The suspect in the University of Idaho murders, Bryan Kohberger, has dropped a significant claim in his ongoing battle to avoid the death penalty.
His defense team has filed a motion citing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a reason to strike the death penalty in his case.
Along with this motion, Kohberger’s attorneys also requested that certain records be sealed or redacted.
This legal strategy comes amid recent changes to Idaho’s death penalty laws.
The state’s legislature is currently considering a bill that would make the firing squad the primary method of execution.
If passed, this could lead to major shifts in the way death penalty cases are handled in the state.
Kohberger’s Defense and the Autism Claim
Kohberger’s defense motion remains sealed, so it’s unclear whether he has already been diagnosed with autism or if his legal team is attempting to have him diagnosed before his highly anticipated trial.
This move raises questions about how this mental health claim might affect his trial, especially since prosecutors are working to block the defense from revealing any neuropsychological or psychiatric evaluations.
Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson has filed a motion arguing that, under Idaho law, mental conditions cannot be used as a defense to criminal charges, except when expert testimony relates to the defendant’s state of mind during the commission of the crime.
This legal back-and-forth highlights the complexities surrounding Kohberger’s defense strategies.
A Look at the Murder Case
Kohberger, a criminology PhD student at Washington State University, stands accused of murdering four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—in November 2022.
The students were found brutally stabbed to death at an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho.
Kohberger was arrested weeks later at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
The families of the victims, particularly Goncalves’ family, have been vocal in supporting the death penalty for Kohberger.
Steve Goncalves, Kaylee’s father, has even pushed for Kohberger to face the firing squad, a method recently reintroduced in Idaho due to a shortage of lethal injection drugs.
While no one has yet been executed using a firing squad, a bill is currently being discussed to make it the primary execution method.
Legal Battles Over the Death Penalty
Kohberger’s defense has previously tried to argue that the death penalty should be removed from the case, citing concerns about the methods of execution available in Idaho, particularly the firing squad and lethal injection.
They also claim that the lengthy wait on death row could constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
However, last November, Judge Steven Hippler ruled against these motions, allowing the prosecution to pursue the death penalty.
This latest autism-based motion seems to be another effort to prevent Kohberger from facing the death penalty.
Meanwhile, prosecutors are also filing motions to limit what Kohberger’s defense team can present during trial.
One such motion is a request to force Kohberger to testify in order to present his alibi.
The Alibi and Other Legal Developments
Kohberger’s defense has previously suggested that he was driving around at night, stargazing, during the time of the murders.
His legal team has indicated that they will use cell tower data to support this claim.
However, prosecutors have questioned the validity of this alibi, arguing that Kohberger has not provided enough detail or evidence to back up his story.
In fact, they’re pushing to block any alibi evidence unless it comes directly from Kohberger.
Additionally, the defense has raised the possibility that an “alternative perpetrator” could have committed the murders, especially considering that DNA from two unidentified men was found at the scene.
However, investigators argue that this does not undermine the evidence against Kohberger, including DNA found on a knife sheath near one of the victims, which has been traced back to him.
Investigative Genetic Genealogy Evidence
One of the most significant pieces of evidence in the case is the DNA found on a knife sheath found at the crime scene.
The DNA was matched to Kohberger using investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), a method that has sparked some controversy.
Kohberger’s defense team has argued that the use of IGG violated his constitutional rights, but the judge recently ruled to allow this evidence to stand.
In another twist, a distant relative of Kohberger’s was contacted by police to provide DNA to help in the investigation.
The relative had submitted their DNA to a genetic genealogy database, which eventually led investigators to Kohberger.
Despite initially refusing to cooperate, Kohberger’s DNA was ultimately matched through other means.
Defense Strategy Shifts as Trial Approaches
In the months leading up to the trial, Kohberger’s defense team has undergone significant changes.
Attorney Jay Logsdon, a public defender, has been removed from the trial counsel team and replaced by Bicka Barlow, a lawyer with a background in forensic DNA evidence.
This shift suggests that Kohberger’s defense team may focus more on challenging the DNA evidence during trial.
With the trial set to begin in August 2025, the legal battles over evidence, alibi claims, and the death penalty are only intensifying.
Kohberger is due back in court in April, as both the prosecution and defense prepare for what is shaping up to be a high-profile trial.