The Crime Scene Weekly: New Details in Idaho Murders Case

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Crime Scene Weekly: New Details in Idaho Murders Case

Podcast Information:

• Title: The King Road Killings: An Idaho Murder Mystery
• Host/Author: ABC News
• Episode: The Crime Scene Weekly: New Details in Idaho Murders Case
• Release Date: March 29, 2025

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1. Introduction to the Episode

In the episode titled "The Crime Scene Weekly: New Details in Idaho Murders Case," ABC News Correspondent Kayna Whitworth delves into the latest developments surrounding the King Road killings. Hosted by Brad Milke, the podcast provides a comprehensive update on the case of Bryan Kohberger, the criminology PhD student charged with the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students in the winter of 2022.

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2. Background of the King Road Killings

Kayna Whitworth sets the stage by recounting the tragic events of late fall in northern Idaho. The victims—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogan, Zanna Kernodle, and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin—were beloved University of Idaho students deeply involved in Greek life. The students were out celebrating after a home football game, with older students visiting bars and younger ones attending frat parties.

[03:28] Kayna Whitworth: "These four students were generally beloved by everyone that we spoke with, and they were all heavily involved in Greek life as well."

Their night ended in horror when all four were found stabbed to death in their off-campus house on King Road. Initial investigations revealed no murder weapon and no immediate suspects, leaving the small town of Moscow, Idaho, gripped by fear and uncertainty.

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3. Recent Developments: Audio from the 911 Call

A significant breakthrough in the case came with ABC News obtaining the audio of the 911 call made nearly eight hours after the murders occurred. This revelation offers new insights into the chaotic moments following the tragic event.

[05:47] Brad Milke: "For the first time, ABC News has obtained the audio from a 911 call in the Idaho college murders case that shocked the nation."

Kayna Whitworth emphasizes the importance of this audio in understanding the timeline and the immediate reactions of the surviving roommates.

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4. Detailed Analysis of the 911 Call

The podcast features a detailed playback and analysis of the 911 call, providing listeners with an unfiltered glimpse into the confusion and panic that ensued after the murders. The call reveals the surviving roommates' desperate attempts to comprehend the situation, their interactions with the dispatcher, and the eerie calmness amidst chaos.

[14:06] Caller: "I live next to them. I need someone to repeat the address for verification."

[17:43] Brad Milke: "Is she breathing? No."

Kayna highlights the perplexing eight-hour gap between the estimated time of the murders and the eventual call to 911, raising questions about the roommates' awareness and actions during those critical hours.

[10:11] Kayna Whitworth: "For a long time, we didn't know why there was this nearly eight-hour gap in between someone seeing someone in the house, hearing all of that stuff, and finally alerting 911."

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5. Investigation into Bryan Kohberger

The podcast transitions to discussing Bryan Kohberger's emergence as the prime suspect. After a six-week manhunt, authorities linked Kohberger to the crime scene through DNA evidence found on a knife sheath. This connection was made using investigative genetic genealogy, a method that garnered both attention and controversy.

[24:01] Kayna Whitworth: "They used investigative genetic genealogy. Now, some consider this to be very controversial to link Bryan Kohberger to these crimes."

Kohberger's arrest was swift, involving surveillance and a subsequent move by authorities fearing evidence tampering. His defense has been robust, challenging the methods used to obtain his DNA and suggesting the possibility of evidence planting.

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6. Legal Challenges and Defense Claims

Bryan Kohberger's legal team has mounted several challenges against the prosecution's case. Notably, they argue that the DNA evidence may have been planted and question the integrity of the investigation process. Additionally, with Idaho introducing the firing squad as a primary means of execution, the stakes of the trial have heightened.

[27:59] Kayna Whitworth: "The defense is pushing back on how the FBI collected the DNA and suggesting the knife sheath could have been planted at the scene."

Kohberger's lawyers are also contesting the death penalty, citing his Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the potential for jury bias based on his demeanor.

[28:26] Kayna Whitworth: "They say that his mannerisms are a hallmark of his disability and that it could create a bias within the jury."

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7. Trial Preparations and Capital Case Implications

As the trial approaches in August, the gravity of the case is underscored by the potential for the death penalty. The prosecution is leaning heavily on Kohberger's criminology background, suggesting that his academic knowledge may have played a role in the meticulous nature of the crime.

[34:55] Kayna Whitworth: "This sort of lays out what he was doing there at Desales, and it's really, really detailed... how you would notice the bruises on the victim's face, the marks on her neck, specifically a bloody shirt, because this was a stabbing murder."

Prosecutors may use Kohberger's detailed criminology studies to argue his premeditation, while the defense seeks to undermine these connections by highlighting procedural inconsistencies and challenging the validity of the evidence.

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8. Other True Crime Stories Covered

In addition to the King Road killings, the episode briefly touches on other notable true crime stories:

• Adam Mansano Case: A Telemundo sports reporter found dead from the combined effects of Xanax, alcohol, and positional asphyxia in Kenner, Louisiana.

• Antarctica Research Base Incident: A man accused of threatening colleagues at an isolated research base, now under psychological evaluation.

• Missing University of Pittsburgh Student: Shedixa Kananki's disappearance in the Dominican Republic is believed to have resulted in drowning, with ongoing efforts to legally declare her deceased.

[30:35] Brad Milke: "Brad Milke:** "First up, a woman has been charged with murder in the death of Telemundo sports reporter Adam Mansano... A man is accused of attacking and threatening his colleagues... Shedixa Kananki... is believed to have died by drowning."

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9. Conclusion

The episode underscores the complex and evolving nature of the King Road killings case. With new evidence emerging, including the critical 911 call audio and detailed incriminating findings against Bryan Kohberger, the path to justice remains fraught with legal battles and ethical considerations. ABC News continues to provide in-depth coverage as the community and the nation await the trial's outcome.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Kayna Whitworth [03:28]: "These four students were generally beloved by everyone that we spoke with, and they were all heavily involved in Greek life as well."

• Brad Milke [05:47]: "For the first time, ABC News has obtained the audio from a 911 call in the Idaho college murders case that shocked the nation."

• Kayna Whitworth [10:11]: "...why there was this nearly eight-hour gap in between someone seeing someone in the house, hearing all of that stuff, and finally alerting 911."

• Kayna Whitworth [24:01]: "They used investigative genetic genealogy. Now, some consider this to be very controversial to link Bryan Kohberger to these crimes."

• Kayna Whitworth [34:55]: "...how you would notice the bruises on the victim's face, the marks on her neck, specifically a bloody shirt, because this was a stabbing murder."

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the podcast episode, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the ongoing investigation and its broader implications.

Transcript

[Brad Milke]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. It's Brad Milke, host of ABC's Daily News podcast Start here. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart choice. Make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates from multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try [e-mail], progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.

[Kana Whitworth]

Hey, everybody, it's Kana Whitworth. Of course, we will continue to cover all the developments in the case against Bryan Coburger in the King Road killings. We're not that far away from trial, but in the meantime, we want to introduce you to a new show and we think you'll like it. It's called the Crime Scene Weekly. So every week, my colleague Brad Milkey, who you might know from our daily news show, start here at abc, well, he will be sitting down with the journalists that are covering the latest true crime stories in the headlines. These are stories you're familiar with and some of them can be a bit grisly. But you also know there's breakthroughs. And for my true crime fans out there, no detail is insignificant. We're bringing you true crime in real time. And I had the pleasure of joining Brad as a guest in this episode to talk about the new information coming to light in the Kohberger case. There's been so, so many filings in just the last few weeks. In fact, we had to add to the episode because we thought it had been put to bed and then a 300 page filing came down. So I want to share that episode with you now. And if you like it, you can follow the show by searching Crime Scene Weekly wherever you get your podcasts. The new episodes drop every Thursday. Again, it's called Crime Scene Weekly. Here's the episode.

[Brad Milke]

Hey, crime scene listeners, as we were about to hit publish on this episode, our second episode, something happened. Hundreds of pages of documents were filed by the prosecution last night with some fascinating details, including a final assignment belonging to the suspect, Bryan Kohberger, who had been studying criminology. And they say this could have a direct bearing on this case. So stick with us at the end of our conversation with ABC News anchor Kayna Whitworth. And we will have the latest on that breaking news in addition to everything coming up right now. For the first time, ABC News has obtained the audio from a 911 call in the Idaho college murders case that shocked the nation. What we've learned could change the way we see the whole case. Welcome to the crime scene. Every week, we talk about the biggest true crime story of the moment with the ABC news reporters who know it best. I'm Brad Milke. I host ABC's Daily News podcast. Start here. And here we're gonna bring you the latest on what's big and what's new in the true crime scene. This week, we're talking to ABC news correspondent Kana Whitworth, who was the first network reporter on the ground in Idaho and has been closely following this shocking quadruple murder case for over two years. Kana's with us now. Hey, Kana.

[Kana Whitworth]

Hey, Brad.

[Brad Milke]

I mean, this case horrified Idaho, but also captivated the nation. Back in the winter of 2022, you've hosted a whole podcast about this called the King Road killings. But there's been new developments. Before we get into those, can you just, I guess, walk us through the background of the case?

[Kana Whitworth]

Yeah, sure. You know, if anyone knows anything about fall in northern Idaho, it's heavenly. And that's when all of this started to unfold. It was. It was late in the football season. I think it was the vandals last home game. They'd had a great season season. And these four students went with all of their friends to the football game. Like you do in college, they went out that night. The ones that were 21 went to some bars, got some late night food. The younger ones went to some, you know, parties at a frat house. Greek life is huge on campus at the University of Idaho. It's a big deal. These four students were generally beloved by everyone that we spoke with, and they were all heavily involved in Greek life as well. And then, you know, by Sunday morning, everyone was shook to their core. And at the time when we started to learn that these four students had died, there were questions. But then, Brad, when we learned how they died is when this story got really scary because we learned that all four of them had been stabbed to death. Kaylee Goncalves and her lifelong best friend Madison Mogan were found stabbed to death in the upstairs bedroom of this house that was located just off campus on King Road. And on the second floor of this three level home, Zanna Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin were also found stabbed to death in in her bedroom. No murder weapon has ever been found. And at the time, there was no suspect, There was no lead. But what there was was these two surviving roommates in the home. And when we learned that one of the surviving roommates that night actually told authorities she saw a man clad in black with Bushy eyebrows walk past her that night. And then really from there. The other big surrounding question that we're starting to get some answers to finally, is this 911 call that was placed nearly eight hours after authorities think these four students were murdered.

[Brad Milke]

And before we even get into the police involvement in the police investigation, can we talk about then what these victims were doing on the night of the murder? Kaya?

[Kana Whitworth]

Yeah. You know, when people are listening to this, I hope that everyone is reminding themselves of what they were like when they were 19, 20, 21, especially if you were in college at the time. Kaylee and Maddie went to one of their favorite bars. It's called the Corner Club. And Moscow is such a neat place. It's a beautiful college town. And it kind of has this one Main street, and the Corner Club is sort of at the very end of the main street. And so they were there and they were hanging out with their friends. And then you actually see them later on a street camera and they're walking down the street. And when I talk to their friends, oh, my heart was beating fast all of a sudden thinking about this. When I talked to their friends after this, they all kind of giggled and laughed about how much they miss the girls and these mannerisms that they could see in this video that they love so much. Maddie's wearing somebody else's huge sweatshirt and she's kind of like swinging her arms, you know, and really playful. And they go down and they go to this grub truck and it's that late night food, you know, really popular with all these college students. And you see them on camera, they're sort of giggling and laughing and they go home. And so far, that video from that food truck is the last time that we see Kaylee and Maddie alive. We know that Zanna and her boyfriend Ethan had also gone to a frat party earlier that night. And then they eventually made their way home as well to the house on King Road. And the other two roommates, the ones that survived, that lived on the first and second floor, were already home at the time.

[Brad Milke]

Okay, so what happens next as it goes past midnight into the early morning?

[Kana Whitworth]

They get home pretty late. Maybe it's normal time for college kids. And what authorities are telling us is that Kaylee and Maddie stayed up till really late, till about 3am and they were calling Kaylee's ex boyfriend. It's hard to call him an ex boyfriend, though, if I'm being honest with you, Brad, because he was so involved in her life still. They shared a dog together, and they had been friends for most of their lives. Right. So he's a huge factor in her life. And they were calling him until like 3:00 in the morning. And then Zanna, which I've been told by her friends is a total Zanna move, ordered late night delivery food from doordash and that arrives around 4am and it's 12 minutes later that authorities think someone came into that house. And after that is where things get pretty hazy there.

[Brad Milke]

Hazy how?

[Kana Whitworth]

For a long time we've really had to rely on court documents to try to figure out what happened there. So one of the roommates told authorities, and this was on the probable cause affidavit, told authorities that she thought she heard Kaylee playing with her dog upstairs. Then she heard a voice say, there's someone here. And according to this surviving roommate, she opened her door to check, but kind of didn't see anything. And then she hears crying. She opened her door again and at that point, Brad, according to these documents, she heard a male voice say something to the effect of, it's okay, I'm going to help you. Well, around that same time, Brad, a surveillance camera that's next door to this home hears the audio of what authorities think are voices, maybe a whimper. And it's followed by a loud thud and then a dog barking. So the next time this roommate opens her door, this is the third time now she tells authorities this person walked essentially right past her towards their sliding glass door. And really, Brad, you know, up until recently that was all we knew was nothingness. After that.

[Brad Milke]

What do you mean nothing? What, what happens next?

[Kana Whitworth]

Well, for a long time we didn't know and there was all these questions because the thing is, Brad, that authorities think the murders happened between 4 and 4:25 in the morning and nobody called 911 until almost noon the next day. I mean, I talked to a neighbor who told me he got up that morning and went to work and drove past the house and came back home, like all in that time frame.

[Brad Milke]

Wow. And the new development here is you got your hands on the audio of that 911 call, right?

[Kana Whitworth]

Yeah. Look, we have been asking for this 911 call for so long because it doesn't make sense to us why there would be this nearly eight hour gap in between someone seeing someone in the house, hearing all of that stuff, and finally alerting 911. We first got a readout of this call and that was one thing, Brad, to read it, but to hear it is so different because you hear this panic and this confusion. And there's so many people on the call because these surviving roommates called their friends over that morning for help before they called 911 and they're passing the phone around and the dispatcher is frustrated. And one of the things that has really stuck with me, Brad, is that, you know, I've spent a lot of time speaking with Kaylee Gonzalez's parents and her mother. Christy has told me for a really long time that she didn't want this 911 call to be released. She didn't want to have to hear it. She knew that it would just break her heart. And it is heartbreaking. It is hard to listen to. But what Kaylee's dad, Steve also points out is that the confusion for him also paints a picture of, of innocence around these roommates.

[Brad Milke]

Okay. And we are going to take a quick break right here. When we come back, we will hear the audio of that 911 call and talk about what it means for this case. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. It's Brad Milke, host of ABC's Daily News podcast. Start Here. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart choice. Make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates from multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try it at Progressive Dot, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy listeners. Are you looking for a shortcut to better auto insurance for you? Something that takes all the research off your plate. Something that's easy, something that matches you with lower rates. Something genius. That's where NerdWallet comes in. Their nerds already did the work for you. Just answer a few questions and ta da, you'll be matched with top insurance providers in your area. Find the right rate for [e-mail] after all, using NerdWallet is more than smart. It's genius. Not all applicants will qualify for the lowest monthly payments. NerdWallet Insurance Services Incorporated, CA resident license number OK 92033. Like your favorite travel guide, T Mobile's network knows all the spots because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network switch. Now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com Keep up to four lines to be a virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlocked device credit service report in 90 plus days device ineligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Okay, we're back with Kana Whitworth. ABC News has obtained the 911 call of that fateful night in Moscow, Idaho, which we're going to play right now. And just a warning to listeners, we're going to play almost the whole call here. The only thing authorities redacted is the phone number given by the caller. You'll hear silence there, but this call is disturbing, so if you don't want to hear it, I would skip ahead about five minutes. Okay, here's the call.

[C]

Can I know on location of your emergency? Hi. Something is happening. Something happened in our house. We don't know what. What is the address of the emergency? 11:22. What is the rest of the address? Oh, Kings Road. Okay, and is that a house or an apartment? It's a house. Can you repeat the address to make sure that I have it right? I'll talk to you guys. We're. We live at the White, so we're next to them. I need someone to repeat the address for verification. The address? 1122 King Road. And what's the phone number that you're calling from? What's your phone number? And tell me exactly what's going on. One of our. One of the roommates has passed out and she was drunk last night and she's not waking up. Okay. Oh, and they saw some man in their house last night.

[Brad Milke]

Yeah.

[C]

Hi, this is. And are you with the patient? Okay, I need someone to keep the phone, stop passing it around. Can I just tell you what happened? Pretty much what is going on currently? Is someone passed out right now? I don't really know, but pretty much at 4am Okay, I need to know what's going on right now. If someone has passed out, can you find that out? Yeah, I'll come. Come on, we gotta go check. But we have.

[Brad Milke]

Wait, can I just pause this, Kayna? Because it sounds clear to me like they haven't. They know something's wrong, but they have not even gone in the room where these bodies are.

[Kana Whitworth]

Yeah, that's the thing, Brad, is there's so much confusion surrounding all of this. Right. And the calm person that you heard on the call, by the way, was a friend from across the street. She says, I live in the Whites. There are these apartment buildings that everyone in Moscow knows right across the street. So she came over and she's calm on that call because the surviving roommate is so upset. I mean, she can't even finish the Address. And then she's sort of pleading with the dispatcher. Let me tell you what happened. We almost get a clear account from the surviving roommate of what happened. And the dispatcher sort of interrupts her because from the dispatcher's perspective, she needs to know right now what. What's happening is someone passed out. And it is clear that they don't understand the condition of anybody.

[Brad Milke]

Okay, and so let's play the rest of this. This is sort of as they're finding the condition of the bodies here that we now know are past saving.

[C]

Okay, and how old is she? She's 20. 20, you said.

[Brad Milke]

Hello?

[C]

Hello? Okay, I need someone to stop passing the phone around because I've talked to four different people. Sorry, they just gave me the phone. Is she breathing?

[Brad Milke]

Hello?

[C]

Is she breathing? No. Okay, talking to them. Say, I can't talk to them. They need you to talk to them. Hello? Okay, I have already sent the ambulance and law enforcement. Stay on the line. If there is a defibrillator available, send someone to get it now and tell me when you have it. Say that again. There's a police here right now. Okay, if there's a defibrillator available, send someone to get it now and tell me when you have it. Do you have a defibrillator? Yep. Yes. Do you have one? Are you talking to the officer? Yes. Okay, I'm gonna let you go since he's there with you and can help you. Okay, thank you. Bye. Okay.

[Brad Milke]

Kaina, I mean, just listening back to all that, what is your impression of that call?

[Kana Whitworth]

Yeah, it's so hard, Brad. You know, you hear this male voice. He was also one of the friends that. That came over. And you hear him sort of yelling, Ethan Zanna kind of calling out to them. And then you kind of make out almost. It almost sounds like a get out, get out, you know, real frantic. And then people are running and there's heavy breathing and panting and. And panic at that point starts to set in. And then that male voice takes the phone and is asked, is she breathing? And he says, no. The composure in that young man is remarkable, especially given what we know happened. And so I do still think that there's questions about the layout of this house. And I did ask. I asked Keely Gonzalves's parents, was Zanna's door open? And at this point, they tend to think that it's open. But what they're telling me, Brad, is that by just kind of poking your head in there, perhaps you still couldn't make out the horror of what really happened.

[Brad Milke]

And then just not to dwell on this too much, but I think a lot of people might go, hello, these people, there was a man in your house at 4, something in the morning. Why did it take this long? I mean, is there a sense as to why nothing happened for so long?

[Kana Whitworth]

Well, one thing also is that the surviving roommate at one point told authorities, you know, she thought maybe this person was a firefighter or something. At one point, this person she saw was carrying a vacuum type object. There's just a lot of confusion here. And according to the defense, the surviving roommate had been drinking. She also is the kind of person who had lucid dreams.

[Brad Milke]

And just to back things up a bit, like the details that you're mentioning, those were in past court filings. The details about the surviving roommate drinking and being prone to those lucid dreams was mentioned in a filing by the defense.

[Kana Whitworth]

But then also there's these new court filings, Brad, that paint a picture sort of minute by minute of what happened based on the communication between these two surviving roommates. And we know that, you know, the one surviving roommate there on the second floor, the one who saw the man clad in black, initially started calling, you know, all the girls in the house, Kaylee, Maddie, Zanna. And then she finally connects with the surviving roommate there on the first floor. And they start texting back and forth. And their text messages are, you know, that of. Of young girls that are very confused.

[Brad Milke]

And they're within the house, they're texting to each other just from different rooms.

[Kana Whitworth]

Exactly.

[Brad Milke]

Huh.

[Kana Whitworth]

One is on the first floor, one is on the second floor. This is also the floor where Zanna and Ethan were killed. And then there's a third floor where Kaylee and Maddie were killed. And this roommate on the second floor is the one that starts all these communications, right? Calling all the girls, texting everyone. And she finally hears back from that roommate on the first floor. And they have this whole text exchange.

[Brad Milke]

What do they say to it? Like, what are they texting at that point?

[Kana Whitworth]

Yeah, I mean, so again, a reminder here, these are young college girls, and, you know, they're saying, like, what's going on? And then there's some confusion because, you know, they're saying, wait, Zanna was in all black earlier. And then the roommate says, no, but it was like a ski mask almost. And then describes something over his forehead and mouth. And then they start to get scared. And then she says, my phone's gonna die. And the roommate on the first floor says, come to my room. Run. Come down here. Now, and the first filing that we got, Brad, said there wasn't a lot of communication after that. There was a few texts where she was pleading with the victims to answer their phones and they weren't. And then at 10:23am she again is pleading with them to, to answer their phones and they don't. And then she contacts her dad and then, you know, then the 911 call is made. It just paints a really horrifying picture. And it's interesting because the way these filings come out in this story. The defense has entered a new filing in saying, no, these roommates were communicating a lot more than you think. And they were up at 7am and they were on social media. And if they were so afraid, why didn't they leave? Why didn't they call 911?

[Brad Milke]

That's what's so confusing. Kaina, right? It's kind of like, you know, that there is communication happening and yet it's not like, hey, let's find out what happened. And there's hours where nothing happens. So you're wondering like, did they go to sleep? Are they just kind of in denial? Is it all of the above? Do we have answers to that? I guess.

[Kana Whitworth]

You know, I try to get the perspective here from Kaylee's dad. He's spoken with all of these kids and generally what he thinks here is that what this goes to show is the innocence of these young kids who were partying and never in a million years could have imagined that that is what happened to their friends.

[Brad Milke]

You know, the one name we haven't said so far, Kaina, is Bryan Kohberger. Right. He has emerged as the suspect in this case. His lawyers say he's innocent. But that all brings us to kind of another interesting fold here, which is how he was arrested and how the FBI says it found DNA linking him to this. What can you tell us about that?

[Kana Whitworth]

So this was a six week manhunt. They had no suspect for a really long time. This community was on edge. What happened, according to authorities, is that this knife sheath was left behind. They swabbed it, they found DNA on it, and they tried to make a profile of this DNA. So what they first do is they run it through the law enforcement system. But if you're not in the law enforcement system, nothing's going to ping. And what happened, according to authorities, is that they used investigative genetic genealogy. Now, some consider this to be very controversial to link Bryan Kohberger to these crimes. And they build out a family tree and a profile. And this got linked to Bryan Kohberger's dad.

[Brad Milke]

Right? And investigative genetic genealogy. This is where you get DNA, like from a knife sheath. You load that data onto public genealogy sites, and you build out a family tree from there. Right. So. So what was happening with Coburger at.

[Kana Whitworth]

That time in the meantime, in this six weeks, Bryan Kohberger, a former PhD student at Washington State University, has left Pullman, Washington, driven across the country with his father in a white Hyundai Elantra.

[Brad Milke]

I remember this. He was going home for the holidays, right?

[Kana Whitworth]

Mm. Gets pulled over twice, makes it home just around Christmas time. Well, once authorities make this link to Brian Coburger's dad, they start surveilling the house. Around that same time, a Washington State police officer in Pullman is looking for white Hyundai Elantras, and he finds one. And he pulls up the driver's license and he says, huh, this person has bushy eyebrows. And as authorities are surveilling Brian Coburger, what we know from a recent filing here from the judge in Boise is that they had to move in quick for this very dramatic late night arrest because they thought perhaps he was destroying evidence in the car that they believe to be linked to this case. So they move in quick, and he is arrested, and he is very quickly extradited to Idaho because according to his lawyers, at that time, he was eager to be exonerated. And, you know, so authorities want to say that it was very clean cut, how they used this genetic genealogy and made their way to Bryan Kohberger. But Kohberger's lawyers have really fought this.

[Brad Milke]

What were his lawyers objecting to?

[Kana Whitworth]

First of all, the FBI worked with this trash collection company that went through the Coburger neighborhood, which is a gated neighborhood in the Poconos in Pennsylvania, and collect trash, and that they brought the trash to the FBI.

[Brad Milke]

Oh, so they're like, hey, it's not cool that, A, you're using genealogy to find out, oh, this links to your dad somehow, and B, that you're doing all these hopscotches with DNA, which, by the way, you got through a trash collection company.

[Kana Whitworth]

And the thing is, Brad, the judge isn't buying it in Boise right now, okay? So he's gonna let this go in. And after the judge made that decision, there was another really interesting filing that came down from the state. And that filing indicated that Bryan Kohberger's defense team plans to argue that this key piece of evidence, this knife sheath, could have been planted at the scene by the real perpetrator. And perhaps that's why it contained Bryan Coburger's DNA.

[Brad Milke]

Hey. And when we're talking about Coburger, he's in custody right now. There's the chance that he could face the death penalty. And yet that is one of the other big developments recently. Right. Can you walk us through that?

[Kana Whitworth]

Yeah. So this is a capital case. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. And Brian Coburger's lawyers have tried to have it taken off the table multiple times, but their most recent argument is that it should be taken off the table because they say he has Autism Spectrum disorder. And they say that it could create a bias within the jury based on his general mannerisms.

[Brad Milke]

Oh, like. Like his mannerisms might make him seem less sympathetic or seem less caring, but maybe it's related to his disorder.

[Kana Whitworth]

Sure. Like, he might not be reacting the way someone without ASD would to something in court, and that that could potentially bias the jury. They talk about his rocking back and forth, and they feel like all of these mannerisms are sinister in a way that they can be perceived that way. And so they're worried about how that comes off in the media, how that jury would see that. And they also say, Brad, that him being described as socially awkward shouldn't be a surprise to anyone because that, according to his lawyers, is a hallmark of his disability. And so they're pushing back on that, and they're doing that at the same time that a law was just signed by the governor in Idaho that makes Idaho the only state in this country where execution by firing squad is the main means of execution.

[Brad Milke]

Well, and so at the end of the day, Kana, I mean, with this audio that you guys have obtained, I guess how does this sort of affect your overall view of the case and where it goes next? Because there have been so many twists and turns.

[Kana Whitworth]

I think we just finally have a lot of information now, and I think we have a lot more information than we thought we would have. And the thing that we don't want to overlook right now, Brad, is the most recent filing in which prosecutors allege Bryan Kohberger purchased a K bar style knife and a sheath on Amazon eight months before these murders.

[Brad Milke]

And actually, we got a reply filing this week on that purchase. The defense is arguing that the Amazon account was used by the whole Kohberger family. Meaning the knife could have been purchased. Yes, but not necessarily, they say, by Bryan Kohberger.

[Kana Whitworth]

It's also important to point out here that this murder weapon has never been found. So there's still so many outstanding questions, Brad.

[Brad Milke]

Wow. And trial starts in August Kana, Whitworth. I know you'll be there. Thank you so much.

[Kana Whitworth]

Yeah, of course. Thanks, Brad.

[Brad Milke]

Now, as I mentioned at the very top of this episode, after Kana and I recorded this conversation, we got some late breaking news. ABC has gotten their hands on a filing that was released Wednesday afternoon, like this Wednesday. The filing includes some stunning details about Bryan Kohberger. So I've called up Kana to get the latest. Kayna, thank you for coming back on short notice. You've had a little bit of time with this filing. What can you tell us about it?

[Kana Whitworth]

Yeah, Brad, glad to be back with you. And that's the thing about this case right now, is this is fascinating because there's been a lot of focus on Brian Kohberger's education throughout all of this. And what we're hearing from the state now, buried in this filing that was released is this homework assignment that Bryan Coburger did. It's called the crime scene scenario final. And this was done when he was at Desales University in Pennsylvania. So this was prior to him being at Washington state, prior to him pursuing his PhD. But this sort of lays out what he was doing there at Desales, and it's really, really detailed. What this homework assignment essentially is is Bryan Kohberger describing how, if you were an investigator, how you would analyze a crime scene. And, Brad, it's eerie because this crime scene that Bryan Kohberger has laid out for his final involves a white woman who's dead. She's 35 years old, as he writes it out. And Bryan Kohberger talks about the steps you would take to make sure that you don't contaminate the crime scene. Right. How to make sure that you don't leave fingerprints, how you take photos, mostly how you would notice the bruises on the victim's face, the marks on her neck, specifically a bloody shirt, because this was a stabbing murder.

[Brad Milke]

But you're saying this is specifically about what police will be looking for at a crime scene, like deep knowledge of what authorities would want to get their hands on.

[Kana Whitworth]

Exactly. And he also talks about the things that you have to notice in the crime scene, especially on the victim and the surrounding areas. Things like defense wounds or what he writes in here is hesitation marks on her related to the knife or trying to find out if there are multiple stab wounds. And he talks about Brad doing things like making sure you're wearing gloves. Right. Making sure that you're completely covered and that it can't be a fibrous material that you're covered in that you have to bring forceps and small tweezers and a pair of scissors. The detail is. Is just fascinating. I'm going to read directly to you if I can. It says I must ensure that myself and my fellow crime scene personnel are wearing gloves and other protective equipment as to avoid contaminating the scene with latent fingerprints. And then that's when he goes into the fiber free stuff. Right, Brad, Covering your mouth, covering your hair, because you don't want to get saliva, skin cells, any bodily fluids in this scene. It's several pages long. And one other thing that stood out to me, I should make sure to swab under her fingernails to see if the DNA of the offender is there. She likely dug into their skin. And he notes in his homework that if there's not forced entry, it may be suggested that the woman knew her killer. And then he actually uses the words, crimes of passion are rooted in emotionality and impulsivity. And, Brad, when these murders happened on King Road, investigators right away talked about just how personal a crime like this is. When you stab someone, you have to get up close and personal to them. And it really haunted investigators from the beginning. And in fact, the mayor took a lot of heat because he questioned openly had it been a crime of passion. It's a little bit eerie, Brad, but also, this is part of what they have to do. This is part of their final. This is part of their responsibility. As a student.

[Brad Milke]

I was gonna say he was studying criminology. Right. So, I mean, how does this then play into the trial that's coming up, or how will prosecutors try to use this?

[Kana Whitworth]

I think prosecutors are probably going to use this to showcase his knowledge and the things that he understood about how a crime scene would be analyzed. I think it's also important to remind everybody that when he was arrested, his professor at desales told the Daily Mail about what a brilliant student he was, that she had never really recommended all but one other student for a PhD program. So there's just so many wild facts to be dug up about his time at desales.

[Brad Milke]

Yeah. And we'll have to see if this even gets admitted into evidence, let alone whether a jury thinks it's relevant. But if people say, like, a murderer makes 100 mistakes, the implication from the prosecutors here seems to be that if this is the guy, that he might have made a few less than that. Kana, Whitworth, thank you for covering this late breaking news.

[Kana Whitworth]

Brad, thank you, and thanks for your dedication.

[Brad Milke]

Now, let's quickly hit up the other big stories in the world of true crime this week. First up, a woman has been charged with murder in the death of Telemundo sports reporter Adam Mansano. Mansano was found dead in his hotel room in Kenner, Louisiana after traveling to New Orleans for the Super Bowl. According to the autopsy, Mansano died from the combined effects of Xanax and alcohol, along with positional asphyxia, which is when someone's physical position obstructs their breathing. No plea has been entered. The next story capturing headlines this week at an isolated research base in Antarctica, a man is accused of attacking and threatening his colleagues. The alleged perpetrator has been put under psychological evaluation and has cooperated with South Africa's Ministry of Environment, which oversees the base there. The nine member research team is expected to stay at the base for about 13 months, meaning they'll be living in close quarters through the hostile and dark Antarctic winter. Lastly, the missing University of Pittsburgh student Shedixa Kananki, whose disappearance while on spring break in the Dominican Republic launched an international effort to find her, is believed to have died by drowning. Kananki's family has asked officials to declare her legally dead. A 22 year old college student was with Kaninki the night she went missing. He told prosecutors the two went swimming and kissed in the ocean. He is not a suspect and is not charged with a crime. Alright, that will do it for this week's episode of the Crime Scene. Thank you so much for being with us. The Crime Scene Weekly is a production of ABC Audio, produced by Nora Richie and Mick Fierro. Our supervising producer is Susie Liu. Mixing by Mick Fierro. Special thanks to Liz Alessi, Tara Gimble, Josh Margolin and Sacha Pesnik. Josh Cohan is our director of podcast programming. Laura Mayer is our executive producer. I'm Brad Milkey. I'll see you next week at the Crime Scene. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. It's Brad Milke, host of ABC's Daily News podcast. Start here. You chose to hit Play Play on this podcast today. Smart choice. Make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates for multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try it at progressive. Com, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.