Judge Allows DNA Evidence To Be Used in Bryan Kohberger Case

A judge’s ruling preserves DNA evidence against Bryan Kohberger in the Idaho college murders case.

Key Insights

Judge Steven Hippler denied the defense’s motion to suppress DNA evidence linking Bryan Kohberger to the murder of four University of Idaho students.
The DNA evidence, found on a knife sheath at the crime scene, was ruled admissible and not a violation of Kohberger’s constitutional rights.
Kohberger’s trial is set for August, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty if convicted.
The defense’s argument that two unidentified DNA samples at the crime scene could indicate Kohberger’s non-involvement was deemed unconvincing by the judge.
Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary for the November 13, 2022 killings.

Judge’s Ruling Upholds Key Evidence

Judge Steven Hippler has turned down Bryan Kohberger’s defense team’s motion to suppress crucial DNA evidence in the Idaho college murders case. This decision preserves a central piece of evidence linking Kohberger to the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in November 2022. The defense had argued that Kohberger’s DNA was collected without a warrant, potentially violating his constitutional rights. However, Judge Hippler ruled that there is no expectation of privacy for evidence left at a crime scene.

The DNA evidence in question was found on a knife sheath at the crime scene and was linked to Kohberger through family tree databases and DNA obtained from trash outside his family’s home. This evidence has been a cornerstone of the prosecution’s case against Kohberger, who is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.

The judge overseeing the case of the man charged with killing four Idaho college students in 2022 has denied a request to exclude potentially key DNA and other evidence from his upcoming capital murder trial. https://t.co/8Khtb8xUIH

— ABC News (@ABC) February 20, 2025

Defense Strategy Setback

The defense team’s strategy took a considerable hit with this ruling. They had hoped to exclude not only the DNA evidence but also other crucial elements of the prosecution’s case, including cell phone data and security footage. The defense argued that Kohberger’s constitutional rights were violated in the collection of this evidence, but Judge Hippler disagreed, finding no improper conduct in the investigative process.

In a further attempt to cast doubt on Kohberger’s involvement, the defense highlighted two DNA samples from unidentified males found at the crime scene. These samples, discovered on a handrail and a glove outside the King Road home, did not match Kohberger and came from different individuals. However, Judge Hippler remained unconvinced that these samples negated the probable cause for Kohberger’s arrest, especially given the presence of his DNA on the knife sheath found under one of the victim’s bodies.

What’s Next?

Kohberger, a former Ph.D. student in criminology at Washington State University, is accused of breaking into an off-campus home and killing four University of Idaho students on November 13, 2022. If convicted, he may face the death penalty for these crimes.

The judge’s decision also addressed concerns about the necessity of Kohberger’s arrest, citing potential evidence destruction and officer safety. Surveillance had observed Kohberger acting suspiciously the night of his arrest, wearing rubber gloves and handling a plastic baggie. As the case moves forward, time will tell what fate awaits Kohberger in the courtroom.