Accused Idaho killer Bryan Kohberger could face a firing squad if found guilty of the quadruple murders of four college students last year.
Lawyers are believed to be preparing for the possibility of a death penalty trial for the 28-year-old criminal justice major – who remains the sole suspect in the murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, on March 13 November is , Ethan Chapin, 20 and Xana Kernodle, 20.
Prosecutors have not yet indicated whether they intend to seek the death penalty for Kohberger, although given the seriousness of his alleged crimes it is likely they will.
And now Republican lawmaker Bruce Skaug has introduced a bill that would again allow execution by firing squad in the state and lethal injection.
Skaug’s bill would require the Idaho Department of Justice to decide whether execution by lethal injection is an available method within five days of issuing a death sentence.
Bryan Kohberger, 28, faces death by firing squad if a new law is passed in the Idaho state legislature and he is found guilty of verbally abusing four Idaho college students
Rep. Bruce Skaug, a Nampa Republican, sponsored the bill to reinstate the firing squad as a legal alternative to lethal injection in death penalty cases
If the method is not available, the IDOC can use a firing squad.
The bill does not specify how many or what type of firearms should be used in execution, only saying that the director of IDOC would determine the methods used in execution.
Skaug said he believes the option is more humane than lethal injection, as recent instances of gunfire have resulted in excruciating pain for doomed inmates.
And he pointed out to the Idaho Capital Sun that other states like Utah have reintroduced the use of firing squads in recent years because of their inability to get hold of the deadly injection chemicals.
A public hearing on the bill is now taking place in the Idaho House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee, chaired by Skaug.
Death by firing squad was legal in Idaho from 1982 until 2009, when the legislature removed it as an option. Lethal injection remained the only legal form of execution in the state.
But obtaining chemicals used in lethal injection is becoming increasingly difficult.
Last year lawmakers passed legislation granting anonymity to any company or pharmacy that provided the chemicals used in lethal injection, in the hope that more companies and pharmacies would be willing to sign a deal with lawmakers to provide the necessary ingredients.
Still, in November, the Idaho Department of Justice was forced to cancel the scheduled execution of Gerald Pizzuto Jr. because it could not obtain the chemicals needed to carry out the execution.
Kohberger remains the sole suspect in the quadruple murders of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, and Xana Kernodle, 20.
Prosecutors have detailed in indictment documents how Kohberger tracked the home of his alleged victims off campus in Moscow for weeks prior to the killings and kept several photos of one of the students on his phone.
Some of his former friends have even told the FBI and state investigators how Kohberger transformed both physically and emotionally during his senior year of high school — apparently even having a tummy tuck.
Prosecutors have detailed in court documents how Kohberger turned off his phone on the night of the killings, allegedly to cover his tracks, before brutally stabbing the four college students.
He is even said to have returned to the scene at 9am on November 13 – just hours after police believe he committed the quadruple murders.
The probable cause document then goes on to say that the criminal justice graduate haunted the property at least 12 times and his DNA was found on a knife sheath near the bodies of Maddie Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.
A subsequent examination of Kohberger’s Washington State University apartment later found several strands of hair, including what was suspected to be an animal hair, a black glove, a computer tower, and an unidentified item with a collection of “dark red stains.”
Police said they also hauled away a pillow with a “reddish/brown stain” and the top and bottom of a mattress cover with “multiple stains”.
All items are now stored at the Washington State University Police Department.
Sources familiar with the investigation said Kohberger had “several photos” of one of the female victims on his phone. It is unclear which of the three female victims he had pictures of. Kernodle and Mogen are pictured here
Court documents say the criminal justice graduate has haunted the property at least 12 times. Pictured: Kaylee Goncalves
A motive for the brutal murders remains unclear.
But sources familiar with the investigation have told PEOPLE that Kohberger had “more than one” photo of one of the four murdered students and said it was “clear it was him
The 28-year-old criminal justice major had “more than one” photo of one of the four murdered students, with sources telling PEOPLE it was “clear he was paying attention to her”.
It’s not clear if the images found on the device were photos Kohberger took herself or if they were downloaded from her social media and if they were taken before or after the quadruple homicide.
Meanwhile, some of Kohberger’s former friends have come forward to reveal how high school has transformed Kohberger both emotionally and physically.
They said that between his junior and senior years, Kohberger began kickboxing every day after school and running in the evenings.
He also became hyper-focused on what he ate, they said, to the point that he developed an eating disorder that required hospitalization.
A friend, Thomas Arntz, estimated that Kohberger had weighed more than 300 pounds before losing half his body mass. The weight loss was so rapid, he told the Spokesman review, that he had to have a tummy tuck because he had so much excess skin.
At about the same time, Kohhberger also became more aggressive.
“It almost seemed like he had a desire to be the alpha,” said Arntz.
“For no reason, he tried to grab me and put me in a headlock when I didn’t want to. He tried to make it look like only boys were boys, but I never understood it that way.
Kohberger was arrested December 30 after weeks of thorough investigations by Moscow, Idaho police and the FBI
He is being represented by Chief Public Defender Anne Taylor, who in his case is being paid $200 an hour with extra overtime
Kohberger is now being represented by Chief Public Defender Anne Taylor, who is being paid $200 an hour in his case – with extra overtime.
She is paid by Kootenai County for her 40-hour work week, with Latah County officials agreeing to give Kootenai the funds to do her job.
But any overtime she works outside of those hours is paid directly to the attorney by Latah County.
In 2021, Taylor made $118,866, but based on her $200 hourly wage representing Kohberger, she would be paid $416,000 per year
According to officials, Taylor is one of only 13 Idaho public defenders licensed by the state’s Public Defense Commission to lead a death penalty case — and the only one in all of northern Idaho.
Latah County doesn’t have a public defender qualified to represent suspects in death penalty cases — but they wanted to make sure they have a team of attorneys who can represent in death penalty cases.
It could indicate that prosecutors are inclined to pursue the death penalty, with payment for this type of representation being discussed in the agreement.
Idaho also has a voluntary felony defense fund that requires certain criteria — including a prosecutor declaring they will seek the death penalty within 30 days of the defendant entering his pleas.
Kohberger is expected to file a plea bargain on June 26, around the same time as the evidence hearing, giving Latah County until the end of July to formally pursue the death penalty.
He faces quadruple murders and one count of burglary and waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing in January.
Kohberger is now expected to file a plea bargain on June 26, which means the Latah County DA has until the end of July to formally pursue the death penalty.
The six- and three-bedroom home where the four college students lived and were killed is slated for demolition this semester
Meanwhile, the six-bedroom, three-bathroom property where the four college students lived and were killed is slated for demolition this semester
It appeared to have been boarded up as early as Thursday, although it’s unclear if this is to preserve evidence or allow for a cleanup before demolition.
In an email to staff and students, University of Idaho President Scott Green said, “This is a healing step and is removing the physical structure where the crime that shook our community was committed.
“The demolition also eliminates efforts to further sensationalize the crime scene.”
There are also plans for students to participate in the future development of a property and to create a memorial garden on the university campus.