustrated I have to say this but my thread is being used like a message board: People, per the US justice system,
#BryanKohberger
is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Period. He should neither be executed, nor convicted in a court of public opinon. That is all.
#Idaho4
"If I went down to the bar and had a few drinks and was talking with some people and saying, 'Hey, did you know this about the
#Kohberger
case?' and the defense found out about it, they would go ballistic."
–Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson.
#Idaho4
BREAKING:
#Idaho
prison officials, unable to find vein for lethal injection IV, call off
#exection
of serial killer Thomas Creech, 73, state's longest-serving death row prisoner. His death warrant will expire.
Random: During break in
#Idaho4
hearing,
#BryanKohberger
left the courtroom … Several members of Goncalves family here, one with T-shirt promoting
#Idaho
firing squad death penalty … Chief James Fry here in back, too … Court artist here … State AG’s arguing for state so far.
Good morning from
#Moscow
,
#Idaho
where
#BryanKohberger
is set for what could be a fairly consequential hearing in the
#Idaho4
murder case. We’re T-2.5 hours from its start and media members still arriving. Stay tuned here and
@IdahoStatesman
for more. Questions? Fire away.
A nearly full house here in the courtroom between family (Goncalves) that I see, members of the public and media who have traveled for the hearing. Starting to hear this could be a long one.
#BryanKohberger
#Idaho4
Important clarification in the
#Idaho4
case: Victims' families *DO NOT* fall under court's gag order. Attorneys, however, for them (as well as witnesses and defense/prosecution of
#BryanKohberger
) do. Anything said/published to the contrary is wrong. (1/3)
New: Attorneys for
#BryanKohberger
appealed their effort to throw out his grand jury indictment to the
#Idaho
Supreme Court. If case is accepted, it may delay the
#Idaho4
trial even further, which already has drawn the ire of some victims' families. Story.
Breaking: The
@uidaho
announced today that the King Road home where
#Idaho4
were killed will be razed on Dec. 28. Attorneys for
#BryanKohberger
will visit a final time today/tomorrow for photos/measurements as they prepare for trial. Story coming via
@alex_brizee
@IdahoStatesman
.
Update: Today's scheduled closed-door evidentiary hearing for
#BryanKohberger
has been canceled. The court clerk told me she was unable to say why or answer questions about it. The other
#Idaho4
closed hearing set for Thursday remains on the calendar.
BREAKING:
#deathrow
inmate
#GeraldPizzuto
was just granted life in prison by a district court judge, who ruled the
#Idaho
governor lacks the authority under the state constitution to reject a clemency recommendation in a murder conviction. Story coming via
@IdahoStatesman
...
NEW:
#BryanKohberger
's public defender was attorney of record for parent to one of
#IdahoHomicides
victims when the judge appointed her to case. This prompts conflict of interest questions for legal experts, and may require each client to offer consent.
Update: The family of
#Idaho4
victim Kaylee Goncalves released the following statement today after the murder trial of
#BryanKohberger
was scheduled to start June 2, 2025. The judge expects it could run until Aug. 29, 2025. Story here.
Update: The public portion of the
#BryanKohberger
grand jury indictment dismissal hearing is delayed because the morning session is ongoing. Unclear at this point when the afternoon session might begin. Stay tuned …
#Idaho4
NEW:
#Moscow
suspect
#BryanKohberger
was booted from his HS law enforcement program after investigation into incident involving female students, acc'd to former school administrator, per an
@iHeartRadio
(The
#Idaho
Massacre) podcast. h/t
@chrisonchris
.
Take this for whatever it's worth --
#BryanKohberger
appears relaxed at
#Idaho4
hearing: Eyes up, focused on witness testimony and occasionally Anne Taylor as she asks questions, and prosecutor when they object. He briefly smirked as witness joked about spelling scientific terms.
During combative
#Idaho4
hearing late Wednesday, attorneys on both sides disclosed that
#BryanKohberger
did not stalk a victim. The judge in the murder case also said a defense survey question about the suspect following a victim on social media was false.
Defense in
#Idaho4
case said in new alibi filing that
#BryanKohberger
was avid hiker, runner, moon- and stargazer. They doubled-down that he was out driving alone, and said cellphone data will prove his whereabouts during the homicides. Final story here.
Defense in
#BryanKohberger
case will call four witnesses today on IGG. State objected to three of them, but Judge Judge will allow all to testify in argument for release of
#genetic
genealogy
#DNA
evidence. Brief pause here while witnesses escorted out but first one.
NEW: The
@CityOfBoise
/
@Ada_County
Housing Authorities ran out of emergency
#COVID
rental aid as
#Idaho
had millions in surplus. The feds took back $22M after the state didn’t pursue transferring it to keep the funds instate.
#idleg
#idpol
Really and truly: Thank you to everyone who’s helped me get where I am in this profession today. You don’t set out to win awards like
#Idaho
Print Reporter of the Year – namely back to back – and I’m humbled. Gratitude to the
@IdahoPressClub
and my
@IdahoStatesman
colleagues.
The FBI's use of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) on DNA found at
#Idaho4
crime scene to land on
#BryanKohberger
as the suspect is raising civil rights issues. Depending on facts of the process, it could form the basis for his defense.
#deathpenalty
BREAKING: Trial date for
#Idaho4
defendant
#BryanKohberger
set for summer 2025. Arguments over a possible change of venue out of Latah County are still scheduled for Aug. 29. Story here.
Update: Judge in
#Idaho4
case rules for
#BryanKohberger
defense that they may continue survey to justify change of venue without modification. Two questions at issue with false information now part of the court record after being read at prior pretrial hearings over this issue.
Some very odd coincidences in the
#Idaho4
case. This one is up there. Great sluething
@MelissaKXLY4
. UI spox: "We did talk about it briefly early, when the president became aware his dad had owned it. But we did not feel a property he sold 50 years ago was highly relevant now."
The president of the University of Idaho has presided over his campus through the trauma of four murdered students. Today we've uncovered that his family used to own the property where the murders took place. Click image for story.
Police and prosecutors have never acknowledged
@OthramTech
by name for involvement in
#Idaho4
investigation of suspect
#BryanKohberger
. Within my story is the invoice the DNA company sent
#Idaho
State Police for $5K for rushed
#IGG
work in November 2022.
Update: Through another records response, I can now confirm the Pennsylvania flight for
#BryanKohberger
to Pullman, WA, cost $14,100 (as
@KTVB
reported), plus ~$8,209 for staff escort. The
@PAStatePolice
did not bill
#Idaho
for total of $22,309.
#Idaho4
NEW: The
@uidaho
has again delayed demolition of the King Road home in
#Moscow
that
#BryanKohberger
is accused of entering and killing the
#Idaho4
. The school had planned to knock it down in October, when the murder trial was previously set to begin.
New: Previously unnamed former King Road house roommate to some of the
#Idaho4
victims came forward publicly for first time in exclusive interview with
@kxly4news
'
@HunterBertramTV
. Suspect
#BryanKohberger
has 2 closed pretrial hearings set for next week.
New: Busy legal day in
#Idaho
and US. In lengthy public
#Idaho4
hearing, defense for
#BryanKohberger
disclosed plans to challenge evidence, while revealing for first time that prosecution relied on dozens of sealed subpoenas through federal grand jury.
Update: In
#Idaho4
case, on agreement from attorneys on both sides, the hearing to argue a change of venue is delayed from June 27 to Aug. 29. Hearing was originally set for mid-May. This undoubtedly delays scheduling a trial date further.
#BryanKohberger
New:
#Idaho
firing squad bill, which AG Raúl Labrador helped draft, surprised prison officials. So did his pursuit of a death warrant w/out notice, records show. A death penalty expert called AG’s action a “political stunt” to pass the bill.
#idleg
#idpol
BREAKING:
#BryanKohberger
waives speedy trial right, indefinitely posting his capital murder trial from prior Oct. 2 start date. Stay tuned, more coming, via
@IdahoStatesman
.
FBI's use of crime scene DNA on public ancestry sites to find
#BryanKohberger
raises questions over limits on civil liberties. The
#Idaho4
prosecution's push to restrict defense from all
#IGG
records adds to due-process concerns, w/
@mawilner
.
#SundayReads
A slew of new
#Idaho4
defense and prosecution legal briefs posted late yesterday. I aim to help sort through it all and their implications for
#BryanKohberger
ahead of newly scheduled hearing this Thursday before other pretrial hearings in May, June.
#Idaho
US Rep.
@RussFulcher
has spent more than 1/3 of his total campaign expenditures this election cycle on his daughter’s salary. She’s worked as his full-time campaign manager since he first ran in 2017. Subscriber🔒
Members of the public at the Latah County Courthouse in
#Moscow
still waiting to be let into the
#BryanKohberger
hearing by deputies at 1:07 p.m. PT.
#Idaho4
And we're back here at 11:48 a.m. PT, as Judge Judge returns in
#BryanKohberger
hearing. Attorney/Dr. Leah Larkin next up for defense witness testimony.
A new pretrial hearing has been scheduled for later this month in
#Idaho4
murder case against
#BryanKohberger
, not long after the judge agreed to extend more access to IGG
#DNA
records to his attorneys as they continue to mount his legal defense.
#Idaho
Down in
@GoHealdsburg
tonight for a peaceful rally expected to draw hundreds to the downtown city plaza. Nearly 100 people with signs supporting the national movement already here.
Judge in
#BryanKohberger
case sets deadline for all DNA records held by FBI in
#Idaho4
investigation so prosecution can comply with defense discovery request. For first time,
@OthramTech
also confirmed as private lab in case. Final story w/
@BenDeWitt321
.
Scoop: The
#Idaho4
case against
#BryanKohberger
, still a year from trial, already has cost
#Idaho
taxpayers millions of dollars, acc'd to public documents exclusively obtained by the
@IdahoStatesman
. The
@uidaho
has spent the most at $1.6M, records showed.
Update: The
#execution
of
#Idaho
death row prisoner Thomas Creech, 73, is scheduled to start now — 10 a.m. MT. Members of the media in a tent outside the maximum security prison south of Boise are not expected to have confirmation of further details until 11 a.m.
#deathpenalty
New: Shanon Gray, attorney for the family of
#Idaho4
victim Kaylee Goncalves, issued the following statement on behalf of his clients on Friday. They again requested the
@uidaho
not destroy the King Road home before the murder trial of
#BryanKohberger
.
Thread: Yesterday, I reported on latest
#Idaho4
hearing for
#BryanKohberger
, over the defense's use of a phone poll to survey prospective jurors in county for potential bias in the push for a change of venue. The survey ?s are now a point of intrigue. /1
New: Just ahead of
#Idaho4
hearing later this morning, judge in the
#BryanKohberger
murder case agreed the defense should receive some DNA (investigative genetic genealogy – IGG) records in discovery. But he may restrict others at the hearing. Story here.
Update: Both scheduled hearings this week for
#BryanKohberger
have been postponed to May 30, to allow both sides in the
#Idaho4
case more time to prepare. The first hearing is now public, while the second on IGG records will remain closed. Original story.
And at 10:36, we are underway with
#BryanKohberger
entering the courtroom in a blue suit jacket and striped tie.
#Idaho4
hearing. Judge Judge just sat, too.
Attorney Stephen Mercer of Maryland now 30 mins into his witness testimony for
#BryanKohberger
defense about his
#DNA
-
#genetic
genealogy expertise, explaining why discovery of such material is critical to testing legitimacy of results from family tree profile development.
ICYMI — On newsstands today, constitutional rights questions linger over the way police landed on
#BryanKohberger
as the suspect in
#Idaho4
slayings. His criminal defense may hinge on use of his DNA from a genealogy site without his consent.
#WeekendReads
The rumors are true. I’ve enjoyed Boise so much, I’ve decided to stay a while and enlist as an investigative reporter focused on accountability with
@IdahoStatesman
. I pledge to be fair, accurate, open-minded and a watchdog for the community.
We've landed another one: Kevin Fixler,
@kfixler
, will join the
@IdahoStatesman
later this month as an investigative reporter.
Kevin is the eighth new hire in our newsroom in 2021, and we're recruiting three more. Our newsroom is growing — a rare thing to say these days.
Update – From Idaho judicial branch spokesperson: "As stated in the order itself, this applies to the parties of the case, not the records of the case. … This is setting up the record of the case to be the source of information of the case."
#Idahohomocides
#Kohberger
#gagorder
BREAKING: Attorneys on both sides of
#Idaho4
capital murder case each acknowledged at Friday hearing that a trial for
#BryanKohberger
is unlikely before 2025. A change of venue also could factor. Initial story here w/
@BenDeWitt321
.
For those still up, the final version of my story from today's lengthy
#BryanKohberger
hearing is now posted. The
#Idaho4
judge on Friday set a breakneck pace to keep the case on schedule for its planned Oct. 2 trial date, at this point still in
#Moscow
.
Back in
#Moscow
for Thursday’s
#Idaho4
pretrial hearing for
#BryanKohberger
. His attorneys will make arguments to toss the grand jury indictment – most of which will be done behind closed doors in the morning. I’ll be covering the public afternoon session.
For those tracking the
#IdahoFour
#MoscowHomicides
: Earlier this month, I traveled to PA’s Poconos region to see and experience where
#BryanKohberger
grew up, incl his childhood home. Look for my
@IdahoStatesman
story Weds about how the community is still reeling from his arrest.
ICYMI Thursday — The revelation at a hearing that the US Attorney’s Office helped obtain evidence in
#Idaho4
case against
#BryanKohberger
is yet another wrinkle that further emphasizes the level of federal involvement and interest in the high-profile case.
Final: Police didn't find weapons, dark clothes, incl masks or diamond-pattern shoes, in
#Idahohomocides
suspect
#BryanKohberger
's on-campus apt or office, accd to unsealed WA warrants. They did take stained bedding, electronic devices and 13 hair strands.
Another 10-min break called by Judge after state objects to PowerPoint presentation of
#genetic
witness, which prosecution had yet to review. They're doing that now following two objections.
#BryanKohberger
again leaves room at direction of bailiff. Coming back at 12:10 p.m. PT.
Classmates in Washington State University’s criminal justice/criminology graduate program said
#BryanKohberger
showed himself to be outgoing, and largely maintained privacy about his past. He was silent during a class discussion about the
#IdahoHomocides
.
UPDATE: "Other than that incident,
#BryanKohberger
was a very strong student, performed well and he took his program very seriously. His uniform was immaculate every day, everything about him was perfect, so to speak," said the former school admin.
#Idaho4
ICYMI — Judge sets date for murder trial of
#BryanKohberger
in
#Idaho4
homicides for *June 2025*. "I tried to balance this out, and I do think it's a pretty fair balance and I hope realistic," he said Thursday. Where it will be held is the next question.
The
#IdahoStudentsSuspect
#BryanKohberger
told a neighbor he felt college students partying on a Friday night were "wasting their time," and he eats one meal a day. Also, he took a DNA test to learn his ancestry, which may factor into how police found him.
Interesting ... And another search warrant for Instagram sought data for accounts held by Xana, Kaylee and Madison dating back to June 23, 2022. Investigators already had obtained that information for Xana, Kaylee and Ethan from Aug. 1-Dec. 1, 2022.
#Idaho4
Among the new
#BryanKohberger
court documents, one of the search warrants is for TikTok accounts of Ethan, Dylan, & Bethany.
Timeframe they were looking at for Dylan & Bethany was June 1, 2022 through present (July 24, 2023).
Also a search warrant for a Microsoft account that
@kfixler
@icecastles22
@2for1Chumgum
@IdahoStatesman
Typically, correct. But the media treatment of
#Kohberger
is far from typical. It’s whole other level. This is one way to humanize him and add balance to an eviscerated presumption of innocence. His counsel has set record for judicial notice of media impact. I like this!
NEW: Sheriff's Office in Hancock County, Indiana, released body-cam footage of Bryan
#Kohberger
's first of two traffic stops for following too closely as he drove with his father from WA to PA, Dec. 15. He received warnings in both stops.
#Idahohomicides
Larkin wraps testimony at 12:59 p.m. PT. Judge calls her testimony "very educational." He plans to take lunch break for one hour
#BryanKohberger
The
#Idaho4
hearing will reconven at 2 p.m. PT, including with two more
#DNA
-related witnesses.
BREAKING: A WA judge today unsealed pair of search warrants for
#MoscowHomicides
suspect
#BryanKohberger
's Washington State University apt, on-campus criminology dept office. Seized: Black rubber glove, vacuum dust container, red-stained bedding. Story coming via
@IdahoStatesman
.
New: Despite protests from some of the victims' families, the off-campus
#Moscow
home where the
#Idaho4
were killed is already half-demolished. Murder suspect
#BryanKohberger
still awaits a trial date. Story here with
@BenDeWitt321
.
A note to viewers: Last week was my last day with The Press Democrat newspaper. Some exciting journo stuff is in the works, and I'll provide updates soon. It was a fun 3-plus years with
@NorthBayNews
, with too many thanks to give. For now, stay tuned ...
Update: I've spoken with the source, who I previously cited in a prior
#Idaho4
story earlier this year. I've confirmed the details as included in her podcast interview, and more about her memories of high school-aged
#BryanKohberger
. Story will be posted in roughly the next hour.
NEW: The judge in the
#BryanKohberger
#Idaho4
case announced he will continue to allow still/video cameras in the courtroom for now, but plans to take more "control" of them. He did not detail what that means for future hearings/trial. Final story here.
This
@kentphotos
gallery ... 👀 A true pleasure working with this total pro. He told me he lost 6 lbs. in that heat to bring you these stellar images. Please enjoy.
"It was absolutely the right move in a case like this," Boise-based criminal defense attorney Edwin Elcox told me about delaying the
#Idaho4
trial of
#BryanKohberger
. She predicts a new trial date in 2024, w/
@BenDeWitt321
, special to the
@IdahoStatesman
.
BREAKING: PA State Police arrested Bryan Kohberger, 28, in connection to
#UofI
killings, and he awaits extradition, accd to court record. He is in custody at Monroe County (PA) Correctional Facility, jail records show.
@alex_brizee
has more. h/t
@mawilner
I took a sizable pay cut to join the
@IdahoStatesman
as a "senior-level" reporter, on a $55,000 salary. I did it because I'm passionate about the work. I came to learn most of my very talented coworkers are paid far less, but
@mcclatchy
doesn't want you to know. Pay equity now✊
After making excuses at the bargaining table for more than a year,
@mcclatchy
finally admitted why it refuses to post salary information with job postings.
McClatchy thinks it hurts them “competitively.”
For an explainer on what's at the center of this legal debate on whether
#Idaho4
prosecution must turn over
#DNA
records to
#BryanKohberger
defense, see my past story, w/
@mawilner
. Yes, it's possibly paywalled. Spare me the complaints.
#SupportLocalNews
✊
NEW: Those who knew
#BryanKohberger
in HS recall a heavyset kid interested in law enforcement. Former friends say his weight was an obsession, and drugs pushed him off course in an area known for them. The Poconos remains in recovery after
#IdahoHomicides
.
Sonoma County’s Los Guilicos complex, incl several historic buildings, infrastructure and even a sanctioned homeless camp, took the heaviest local financial hit – est. $8M – from the
#Glassfire
. Story coming in
@NorthBayNews
... with
@alvinjornada
.
NEW: At least some of the
#Idaho4
victims' families oppose demolishing the King Road home until after the scheduled October murder trial for
#BryanKohberger
, citing evidentiary concerns.
@uidaho
has no set date, but hopes to raze the home by late August.