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'His hair wasn't covered': CeCe Moore thinks Bryan Kohberger may have left more DNA at Idaho murder house

The DNA recovered from the knife sheath was 'probably touch DNA,' according to genetic genealogist CeCe Moore, popularly known as the DNA detective

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MOSCOW, IDAHO: After more than a month of thorough investigation, the Moscow police department finally arrested a suspect in the killings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, who were found brutally stabbed to their death in the early morning hours of November 13. The suspect, Bryan Kohberger, is a 28-year-old criminology student at the nearby Washington State University. During the investigation, police recovered a lone male's DNA on a knife sheath at the rental home in which the ordeal took place. 

Now, a genetic genealogy expert claims that Kohberger may have left more DNA at the horror house. A probable cause affidavit unsealed on Thursday, January 5, claimed that the DNA was then matched with Kohberger's father's DNA. The cops took Michael Kohberger's DNA from his Pennsylvania home's trash, and Bryan was arrested from the same home on December 30. CeCe Moore, chief genetic genealogist at Parabon NanoLabs, said on NewsNation on Saturday, January 7, that the DNA matching was carried out using a "standard" test that has "been accepted in courtrooms for decades to establish paternity." "So that is very, very high confidence," she claimed. 

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Moore thinks there is a very high possibility that Kohberger is linked to the brutal killings. "This was such an incredibly horrible crime scene and we're learning more and more all the time. I think it's very likely there's additional DNA from Bryan at that scene," she said. The DNA recovered from the knife sheath was "probably touch DNA," according to Moore.

'His hair wasn't covered'

"I wouldn't be at all surprised if he left additional DNA behind," Moore added, noting the affidavit described how an unharmed roommate saw a masked intruder with bushy eyebrows walking towards her on the night of the killings. "We know from the witness statement that at least his eyebrows were showing, and it sounds like his hair wasn't even covered," Moore said. "So he may have left hair behind as well, which also contains DNA... advancements in technology have meant we can get quite a lot of information from even a rootless hair now, so I think both they and the defense are scouring that crime scene to see what else is there." 

The bloodstained mattresses and furniture were removed from the crime scene this weekend. However, Moore said it was not clear why the mattresses were being moved now. "I think there's been a lot of work on that crime scene already, gathering any possible physical evidence to the prosecution's case, try to support their case," she said. Kohberger's defense team would be looking "to try to find somebody else's DNA that they can try to pin this crime on," she added.

'There is no perfect murder when it comes to DNA'

Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer earlier told the outlet that it is possible the killer's DNA could be recovered from the sweat or saliva left at the crime scene. "You leave a trace of yourself no matter where you go, and you take traces of where you've been with you," she said. "I have always said from the beginning, DNA will be the savior in this case because there is no perfect murder when it comes to DNA, it will be left behind."

Moore also told the outlet that investigative genetic genealogy may have helped the authorities determine that Kohberger's family tree "was consistent with the DNA sample from the knife sheath." "They don't have to include everything in the affidavit and genetic genealogy should not be used for the basis of an arrest. So in my opinion, it would be proper that they left that out."

Kohberger currently faces four charges of first-degree murder and made his first appearance in an Idaho court on Thursday.