Bryan Kohberger, the graduate student accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, plans to offer an alibi that he was hiking and driving in the areas south of Pullman, Washington, and west of Moscow, Idaho on the night of the murders. According to court filings from his defense team, Kohberger intends to bring in a cell-tower expert to testify about his phone's location that night. Prosecutors allege that cellphone data placed Kohberger on a highway driving away from Moscow, but the defense argues that their expert will show Kohberger was in a different location.
Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder and one count of burglary for the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves. He has maintained his innocence since his arrest at his family's home in Pennsylvania in December 2022.
The victims were stabbed to death in their off-campus house near the University of Idaho campus. Authorities searched for the killer for nearly seven weeks and arrested Kohberger based on cellphone data, DNA evidence, and witness statements. The case gained national attention and put both Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington on edge.
Kohberger's defense team has previously indicated that he frequently went for nighttime drives to hike or run and see the moon and stars. In their latest filing, they provide more details about his alibi on the night of the murders. They plan to call a cell-tower expert to testify about Kohberger's phone location, which they claim was in an area south of Pullman and west of Moscow.
The next hearing in the case is set for May 14, and a trial date has not been announced.
