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An Idaho judge has granted Bryan Kohberger’s motion to move his quadruple murder away from the college town where four University of Idaho students were slaughtered in their home.
Latah County District Court Judge John C. Judge made the decision after the defense team successfully argued that a fair trial could not take place in Latah County.
Kohberger is accused of murdering Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at their off-campus home on November 13, 2022.
The new location of the high-profile trial was not immediately clear in the order released on Monday, but Boise, Idaho, which is about a six hour drive, is a top option. The decision will be left up to Idaho’s highest court.
Judge Judge cited the safety and security of those involved in the case, including victims’ families, jurors, and the “Latah County Community.”
“The Latah County courthouse itself poses significant issues for a trial of this length and magnitude.”
In a hearing last week, Kohberger’s attorneys argued that a “mob mentality” surrounded the case in Latah County after they surveyed potential jurors in Latah County who said there could be violence in the local area if he is found not guilty.
The order also cites “extensive negative publicity surrounding Kohberger.”
“Kohberger’s name and picture have been associated with terms like “murderer,” “evil,” “killer,” and “stalker,” when individuals hear that name there is a negative association,” according to the order. “This impact is greater in Latah County because of the saturation of the extensive media coverage.”
Potential jurors said “there would likely be a riot” and “they’d burn the courthouse down”. Prosecutors accused Kohberger’s team of using flawed survey data in its requests to move the trial, and argued the victims’ families will be affected if the case is moved.
Police said they linked Kohberger to the murders that rocked the college town through DNA found on a knife sheath, cellphone data, an eyewitness account, and his white Hyundai Elantra.
Kohberger is set to stand trial in June 2025.
