Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Suspect in University of Idaho Student Murders
Latah County prosecutors have announced their intention to seek the death penalty against Bryan Kohberger, the suspect accused of murdering four University of Idaho students last year. In a court filing on Monday, prosecutor Bill Thompson stated that there are no mitigating circumstances that prevent them from considering all penalties within the state, including capital punishment.
Kohberger, a former criminology student at nearby Washington State University, was arrested in late December, several weeks after the stabbing deaths of Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, and Xana Kernodle. The bodies of the victims were discovered by a roommate on November 13.
The decision to seek the death penalty comes about a month after a judge entered a plea of not guilty on Kohberger’s behalf for four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. Under state law, prosecutors typically have 60 days to formally notify a defendant if they plan to seek the death penalty.
Idaho recently amended its death penalty law, allowing state officials to seek execution by either lethal injection or firing squad if Kohberger is convicted by a jury and sentenced to death. Supporters of the law argue that death sentences have been ineffective in Idaho due to the state’s inability to obtain the necessary drugs for lethal injections. Idaho became the fifth state to adopt executions by firing squad, with the last firing squad execution taking place in Utah in 2010.
Kohberger, however, has expressed concerns about the potential for “mob justice” and has requested a ban on courtroom cameras. Experts have criticized the use of firing squads, calling it a “brutal message” and a step backward in terms of execution methods. Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, stated that using a firing squad reverts to older, cruel, and unusual methods of execution. He also noted that Idaho may face legal challenges due to this decision.
Previous court documents have revealed that Kohberger’s DNA is a match to the DNA found on a knife sheath at the crime scene. Investigators have also linked DNA found at the murder scene to Kohberger’s father, which was obtained from trash at the family home in Pennsylvania. Kohberger is set to appear in court on October 2 for a hearing where arguments will be presented regarding several motions tied to the case, including the defense’s request for more evidence related to the DNA linking Kohberger to the murders and details about his grand jury indictment.
