DNA on knife sheath 'most critical' evidence against Bryan Kohberger, says ex-FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe
This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently
MOSCOW, IDAHO: Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, who has been charged with the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students, was arrested on December 30 at his parents' home in eastern Pennsylvania, more than 2,500 miles away from the town of Moscow. The probable cause affidavit, released on January 5, revealed some key details of the case, such as the phone data pointing out that Kohberger was in the area of the murders at least 12 times before the killings and that the suspect left behind a knife sheath at the crime scene with his DNA on it. Also, the quadruple-murder accused was ‘seen’ by one of the survivors, Dylan Mortensen. Andrew McCabe, an ex-FBI official, in a recent interview mentioned that the DNA found on the knife sheath is the 'most critical' evidence.
Four University of Idaho students, Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were stabbed to death on November 13 in their off-campus rental home on King Road in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger, a PhD student in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the neighboring Washington State University, has been arrested for the murders and is now facing four counts of first-degree murder and felony burglary charges. Kohberger waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing as he appeared in court on Thursday, January 12.
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The probable cause affidavit points out several important pieces of evidence that link Kohberger to the murders. While speaking to CNN about this, McCabe discussed the "most critical" piece of evidence in the case against the suspect.
Speaking on the phone records, McCabe said, "The fact the phone puts him in the area of the house on 12 occasions prior to the homocide is pretty strong confirmation that long before the murders he was already focused on this residence and or focused on the occupants of the house." However, he added that the phone records are largely "supportive evidence" and don't show that Kohberger entered the residence.
Calling the DNA on the knife sheath, which matched with Kohberger, 'absolutely critical', McCabe said, "It's absolutely critical. It's by far the most important piece of evidence in this case." He further added, "Even with all the phone records that puts him in the area, shows him moving back and forth, likely between his residence and the homicide scene, on the night of the murders, none of that actually puts him in the house.The DNA puts him not just in the house but literally in the bed where two victims were found. So it's absolutely the most critical piece of evidence."
McCabe also explained how the DNA might have been transferred to the knife sheath, "It's possible that the DNA got placed on the button of the knife sheath before the homicide. Maybe as he was picking up his things and preparing to go that night, before he had put his gloves on. So, again it gives you a piece of DNA that you might not have otherwise collected from the crime scene if he was smart enough to wear gloves during the commission of the crime," he said.
McCabe added, "And then of course it is the familial DNA recovered from the garbage in the Pennsylvania area by the parent's house that actually gives us a pretty good identification that the DNA belongs to Kohberger."
McCabe further said it's likely that the investigators have collected additional evidence after the arrest.
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