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Expert believes Bryan Kohberger's trash could be key evidence, Internet prays 'he's found guilty'

'Remember, he thinks he's smarter than the cops, and they will fight evidence collected', said the ex-Miami homicide detective

This article is based on sources and we have been unable to verify this information independently.

MOSCOW, IDAHO: A former investigator-turned-criminal justice professor has claimed Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger's trash, collected in Pennsylvania, could be key evidence in the case against him. The 28-year-old has been accused of fatally stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, in their off-campus three-story rented home on November 13, 2022. 

Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, believes whatever is in trash bags that Kohberger is said to have thrown in a garbage can that belonged to a neighbor of his parents in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, could help in the investigation. Cops earlier raided Kohberger's parent's home in the Pocono Mountains, seizing evidence and arresting him.

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'He thinks he's smarter than the cops'

"He may have had evidence in his trunk that he took back with him," Giacalone told Fox News Digital. "I’m sure he was under surveillance when he was packing up to leave." Giacalone was referring to earlier media reports that claimed a law enforcement source said Kohberger was allegedly seen by a surveillance team, trying to hide trash late at night between December 22, 2022, and his arrest on December 30, 2022. The murder weapon has still not been recovered. 

While information about what was found in the trash was sealed for 60 days by a Monroe County judge, the warrants possibly contain details about what was found in Kohberger's parent's house, his car, and any devices he may have had with him when he was taken into custody. 

"I think he knew they could search his trash cans – that's why he did that," Pat Diaz, a former Miami-Dade homicide detective and now a private investigator said, "Remember, he thinks he's smarter than the cops, and they will fight evidence collected."

What items were found during the apartment search?

In a different search operation, cops raided Kohberger's Washington apartment after his arrest in Pennsylvania and found possible animal hair strands, disposable gloves, and items with red and brown stains. They have also recovered receipts, mattress covers, and the dust container of a vacuum cleaner. Among other things, they also collected a Fire TV stick during their search. All of these recovered items are now being stored at the Washington State University Police department.

Kohberger was a PhD student in Washington State University’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. It has been revealed that he returned to the crime scene area and may even have stalked their homes about 12 times before the attack. His cell phone pinged its location in the area of the house where the crimes were committed at around 9 am on November 13, which was just five hours after he killed the students. He was arrested in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, on December 30, following a massive manhunt. He now reportedly plans to fight the probable cause evidence in a June 26 preliminary hearing, according to his attorney, Kootenai County Public Defender Anne Taylor. 

'This could put his defense in the dump'

Social media users reacted to the news, with one user saying, "Trash is public property which means anyone can plant evidence there". "Remember it only takes enough to convince the jury... if his DNA was all over that room the jury is going to know 1) he wasn't supposed to be there 2) its illogical that his DNA would be all over if he wasn't there. Prosecution instantly has an advantage if they can prove this," said another. One user wrote, "I pray he's found guilty. Can't even imagine what would happen if he walks," one user commented on Facebook. 

"#BryanKohberger's late-night move that could put his defense in the dump," one user wrote, to which another replied, "Frankly, my neighbors put their trash in my bin for many, many months until I stopped it by putting my bin in my garage. I don’t consider them murderers. I just think a lot of people lived in that house and generated a lot of garbage. It’s possible Kohberger did the same thing." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.