As the clock ticks closer to Bryan Kohberger’s highly anticipated murder trial, a major disruption has thrown the entire case into chaos.
A leak—allegedly from someone with close ties to the investigation—has made its way to the media, prompting the judge to launch an urgent inquiry.
This breach has the potential to derail preparations for Kohberger’s trial scheduled for August, where he faces the death penalty for the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students in late 2022.
Judge Launches Emergency Investigation Over Dateline Leak
Judge Steven Hippler didn’t hold back when addressing the leak.
He revealed that confidential details, previously unknown to the public, were handed over to Dateline—and it appears someone from law enforcement or the prosecution team may be responsible.
In a stern court filing released on Thursday, Judge Hippler expressed serious concern over the violation of the court’s non-dissemination order.
He emphasized how such a breach not only undermines the judicial process but could also hinder the selection of a fair and unbiased jury.
Trial Already Facing Legal Hurdles
Even before this latest twist, Kohberger’s defense team had been aggressively pushing back against the prosecution—filing motions to suppress evidence, eliminate the death penalty, and even suggesting alternative suspects.
Now, this leak has made a difficult situation even more complex.
Sensitive case information was deliberately kept from the public to protect the investigation’s integrity.
With this new development, the challenge of assembling an impartial jury has grown significantly, especially given how emotionally charged and high-profile the case has become.
Jury Selection Now Under Greater Pressure
Jury selection is set to begin on July 30—but it will happen behind closed doors to avoid further outside influence.
Still, finding jurors who haven’t been affected by the extensive media coverage or who can remain truly unbiased is going to be no small feat.
Judge Hippler also warned that this leak could cost taxpayers more money, as it might delay proceedings and lengthen the jury selection process.
Judge Orders Full Preservation of All Case-Related Communications
In response to the leak, the judge has put every official involved—past or present—on notice.
His latest order strictly prohibits anyone connected to the case from deleting or altering any relevant data.
That includes emails, texts, call logs, social media messages, or even metadata—on both work and personal devices.
Anyone who’s had conversations with the press, friends, or relatives about the case must preserve all records of those interactions. Any devices or apps with auto-delete features must have them turned off immediately.
Judge Demands List of Who Knew What—and When
The judge also wants a comprehensive list from law enforcement and the prosecution detailing every individual who had access to specific case materials.
This includes surveillance footage, phone records, and Kohberger’s social media and internet history.
Among the most sensitive details revealed by Dateline were that Kohberger called his father three times just two hours after the murders, and that he had searched online about serial killer Ted Bundy and even listened to Britney Spears’ song “Criminal.”
Was There a Target? New Claims from Dateline
Dateline also claimed that Madison Mogen may have been the killer’s primary target, and that her best friend Xana Kernodle, who was in the same bed that night, was an unexpected complication for the attacker.
The episode detailed a number of disturbing internet searches Kohberger allegedly made in the days following the killings—some about the crime itself, others about his own name.
Judge Threatens Legal Action if Orders Aren’t Followed
Judge Hippler made it crystal clear: if the source of the leak isn’t identified and the court’s requests aren’t met, those responsible could be held in contempt of court.
That could result in serious legal consequences, including criminal charges.
He also gave the state a seven-day deadline to submit a detailed plan on how it intends to prevent future leaks—and to explain exactly what steps have been taken to investigate past violations.