Moscow, Idaho – The prosecution team in the Bryan Kohberger murder case was granted access to the ‘King Road house’ on Thursday, seven days before the scheduled demolition of what they called “one of the most critical pieces of evidence.” This house is where four University of Idaho students were brutally slain last year.
The victims, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, were murdered in the off-campus residence on Nov. 13, 2022. The University of Idaho plans to demolish the house on Dec. 28 but the prosecution sought access to gather more information regarding the gruesome crime scene in preparation for the pending trial.
The defense and the families of three of the victims have expressed the desire to preserve the house, while the university has stated that neither the prosecution nor the defense has asked for the house to be retained and will proceed with the demolition. The house was given to the university after the murders, and they made the decision to demolish it to eliminate the grim reminder of the tragic event.
According to prosecutors, lab results showed that Kohberger was a positive match to DNA found at the crime scene. Yet, with a gag order imposed by the court, no further information or comments have been provided by the prosecutor’s office, investigators, or law enforcement. The trial date for the State of Idaho v. Bryan Kohberger case has yet to be set.
The families of the victims continue to stress the importance of preserving the house, as they believe it to be one of the most critical pieces of evidence in the case. The university plans to construct a memorial on campus in memory of the victims, while the families and the defense fight to keep the house standing until the case is resolved.