Bryan Kohberger facing four charges of first-degree murder for the violent stabbing death of University of Idaho student Maddie Magen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodleand Ethan Chapin. It will be one of the most watched trials in decades — and possibly the largest in Idaho history.
We’re still a few months away, but we’re already seeing a lot of key evidence. But what is most important? What will be the most interesting to the judges?
US Sun talk to an expert – Joseph Scott MorganDistinguished Bachelor of Applied Forensics in Jacksonville State University – about what is most “powerful”. It should be noted that Morgan did not work on the case, so he had no direct knowledge. More evidence is still discernible, especially in this case Moscow Police Department and prosecutors have chosen to keep so many close the vest. But with all that the public has come to know so far from various sources — probable cause affidavits, arrest warrants, various search warrants, and even leaks from law enforcement sources — what will have the biggest impact?
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Morgan noted the “biological bonds and threads” he had heard were “very important in this case.” Not only are we talking about DNA evidence – scientific evidence, not as easily disproved as eyewitness testimony – it’s on weapons! Or at least, it’s a weapon accessory. The first affidavit revealed the shocking fact that the killer left the sheath of a knife, a Ka-Bar sword combat knife, by Maddie Mogen’s body. It’s not clear if he fell in the struggle or what, but it’s a lot of evidence. Morgan said:
“Gloves, knives – if they can get their hands on them – will be important here.”
Not only was it about tracing ownership of the knife, the sheath was traceable directly to Kohberger through the DNA found. Investigatorswere able to match Kohberger´s father´s offspring from litter taken from his parents´ Pennsylvania home. Morgan says it will go deeper if they can find a suitable knife as well:
“I think, especially when you go to a jury, when you can put a physical weapon in the hands of an alleged perpetrator, that’s a powerful thing.”
Will the real murder weapon be found?
Related: Is Maddie Mogen the Real Target of the Idaho Killer??
If so, paired with crime scene photos, it should be a slam dunk, Morgan thought. He must have mentioned the gruesome injuries that family members who had spoken to the coroner had described – injuries that were enough to cause blood to leak through the wall to the outside of the house. We’ve heard about the knife, but the jury is out on seeing it up close and personal. Morgan said:
“In this particular case, this weapon, these injuries, I don’t know if anyone can fathom what they’re going to see in court. It’s going to be really scary.”
He believed that if he could see a photo of the injury and the knife – “the way it was made” – side by side, it would be the smoking gun.
But, of course, we don’t know how much evidence we can see. Morgan referred to Kohberger’s car as a “crime scene” where more could be found:
“He walked into the scene clean, he came out, he was bathed in blood.”
We know the police seized parts of the car, including seat cushions, pedals, door panels.
“And when he got out of that car, he introduced potential evidence into his own house.”
Police reportedly found blood and several hairs in Kohberger’s apartment. It has yet to be determined who has the hair, but if someone is the victim, it’s more airtight. We’ll just have to see what the investigators find when the trial finally begins.
[Image via Fox 13 Seattle/YouTube/Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram.]