'What if he was framed?': Internet wonders if Idaho suspect Bryan Kohberger has a 'plausible defense'
This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently.
MOSCOW, IDAHO: After his arrest in Pennsylvania on December 30 and subsequent extradition, Bryan Christopher Kohberger is now on trial for allegedly stabbing University of Idaho students Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves to death on November 13.
Since his arrest, crime enthusiasts on the Internet have floated various theories about the 28-year-old PhD student's personality traits and what drove him to the heinous crime. Recently, a Reddit user raised the possibility that Kohberger might have a "plausible defense" and wondered if he was "framed" for the murders, after all.
READ MORE
'Bryan Kohberger killed 4 in under 10 minutes': Internet shares shocking timeline of Idaho murders
The Redditor wrote, "What if BK does have a plausible defense? Before the claws come at me, hear me out. And yes, I'm 99% sure he's guilty. BUT, we haven't heard his side of anything. True, it ain't looking good. We all know that as followers of this case, it's been a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns."
"There are also lots of holes in the story that don't make sense," they added. "But what if he really did have an explanation for everything? What if he really was framed for this crime? What if the speeding Elantra really wasn't his car (we've all seen My Cousin Vinny, lol), and it's a coincidence?"
The user went on, "What if he has friends that live near the girls that he visits, which would explain his presence? Or did he let a friend borrow his car, and they used it for this? What if someone set him up and left that knife sheath with his DNA on purpose to shift focus on an innocent person?"
The Redditor clarified that chances for this are remote at best but not entirely outside the realm of possibility. "This most likely is NOT the case... but what if we get another unexpected bombshell dropped that he really was set up? There's something about the way he speaks and acts in the courtroom that makes me wonder if there's a tiny chance of this," they added. "How crazy would it be if we were all vilifying the wrong person?."
That said, baseless rumors have ruled social media since the murders almost two months ago, and several claims have popped up without any proof. The Moscow Police Department has, however, been discreet about the information seeping out. The case's critical aspects were made public only recently, via sealed affidavits.
How was Kohberger captured?
Kohberger has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of felony burglary in relation to the murders. A PhD candidate in criminology at Washington State University, Kohberger is the sole suspect in the case, MEAWW reported earlier. He was apprehended on December 30 at his parents' home in eastern Pennsylvania, more than 2,000 miles from Moscow.
Kohberger's trial
After being extradited to Idaho, the alleged killer made his first court appearance on January 5 and chose not to plead guilty. However, his request for bail was denied, and he will remain in custody until his next court appearance on January 12. Meanwhile, Latah County Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall has imposed a gag order in the case, directing the detectives and lawyers on either side not to discuss the case with the media, MEAWW reported earlier.