Just months before Bryan Kohberger was scheduled to face trial for one of the most shocking murder cases in recent memory, his legal team has dropped a major request—they want the trial delayed.
Why? They say a recent Dateline episode may have done serious damage to his chances of getting a fair hearing.
A National TV Report Throws a Wrench in the Defense’s Plans
Kohberger’s attorneys argue that NBC’s Dateline, which aired a special earlier this month, included confidential evidence that shouldn’t have been made public.
The episode delved into everything from Kohberger’s alleged porn history to chilling online searches and phone data linked to the night of the murders.
Notably, Dateline also aired previously unseen surveillance footage that appeared to show a vehicle fleeing the scene where four University of Idaho students were killed in November 2022.
The show credited unnamed sources “close to the investigation” and claimed to have exclusive access to materials under court seal.
Defense Says the Show Breaks the Gag Order
According to Kohberger’s legal team, this wasn’t just another true crime special.
In a 40-page motion, they accused the show of violating a gag order that’s been in place since 2023.
They claim Dateline took investigative material out of context—material that may not even be allowed in court because of reliability issues. And the timing couldn’t be worse.
Kohberger’s capital murder trial is currently set for August, and his attorneys argue that the clock is ticking too fast for them to properly prepare given the media firestorm.
Judge Already Suspected a Leak Before the Motion Was Filed
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time concerns have been raised about the media’s access to confidential details.
Just last week, Judge Steven Hippler acknowledged that the Dateline broadcast appeared to confirm someone had leaked sensitive information.
He instructed both sides—prosecution and defense—to submit a list of everyone who might have had access to the leaked material.
The judge also raised concerns about the show’s impact on jury selection, warning that finding impartial jurors could become even more difficult now that such content is in the public sphere.
The Power of Television and Its Impact on Public Opinion
Kohberger’s team echoed those concerns in their latest motion, highlighting how TV shows like Dateline present content in a highly persuasive way.
When viewers watch dramatic reenactments paired with “expert” analysis, the result, they say, is a powerful impression of truth—even if disclaimers are tossed in here and there.
“The overall presentation fosters a sense of authenticity and truthfulness that is difficult for viewers to disregard,” the motion says, warning that most people will walk away feeling like they know what happened, long before a jury hears any real evidence.
Defense Questions Credibility of Investigators and Witnesses
The defense didn’t stop there. They suggested the leak points to deeper problems—namely, whether those investigating the case are biased or credible.
“The identity of those involved, their motives, and any effort to conceal their conduct go directly to the heart of witness credibility,” the motion reads.
Adding to their concerns, they mentioned bestselling author James Patterson is releasing a book about the murders just 16 days before jury selection begins.
The book reportedly includes interviews with local law enforcement, suggesting this Dateline episode isn’t an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of leaks.
Attorneys Argue Delay Is the Only Fair Option
Given the circumstances, Kohberger’s lawyers argue that the trial should be pushed back.
They say a delay is necessary to “allow the extremely prejudicial impact to partially subside” and to give the court time to figure out just how wide the breach of confidentiality really was.
Without that, they argue, there’s no way to guarantee Kohberger’s Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to a fair trial and an impartial jury.
The Chilling Allegations at the Heart of the Case
The case itself has captivated and horrified the nation.
Kohberger, a 30-year-old former criminology PhD student at Washington State University, stands accused of brutally murdering four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—in the early hours of November 13, 2022.
Dateline claims Kohberger had stored dozens of pictures of female students from both universities—some in swimsuits—on his devices.
Many of them were friends with the victims, and investigators say those images came from a July 9 pool party in Moscow, Idaho, that Kohberger attended.
Phone Data, Search History, and a Chilling Pattern
Cellphone records reportedly place Kohberger near the victims’ off-campus home a total of 23 times over four months.
He allegedly turned off his phone before the killings, then turned it back on about 40 minutes after the estimated time of the murders—connecting to a tower south of Moscow.
His search history included disturbing terms like “Sociopathic Traits in College Students” and “drugged sleeping porn.”
He even searched, “Can psychopaths behave pro-socially?” shortly after being pulled over by police for a traffic stop.
After the murders, Kohberger allegedly continued searching for Ted Bundy content and took selfies—one even showed him giving a thumbs-up in a bathroom mirror.
The Murder Timeline According to Investigators
Prosecutors believe Kohberger entered the victims’ house after 4 a.m. and went directly to Madison Mogen’s room, where both she and Kaylee Goncalves were killed.
As he left, he allegedly encountered Kernodle and stabbed her.
Her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, was also killed—reportedly in a much more violent manner.
Surveillance footage from a neighbor reportedly shows Kohberger’s white Hyundai Elantra circling the block and speeding away around 4:20 a.m.
The timeline, paired with cellphone and DNA evidence, has become central to the state’s case.
DNA, Knife Purchase, and a Return Home
Kohberger was arrested six weeks later while visiting his family in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania.
Authorities say DNA found on a Ka-Bar knife sheath left near Mogen’s body matched Kohberger’s.
They also allege he purchased a Ka-Bar knife, sheath, and sharpener on Amazon months before the crime.
Despite the mounting evidence, Kohberger has pleaded not guilty.
His defense team insists he has an alibi and claims that he frequently took late-night drives to clear his head—not to stalk potential victims.
What Comes Next?
All eyes are now on the judge as he decides whether the trial will go ahead in August or be pushed back to address the defense’s concerns.
Either way, this case continues to unfold in unexpected and unsettling ways—raising serious questions not just about Kohberger’s guilt or innocence, but about how high-profile media coverage can impact the very foundation of a fair trial.