As the clock ticks down to the high-profile murder trial of Bryan Kohberger, attention is shifting back to where it all began—his early years in Pennsylvania.
This week, a key hearing will determine whether several people from his past will be forced to testify when the trial officially begins in August.
Digging Into His Pennsylvania Roots
On Monday morning in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, five individuals from Kohberger’s past were summoned to court.
They’re not just casual acquaintances—they’re people who may offer insight into the 30-year-old’s background, lifestyle, and mental health as his defense team works to save him from the death penalty.
Among them are his old boxing coach, a mechanic from an auto shop he frequented, a former classmate from a technical school, a prison guard from his brief time in custody, and another man believed to have attended the same school program.
Revisiting a Chilling Crime That Shook a College Town
Kohberger, a criminology PhD student, is accused of brutally stabbing four University of Idaho students—Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, and Madison Mogen—in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022.
Two other roommates were in the house at the time but survived.
After weeks of uncertainty, Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022, at his parents’ home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, where he had returned for the holidays.
Former Boxing Coach, Auto Shop Worker, and Classmate Among Witnesses
Now, years after his quiet upbringing in the Poconos and eventual move to Washington state, people from Kohberger’s past are being pulled into the spotlight.
One such person is Jesse Harris, who worked at a boxing gym where Kohberger used to train daily—something he mentioned in a 2015 job application.
Also expected in court are Ralph Vecchio, who worked at a local auto shop Kohberger used, and Brandon Andreola, whose connection to the case has not been fully clarified.
The group also includes William Searfoss, a prison guard at Monroe County Correctional Facility where Kohberger was held for five days following his arrest.
It’s still unknown whether Searfoss had direct contact with Kohberger during that time.
Anthony Somma, the fifth witness, is believed to have attended the same school where Kohberger once enrolled in a youth law enforcement program before being removed after complaints by female students.
A Past Program That Raised Red Flags
Tanya Carmella-Beers, a former school administrator, previously revealed that Kohberger was “obsessed” with law enforcement during high school.
However, after female students raised concerns, he was removed from the course.
The specific details of those complaints remain confidential.
After being dismissed from the program, Kohberger reportedly switched to HVAC studies instead.
Additional Witnesses and Legal Back-and-Forth
Two more names appeared in the initial subpoena list—Ann Parham, a former advisor at Kohberger’s school, and Maggie Sanders, a mystery witness.
Parham has now agreed to testify, while Sanders is set to appear at a separate hearing on July 7.
Michelle Bolger, a professor who taught Kohberger during his master’s degree at DeSales University, was initially named but later dropped from the witness list.
After the arrest, Bolger told DailyMail.com that she was “shocked as s**t” to hear the accusations, describing him as a brilliant student.
Defense Strategy Shifts Toward Background and Mental Health
The exact role these Pennsylvania witnesses will play isn’t crystal clear, but court records indicate they’re considered “material” to the case—especially if Kohberger is convicted.
His defense is expected to present a detailed “life story” during the penalty phase in hopes of avoiding a death sentence.
That strategy includes interviews with past teachers, coaches, coworkers, family friends, and mental health professionals.
Prosecutors Tighten the Case as Alternate Suspects Are Dismissed
As the defense attempts to build a case rooted in Kohberger’s past, prosecutors scored a major win last week when Judge Steven Hippler rejected their request to present evidence about four so-called alternate suspects.
The judge ruled the evidence was “entirely irrelevant” and lacked any solid connection to the crime, calling the defense’s argument nothing more than wild speculation.
The identities of those four individuals remain sealed, but it’s been revealed that three of them knew at least one victim, while the fourth had only a loose connection weeks before the murders.
Who Else Might Testify?
Other expected witnesses include the surviving roommates Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke.
Mortensen is known to have come face-to-face with a masked intruder during the attack.
A DoorDash driver who delivered food to Kernodle that night has also told police she saw Kohberger outside the house and plans to testify.
Beyond that, the full witness lists for both sides remain sealed.
Trial Timeline Is Locked In
After multiple delays and legal hurdles, jury selection is now set to begin August 4, with opening statements to follow on August 18.
Kohberger stood silent at his arraignment, prompting the judge to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Whether or not testimony from his Pennsylvania past sways the jury remains to be seen.
But one thing’s certain: the court is preparing to dig deep into both the facts of the crime—and the troubled history behind the man accused of committing it.