BOISE, Idaho – Bryan Kohberger, who faced charges of burglary and four counts of first-degree murder, changed his plea to guilty, ensuring he will avoid the death penalty. The maximum sentence for each murder count is life without parole.
Prosecutor Bill Thompson outlined the case the state of Idaho would have presented had Kohberger gone to trial. Thompson detailed how Kohberger purchased a knife and sheath online while residing in Pennsylvania in March 2022. Kohberger then moved to Pullman, WA, to pursue a PhD in criminal justice at Washington State University.
Thompson explained that between July and November 2022, Kohberger’s phone connected to a cell tower near the 1122 King Road residence in Moscow, ID, 23 times. On Nov. 13, 2022, Kohberger’s phone was turned off during critical hours, coinciding with surveillance footage showing a vehicle matching his Hyundai Elantra near the crime scene.
Surveillance cameras captured Kohberger’s car circling the 1122 King Rd. area before he allegedly entered the residence and committed the murders. “The state believes that its evidence would then show that the defendant entered the residence of 1122 through the kitchen sliding door,” Thompson stated.
Kohberger’s DNA was allegedly found on a knife sheath left at the scene. The state also presented evidence of Kohberger’s attempts to replace the knife and alter his purchase history on Amazon.
Thompson indicated that Kohberger was aware of law enforcement’s interest in him and had cleaned his car meticulously. “The state would present to the jury that that was part of the defendant’s plan in covering up this,” Thompson said.
Kohberger’s arrest was facilitated by DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene. Although the murder weapon has not been recovered, the state was prepared to present extensive evidence supporting the charges.
