Bryan Kohberger – updates: Idaho murders suspect may face firing squad as judge compares case to Lori Vallow

The man accused of breaking into a home in Moscow, Idaho, and stabbing four students to death in a shocking attack is now in a fight for his own life.

This week, prosecutors in Idaho announced that they are seeking the death penalty against Bryan Kohberger for the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle.

While Mr Kohberger is fighting against the charges, this development – and a recent change in Idaho state law – now means that he could face the firing squad if convicted of the murders.

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“My sister, Xana Kernodle was born on July 5th, 2002 making this year her 21st birthday. We hope to celebrate #xanapalooza this year and every year by being silly, having fun, getting out of our comfort zones, and loving life like she did each day,” her sister Jazzmin wrote on Facebook.

“She had the most love for living each day to the fullest, creating memories, gaining new experiences, being silly, and of course all those who surrounded her. Help us celebrate #xanapalooza and honor Xana for her 21st birthday on July 5th by doing something fun, new and spontaneous!”

Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death in the young women’s rental home on King Road in Moscow on 13 November. Chapin, Kernodle’s boyfriend, was staying at the residence, which is just a few minutes walk from campus, on the night of the murders.

According to an affidavit for Mr Kohberger’s arrest, the killings are believed to have taken place around 4am.

Among the revelations in the 18-page document is that Mr Kohberger’s DNA was found on a knife sheath that the killer left behind at the crime scene. The tan leather Kabar sheath, which featured the United States Marine Corps symbol, was discovered on Mogen’s bed next to her butchered body.

At the time of the quadruple homicide, the two other roommates, Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortenson, were inside the home, but were left unharmed by the killer. The police report reveals that Ms Mortenson came face to face with the masked killer.

According to Ms Mortenson’s terrifying account, she she saw “a figure clad in black clothing and a mask that covered the person’s mouth and nose walking towards her” as she stood in the doorway of her bedroom on the second floor. As she stood in a “frozen shock phase,” she said the man – who she did not recognise – walked past her and headed toward the back sliding glass door of the home. She then locked herself in her room.

Despite the close encounter, a 911 call wasn’t made until 11.58am – eight hours later. The call, made from one of the surviving roommates’ cellphones – reported an “unconscious individual”. It is unclear if the killer saw her or whether she simply had a lucky escape because he didn’t notice her inside the dark home.

This raises the question around whether or not he planned to kill all four victims or whether some of the victims were treated as collateral damage in the horrific attack. Goncalves and Mogen’s bodies were found in a bedroom on the third floor, while Kernodle and Chapin were found on the second floor of the home.

The affidavit reveals no details about what connection – if any – Mr Kohberger had to his alleged victims.

A picture has resurfaced of alleged quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger attending a lecture led by famed novelist Margaret Atwood at his alma mater.

Mr Kohberger, 28, is currently awaiting trial over the 13 November murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. But long before he was charged with the stabbings, Mr Kohberger had devoted his professional career to studying the criminal mind.

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Dressed in a dark suit and tie, he appeared solemn as he entered Latah County Courtroom and sat with his defence.

In the hearing, Judge John Judge pointed to the equally high-profile Lori Vallow murder case as he warned the media about the use of cameras in the courtroom.

Judge Judge said that outlets with cameras in the courtroom need to not focus solely on Mr Kohbeger, warning that some media has been “pushing the envelope”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp and Andrea Blanco report:

No murder weapon has been found, police said before the gag order was issued following Mr Kohberger’s arrest.

It is not known if the killer personally knew one or more of the victims and whether the attack was carried out in a fit of jealousy or rage. No motive is known.

Authorities have refused to reveal who made the 911 call and will not release the audio. It is unclear what the roommates and “other friends” discussed in the call and what led them to describe a victim as merely “unconscious”.

Investigators have not revealed whether they believed the killer entered the house before the victims arrived home and hid before striking in their sleep or whether he entered the house after the students returned.

Accused killer Bryan Kohberger has insisted he has “no connection” to the four slain University of Idaho students and has claimed that DNA from three other unidentified men was also found at the grisly crime scene.

Court documents, filed by attorneys for the 28-year-old PhD student last week, argue that DNA from two other men was also found inside the off-campus student home in Moscow, Idaho.

DNA from a third unknown man was also found on a glove found outside the property on 20 November – one week on from the murders, the documents state.

“By December 17, 2022, lab analysts were aware of two additional males’ DNA within the house where the deceased were located and another unknown male DNA on a glove found outside the residence on November 20, 2022,” Mr Kohberger’s attorney Jay Logsdon writes in the filing.

“To this date, the Defense is unaware of what sort of testing, if any, was conducted on these samples other than the STR DNA profiles.

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The man accused of breaking into a home in Moscow, Idaho, and stabbing four students to death in a shocking attack is now in a fight for his own life.

This week, prosecutors in Idaho announced that they are seeking the death penalty against Bryan Kohberger for the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle.

While Mr Kohberger is fighting against the charges, this development – and a recent change in Idaho state law – now means that he could face the firing squad if convicted of the murders.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp reports:

The father of a murdered University of Idaho student has welcomed news from prosecutors that the state will be seeking the death penalty against the sole suspect in the case.

Seven months after Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were found stabbed to death in their off-campus residence, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson filed a notice of his intent to seek the death penalty against their alleged killer, Bryan Kohberger.

Ahead of a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, Mr Thompson cited five “aggravating circumstances” that could warrant the maximum sentence of capital punishment being sought. Reacting to the developments, Goncalves’ father Steve Goncalves said he felt “relief” as his family comes one step closer to getting justice.

“I’m glad that we’re in a situation of strength and the evidence is there and we feel that we can, they can go forward with this,” Mr Goncalves told NBC News.

The Goncalves family’s attorney, Shanon Gray, also weighed in on the filing, noting that the death penalty was reserved for especially heinous crimes, such as the quadruple stabbings of the four university students on 13 November.

“If you’re not going to pursue the guy for the death penalty on a case like this, who are you going to pursue for death penalty?” Mr Gray told the network.