Shocking crime scene photographs have emerged showing the crucial piece of evidence that ultimately led investigators to suspect Bryan Kohberger in the brutal slayings of four University of Idaho students.
The Damning Discovery
Exclusive images obtained by the Daily Mail reveal the leather knife sheath found lying on a bed next to victim Madison Mogen's body at the King Road residence where the horrific murders took place on November 13, 2022. The sheath would become the linchpin in a case that shocked the nation.
DNA Breakthrough
Forensic analysis revealed a single source of male DNA on the sheath's snap button - genetic material that would eventually be matched to Kohberger through genealogical databases. This critical discovery came after investigators identified the sheath as fitting a US Marine Corps Ka-Bar knife, the type believed to be the murder weapon.
Building the Case
Investigators meticulously built their case around this evidence:
- The DNA match provided the crucial link to Kohberger
- Surveillance footage placed his white Hyundai Elantra near the crime scene
- Cell phone data tracked his movements before and after the murders
- Additional forensic evidence connected him to the victims
Trial Preparations Intensify
As Kohberger's trial approaches, scheduled for no earlier than March 2025, both prosecution and defence teams are preparing for what promises to be one of the most closely watched criminal cases in recent memory. The 29-year-old criminology PhD student maintains his innocence, having pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
The victims - Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20 - were tragically killed in the early hours of that November morning, their deaths sending shockwaves through the Moscow community and beyond.
