The Idaho Supreme Court ruled on Thursday where next year’s University of Idaho murder trial will take place, in addition to appointing a new judge to the case.
According to the Idaho Statesman, the state justices said Bryan Kohnberger’s trial — and all legal proceedings pertaining to it — will be held at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler will preside over the high-profile case moving forward.
READ: Judge Approves Accused Idaho College Killer Bryan Kohberger’s Request to Move Trial
The ruling comes a week after the presiding judge, Idaho Second District Judge John C. Judge, agreed to have the case moved out of Latah County amid concerns about publicity and media attention that could jeopardize Kohberger’s right to a fair trial. Further, the judge noted that the Latah County courthouse lacked space and local police did not have enough deputies to provide adequate security.
Kohberger’s trial was expected to begin on June 2, 2025, but it is unclear whether the recent ruling will lead to a delay.
In light of Thursday’s ruling, the state supreme court also ordered that custody of Kohberger will be transferred to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office. However, Latah County will cover financial costs related to the high-profile trial, the Idaho Statesman reported.
Kohberger, a former Washington State University student, is accused of murdering Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves on November 13, 2022, at an off-campus home near the school.
Kohberger’s attorneys have claimed Kohberger was not at the crime scene and was driving around alone the night Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed at the women’s off-campus home on November 13, 2022.
Mogen was found dead in bed next to Goncalves, and a knife sheath was reportedly discovered near their bodies. Downstairs, on the second floor, Kernodle was found slain next to Chapin, her boyfriend. Two surviving roommates discovered the bodies and called the cops.
Police claimed Kohberger visited the area 12 times before the slayings and that he turned off his phone on the night in question.
Investigators tested DNA from a trash can outside Kohberger’s family home in Pennsylvania against DNA found on the sheath at the crime scene. Testing determined that “at least 99.9998% of the male population would be expected to be excluded from the possibility of being the suspect’s biological father.”
At the time of the slayings, Kohberger was obtaining his Ph.D. in criminology from Washington State University, which is located 10 miles from the crime scene. He was arrested in Pennsylvania in December 2022, after taking a cross-country road trip with his father from Washington to Pennsylvania.
Prosecutors filed court documents detailing their intent to pursue the death penalty as they deemed the slayings were “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.”
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[Feature Photo: Monroe County PD/Bryan Kohberger]
