Bryan Kohberger, the suspect accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, claims to have been out driving west of Moscow, Idaho the night of the slayings, according to his attorney. The defense plans to offer a cellphone tower and radio frequency expert to partially corroborate this alibi. Kohberger was reportedly driving south of Pullman, Washington and west of Moscow, where he often went to hike, run, or stargaze. More information on Kohberger’s location will be shared pending the discovery evidence provided by prosecutors.
Due to a gag order in place, all parties involved in the case, including prosecutors, defense lawyers, and attorneys for the victims’ families and witnesses, are prohibited from speaking publicly about the case. Kohberger, who has pleaded not guilty, is expected to present an alibi as part of his defense strategy. His public defenders have previously mentioned his habit of taking long drives alone late at night.
The recent filing outlining Kohberger’s alibi had been anticipated for months, as Idaho law requires the defendant to submit in writing the specific place or places he claims to have been at the time of the alleged offense, along with the names and addresses of the witnesses he intends to rely on to establish this alibi. The judge in Kohberger’s case had extended the submission deadline multiple times before setting the deadline for the document to be filed.
Kohberger, 29, is facing four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in connection with the killings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin at a home near the University of Idaho’s main campus in Moscow. The case is ongoing and is being closely followed by the media. CNN’s Dakin Andone has contributed to the report, and updates on the story will be provided as more information becomes available.
As the legal proceedings continue, Kohberger’s defense team is working to establish his whereabouts on the night of the killings in order to support his alibi defense. The defense plans to present expert testimony to corroborate Kohberger’s claim that he was driving west of Moscow, away from the crime scene, at the time of the slayings. Prosecutors are expected to provide discovery evidence to the defense in order to further assess the credibility of Kohberger’s alibi and the witness testimony he intends to rely on.
