The suspect in the quadruple murders at the University of Idaho may soon be transported to the Gem State to face trial if he waives his extradition during a court hearing on Tuesday, which he is expected to do.
Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four university students in their off-campus home in November, is expected not to challenge his extradition to Idaho, with his state-appointed attorney calling Tuesday’s hearing a “formality proceeding.” Kohberger is likely to plead not guilty in the case as his attorney has said he “believes he’s going to be exonerated.”
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Kohberger, 28, was arrested on Friday in connection to the quadruple slayings, with police saying they don’t expect to make any other arrests in the case. Kohberger has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, as well as felony burglary.
“We believe we have our guy, the one that committed these murders,” Moscow Police Chief James Fry told ABC News on Saturday.
In order to be extradited, law enforcement need only prove that Kohberger is the person on the Idaho arrest warrant and that he was in the area at the time of the murders, according to Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar.
Kohberger is a Ph.D. student studying criminal justice at the Washington State University campus in Pullman, which is roughly 15 minutes away from the University of Idaho. The suspect had driven home to Pennsylvania with his father for the holidays, with the pair returning to the state around Dec. 17, according to LaBar.
Investigators focused on Kohberger as a suspect after connecting him to a white Hyundai Elantra that police had been looking for in connection to the killings, according to police. The car was later found at Kohberger’s parents’ house.
Kohberger’s DNA had also been matched to materials recovered at the home where the killings took place, sources told CNN.
It’s still unclear Kohberger’s connection to the victims in the quadruple slayings, and police have not yet identified a motive. The probable-cause affidavit that would provide these details is not set to be released until Kohberger arrives in Idaho.
The latest update comes after university students Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were killed in their home on Nov. 13. Each was murdered in bed and was stabbed in the chest and upper body with a large knife.
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Two other roommates who were staying in the basement were left unharmed, but police have ruled them out as suspects, as well as two other friends who were present at the home at the time of the 911 call.
Kohberger is currently being held without bail in Pennsylvania. Once extradited to Idaho, the suspect is expected to appear in magistrate court to have his criminal hearings scheduled.
