Idaho Murders: Bryan Kohberger's motive for killings not important for conviction, says ex-FBI agent
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MOSCOW, IDAHO: The motive of the suspected killer, Bryan Kohberger arrested for the murders of four University of Idaho students is not necessary for securing a murder conviction, claimed a retired FBI agent. The Washington University Student, 28, was arrested on December 30 for allegedly killing 21-year-old students Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, and 20-year-olds Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in the early hours of November 13.
Kohberger, who is currently being quartered in Latah County Jail, is now facing four counts of first-degree murder and felony burglary charges and is expected to be in court for a status hearing on January 12. According to the probable cause affidavit, the investigators connected the suspect to murders after his DNA was reportedly found near the victims’ bodies. In addition, it was also revealed that Kohberger returned to the victims’ rented residence just a few hours after the massacre. However, the documents did not provide any information about the suspected killer’s motive behind the gruesome killings.
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Reflecting on the information, Bobby Chacon, a retired FBI agent said he believes the investigators are still gathering evidence to determine Kohberger’s motive. "I think they've got an idea of the motive and they're looking for more evidence of that motive," he told NewsNation. But he also added that it is not essential to ascertain the motive behind the killings to obtain a murder conviction.
"As an investigator, the motive was the least important thing I did...Because of most murder statutes, you don't need to prove why somebody does it. My main thrust as an investigator was, who did this crime and how do I prove it? How do I help the prosecution get a conviction?" Chacon continued. "The why of it was always the least important for me unless it led to other things in the investigation—unless it is to blunt a defense motion, a defense assertion that it was you know, self-defense or something like that."
In a previous interview, the FBI agent claimed that he believes Bryan might have returned to the crime scene to indulge in the "fruits of his actions." “I think this is sometimes classic criminal behavior where criminals revisit the scene of the crime,” Chacon told News Nation. "I think he might have gone back there to see if there were ambulances or police cars. He probably expected the police to be there already.” Sometimes it is the thrill, we have seen people stand behind police lines at fires, arsonists do this a lot.” The former FBI agent continued.
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