MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Internet wonders whether victims’ DNA 'can still be traced' if Bryan Kohberger did a 'deep clean' of car

Authorities were able to link DNA found at the crime scene to Kohberger after investigators recovered trash from his residence in Pennsylvania

BY MEENAKSHI SENGUPTA

PUBLISHED JAN 6, 2023

Bryan Kohberger got narrowed as the suspect based on DNA evidence and by establishing his ownership of a white Hyundai Elantra (Monroe County correctional facility via Getty Images and Indiana State Police)

This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently.

MOSCOW, IDAHO: The DNA of suspect Bryan Kohberger, the 28-year-old criminology student who has been accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students - Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, in an off-campus house on November 13, 2022, was found at the crime scene, according to allegations in a newly released affidavit on Thursday, January 5. The investigators linked Kohberger to the crime scene after finding a “tan leather knife sheath” next to Mogen on the bed where she and Goncalves were found dead with stab wounds. However, many were left wondering with one asking, "In the case that Bryan did a deep clean of his car, does anyone know if the victims’ DNA can still be traced after the fact?"

To this, one replied to the Reddit thread and wrote, "It’s actually difficult to remove all traces of DNA without harsh chemicals, especially in regards to a car since the materials can be so porous. He probably would’ve been covered in blood when he walked out so he would’ve needed to have his car protected on the inside or he would’ve likely removed his outer layers of clothing and bagged them before getting into his car, but this would’ve taken more time." Another spoke about luminol, which has been widely used in crime scene investigations to detect latent blood. The user wrote, "Blood especially is hard to remove all traces of. It would still show up with luminol testing."

'Maybe there was someone in his car': Internet wonders if Idaho suspect Bryan Kohberger had an accomplice

While one said, "I don't think they need additional evidence at this point." Another explained by saying, "I'm sure the LE is looking at video evidence from car washes and looking at receipts for purchases of cleaning supplies. The problem is the FBI will go through that car with a fine tooth comb. Taking seats out, taking panels and floorboards out. Will literally take days to check every square millimeter. Of course, blood from a victim would be damming but even a single fiber from the carpet, a rug, or a bedspread would add to the case."

DNA match

Authorities were able to link DNA found at the crime scene to Kohberger after investigators recovered trash from his residence in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. In an affidavit, released on January 5, Brett Payne, who is an acting peace officer within the County of Latah, State of Idaho, said, “On December 28, 2022, the Idaho State Lab reported that a DNA profile obtained from the trash and the DNA profile obtained from the sheath, identified a male as not being excluded as the biological father of [the suspect]. At least 99.9998% of the male population would be expected to be excluded from the possibility of being the suspect’s biological father.”

Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder for the brutal stabbings of four students. At a court hearing on December 3, he waived extradition as he agreed to be extradited from Pennsylvania to Idaho in his first court hearing. He is now being held on bail and will appear in court on January 12, as reported earlier.

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.