Bryan Kohberger, accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, claims he was out driving west of Moscow, Idaho, the night of the slayings. His defense plans to offer a cellphone tower and radio frequency expert to partially corroborate this alibi. Kohberger was driving south of Pullman, Washington, and west of Moscow, “as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars,” according to his attorney. The two towns are about 10 miles apart, and more details about Kohberger’s location will be shared once prosecutors provide requested evidence.
Due to a gag order, prosecutors and defense lawyers involved in the case are prohibited from speaking publicly about it beyond what is already in the public record. Kohberger, who pleaded not guilty last May, has indicated that he intends to present an alibi defense. His public defenders have previously mentioned his habit of taking long drives alone late at night, with the August filing stating that he was not claiming to be at a specific location at a specific time. The recent filing outlining Kohberger’s alibi had been anticipated for months, as Idaho law requires defendants to submit in writing the specific place or places they claim to have been at the time of the alleged offense, along with the names and addresses of witnesses they intend to rely on.
The judge in Kohberger’s case had set a deadline for the submission of his alibi defense, which was extended multiple times before the final deadline in late February. Kohberger, 29, is facing four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in connection with the killings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin at a home near the university’s main campus in Moscow. The case is still ongoing and is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available. CNN’s Dakin Andone contributed to the report, and for more news and newsletters from CNN, readers can create an account at CNN.com.
