A judge’s ruling in Idaho upholds crucial DNA evidence in the Bryan Kohberger murder case, dealing a blow to the defense’s attempts to suppress key genetic and digital data.
At a Glance
- Judge Steven Hippler denied motions to suppress DNA and digital evidence in Bryan Kohberger’s murder trial
- The court found no violation of Kohberger’s constitutional rights during police searches
- Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) evidence remains admissible in the trial
- Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted
- The trial is set to begin in August
Judge Upholds Key Evidence in University of Idaho Murders Case
In a significant development for the prosecution, Judge Steven Hippler has denied Bryan Kohberger’s defense motions to suppress critical evidence in the upcoming murder trial. The ruling, made in Boise, Idaho, ensures that genetic data and digital records from tech giants Google, Apple, and Amazon will remain admissible in court.
Kohberger stands accused of four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves. The defense had argued that police violated Kohberger’s Fourth Amendment rights by not obtaining warrants for genetic genealogy searches and a trash pull.
The court’s decision to uphold the use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) is a crucial win for prosecutors. IGG is employed when DNA from a crime scene doesn’t match standard law enforcement databases, allowing investigators to search genealogy databases for potential relatives of suspects.
In this case, investigators found “touch DNA” on a knife sheath at the crime scene, which led to Kohberger’s identification as a suspect through IGG. The judge ruled that Kohberger had no legitimate expectation of privacy in the DNA left at the crime scene, effectively shutting down the defense’s argument.
Digital Evidence Also Deemed Admissible
Beyond the genetic evidence, Judge Hippler also denied motions to suppress digital evidence from Kohberger’s Google, Apple, Amazon, and AT&T accounts. The court cited the “third-party doctrine,” which states that individuals have no privacy interest in information shared with third parties.
This ruling ensures that search warrants for Kohberger’s Google data and cell phone information remain legally sound and can be used by the prosecution. The decision maintains the strength of the prosecution’s case as the trial approaches.
With these crucial pieces of evidence remaining admissible, the prosecution’s case against Kohberger appears robust. The trial, scheduled to begin in August, will likely feature this genetic and digital evidence prominently as prosecutors seek to prove Kohberger’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Kohberger faces the possibility of the death penalty, which prosecutors have stated they intend to seek. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus now shifts to the trial itself, where the evidence deemed admissible by Judge Hippler will play a central role in determining Kohberger’s fate.
