Court Rejects Defense’s Attempt to Suppress Key DNA Evidence
An Idaho judge ruled Wednesday that prosecutors can use key genetic evidence against Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with murdering four University of Idaho students in 2022. The decision removes a potential hurdle for the prosecution as it prepares for the high-profile trial scheduled to begin in August.
Judge Steven Hippler rejected claims from Kohberger’s defense team that law enforcement violated his constitutional rights when they used Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) to identify him as a suspect. He found that the process did not constitute an unconstitutional search and that Kohberger had no expectation of privacy regarding the DNA sample in question.
Kohberger Faces Death Penalty in Quadruple Homicide
Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves. The students were found fatally stabbed in their off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022.
When asked to enter a plea last year, Kohberger stood silent, prompting the judge to enter a not-guilty plea on his behalf. Prosecutors have stated they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted.
How Investigative Genetic Genealogy Led to Kohberger
Investigative Genetic Genealogy is a technique that uses public genealogy databases to trace unknown DNA samples to potential relatives. When law enforcement is unable to match crime scene DNA through standard law enforcement databases, they upload the sample’s genetic markers—called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—to genealogy platforms such as GEDmatch or FamilyTreeDNA. This process helps narrow the search to a specific family tree and potential suspects.
In Kohberger’s case, investigators said they found “touch DNA” on the sheath of a knife recovered at the crime scene. The FBI used IGG to trace the DNA to Kohberger’s family, ultimately identifying him as a suspect.
Defense Challenged Warrantless DNA Search
Kohberger’s defense attorney, Anne Taylor, argued that investigators violated his constitutional rights by conducting genetic genealogy testing without a warrant. She contended that law enforcement also lacked warrants to analyze the DNA of potential relatives in the genealogy databases. As a result, Taylor sought to have the IGG findings and all evidence derived from them suppressed.
However, Judge Hippler ruled that Kohberger had no reasonable expectation of privacy in the DNA left behind at the crime scene.
“Any privacy interest he can claim in this DNA was abandoned along with the sheath, to which he claims no ownership or knowledge,” Hippler wrote in his decision. “Even if no such abandonment occurred, defendant has not demonstrated it is reasonable to recognize a privacy interest in DNA left at a crime scene.”
Judge Also Denies Other Defense Motions
In addition to the IGG challenge, Kohberger’s defense team filed three other motions aimed at suppressing evidence, including cellphone data and challenges to search warrants. Judge Hippler denied all of them.
With this ruling, the prosecution retains critical genetic evidence that directly links Kohberger to the crime scene. The case is set to proceed, with trial preparations intensifying as both sides prepare for what is expected to be a closely watched legal battle.
