The family of a missing Pennsylvania woman called the cops after they were alerted by internet sleuths to the ‘possibility’ that Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger was in the area at the time she vanished.
Dana Smithers, 45, went missing on May 28, 2022. Her remains were uncovered in a wooded area in Stroudsburg on April 27 this year – about 30 miles away from Kohberger’s family home in Albrightsville.
In a bombshell development this week, Kohberger’s parents were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury investigating the case.
It has now emerged that Smithers’ sister, Stacey Anne, posted to her Facebook page, ‘Finding Dana’, on January 2, thanking those who had been ‘reaching out recently regarding the possibility of the suspect in the horrific murders in Idaho having been in our area around the time of my sister, Dana’s disappearance’.
She added: ‘I have forwarded all of your suggestions on to local law enforcement. Please pray for everyone involved.’
Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger’s parents were called to testify over the case of a missing Pennsylvania woman who went missing in the same county where he lived
The court suspects Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger might be connected to Dana Smithers because she disappeared 30-miles from his parent’s home. Smithers, 45, was last seen on May 28, 2022 on Ring footage
A source told News Nation that Kohberger’s alibi proves he likely wasn’t involved in Smithers’ disappearance.
On the day she went missing, Smithers, her youngest daughter and the daughter’s father had gone to a festival in Stroudsburg.
Smithers was no longer in a relationship with the father, but they were on good terms, according to friends.
The trio appeared to be in good spirits before returning to Smithers’ home.
Later that night, Smithers went to the home of friend and neighbor Tara Cioni, who later said that she thought something may have been troubling her.
Smithers – who had a history of substance abuse – was smoking, something she only did if she was ‘nervous’ or on edge, Cioni said.
The mother-of-three, was last seen in Cioni’s Ring camera footage at around 11pm on the day she went missing.
She was reported missing days later with her family saying she would never have stayed away from her youngest daughter for that amount of time.
Her cellphone, wallet and daily medication were later found at her home.
Her cause of death is still unknown.
Michael Kohberger (right) is expected to testify in court on Thursday while Maryann Kohberger (left) has already given her testimony
Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (left) Xana Kernodle (right) and Ethan Chapin (center) – all students at the University of Idaho – were knifed to death on November 13 in the quiet college town of Moscow
It remains unclear what connection Kohberger may have to her disppearance.
Kohberger, 28, was charged with the murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, on November 13 last year.
Michael is expected to testify in court on Thursday while Maryann has already testified.
The transcripts from the closed session can be transferred to Idaho where their son is set to go on trial on October 2.
The suspect appeared in an Idaho courtroom Monday. He refused to enter a plea to four counts of murder in the first degree.
Kohberger had been expected to plead not guilty but chose to use Idaho’s ‘standing silent’ plea, meaning he has not pleaded either way but can still be tried.
The Washington State University PHD candidate has been behind bars since December 30 when police raided his parent’s Pennsylvania home.
He was transferred to Latah County Jail on January 4 where he has remained since.
The criminology major is believed to have planned the murders of the four Idaho students with a probable cause affidavit noting that he had repeatedly visited the area around their home prior to the killings.
His DNA was found on a KA-BAR knife sheath found next to the bodies of Kaylee and Madison.
Goncalves and Mogen were discovered dead in bed next to each other, while Chapin and Kernodle were found on the floor below, with Kernodle discovered slumped over on the floor of her bedroom.
According to the document, survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke heard something of what happened, with Mortensen telling cops she heard Goncalves say ‘there’s someone here’ at approximately 4am.
Ten minutes later, she heard a thud and crying from Kernodle’s room and a male voice saying ‘it’s ok, I’m going to help you.’
Minutes later, Mortensen said she opened her bedroom door and saw a tall male with bushy eyebrows leaving through the sliding glass doors at the back of the home.
She described how she had been ‘frozen in shock’ as the suspect walked towards her. Mortensen said she locked herself in her room after he left.
The affidavit also reveals that Kohberger’s white Hyundai Elantra was captured on camera near the scene before being seen driving rapidly away from the home towards Pullman at approximately 4.20am.
Police rapidly connected the vehicle to Kohberger and noted the similarity between his appearance and Mortensen’s description of the intruder at the rental home.
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