Man charged in killing of 4 Idaho students booked in Boise jail after secret transport

Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — The man charged pinch murdering 4 University of Idaho students has been booked into nan Ada County Jail, authorities said.

The Ada County Sheriff’s Office announced successful an email sent soon earlier 11 a.m. that Bryan Kohberger, 29, arrived astatine nan Ada County Jail, astatine 7210 Barrister Drive successful Boise, connected Sunday morning. He is being held without bail, according to jailhouse records.

The carrier was done successful secret, pinch officials declining to supply specifications connected his carrier for “security reasons,” Lauren Montague, spokesperson for nan sheriff’s office, told nan Idaho Statesman by email.

The erstwhile Washington State University postgraduate student is accused of stabbing 4 University of Idaho students successful their location successful November 2022. Prosecutors charged him pinch 4 counts of first-degree execution and 1 count of felony burglary successful nan fatal stabbings astatine an off-campus location successful Moscow.

The victims were Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, some 20, and Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, some 21.

The execution victims see Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle (top) Ethan Chapin and Madison Mogen. | Courtesy Moscow Police Department via Idaho Statesman

The work of Kohbeger’s custody shifted from Latah County to Ada County connected Thursday aft nan Idaho Supreme Court issued a caller order.

Kohberger’s trial, and each further proceedings, will beryllium held astatine nan Ada County Courthouse successful Boise and presided complete by 4th District Judge Steven Hippler, nan justices said. The proceedings is group to return spot adjacent year, betwixt June 2 and Aug. 29. It’s unclear whether nan caller changes will hold that further.

Latah County will proceed to salary for costs accrued during nan trial, according to Idaho Code 19-1806.

The main reasons for moving nan proceedings retired of Moscow and Latah County included nan county’s mini assemblage pool, excessively fewer rule enforcement officers and tribunal clerks, and a mini courthouse.

The Ada County Courthouse has already proved its expertise to clasp high-profile tests successful caller years pinch nan Chad and Lori Daybell trials.

“The Trial Court Administrator and nan Fourth Judicial District Court, successful collaboration pinch aggregate region departments and offices, do an outstanding occupation coordinating nan immense logistical, information and media issues related to precocious floor plan cases successful Ada County,” nan Ada County Board of Commissioners said successful an emailed connection to nan Idaho Statesman. “We are assured they will do nan aforesaid connected this high-profile lawsuit arsenic well.”

Move to Boise marks a triumph for defense

Kohberger stood silent erstwhile asked to participate a plea astatine his arraignment successful May 2023. As a result, Judge John Judge of Idaho’s 2nd Judicial District successful Latah County entered not blameworthy pleas to each of nan charges connected Kohberger’s behalf, arsenic mandated by Idaho law.

Prosecutors intend to activity nan decease punishment if Kohberger is convicted by a jury. His defense has revenge a number of challenges to region superior reward arsenic a imaginable sentence, and a tribunal proceeding connected nan rumor was scheduled for Nov. 7 successful Moscow.

Prosecutors objected to moving nan trial, arguing that it was not “necessary aliases convenient,” which are elements that must beryllium met nether Idaho criminal rules. The defense said nan level of pretrial publicity successful nan lawsuit — astir of it prejudicial against Kohberger — meant he couldn’t get a adjacent proceedings successful nan organization wherever nan crimes took place. His attorneys specifically sought a move to Boise.

“The liking of justness requires that nan proceedings beryllium moved to a venue pinch nan resources, some successful position of unit and space, basal to efficaciously and efficiently grip a proceedings of this magnitude and length,” Judge wrote successful his determination granting nan venue change.

Per Idaho’s criminal rules, Judge near nan determination of nan proceedings location to nan Idaho Supreme Court. He besides near it up to nan 5 justices to delegate a caller judge aft citing Idaho codification that indicated his desire not to proceed pinch nan trial.

Bryan Kohberger enters nan courtroom for his arraignment proceeding successful Latah County District Court connected May 22, 2023. | Zach Wilkinson, Associated Press