Idaho
Idaho judge denies Bryan Kohberger's 'bushy eyebrows' motion
In a series of orders announced Friday on motions from both sides in the murder case against Idaho student stabbings suspect Bryan Kohberger, the judge said there was no basis to grant a defense request that the lone eyewitness be blocked from mentioning the “bushy eyebrows” she saw on a masked intruder during the murders.
“D.M.’s testimony about ‘bushy eyebrows’ is highly relevant in this case,” Judge Steven Hippler wrote in his order, using the witness’s initials. “D.M. is the only eyewitness to the intruder responsible for the homicides. It is the jury’s task to determine whether Defendant is that person.”
Kohberger’s defense has argued both that he does not have “bushy eyebrows” and that DM’s memory of what she saw may have been influenced by being drunk at the time and a wall covered in artwork and photos showing portraits, faces and prominent eyebrows.
IDAHO MURDERS CASE: BRYAN KOHBERGER SELFIE USED BY PROSECUTORS TO CLAP BACK AT ‘BUSHY EYEBROW’ DENIAL
Prosecutors allege Bryan Kohberger took this selfie at 10:31 a.m. Nov. 13, 2022, about six hours after the murders of four University of Idaho students he is accused of committing. (Ada County Court)
“While she could not provide enough details for a composite sketch, it is unsurprising given her observation that the intruder was wearing a mask on his face,” Hippler wrote. “Moreover, while this description might or might not implicate Defendant, it will not result in unfair prejudice.”
Hippler agreed with prosecutors that the debate over whether Kohberger has “bushy eyebrows” should be decided by the jury. The state has also submitted a selfie Kohberger allegedly took hours after the murders as evidence.
IDAHO JUDGE ISSUES ORDER ON KOHBERGER’S BID TO HAVE HIS FAMILY GUARANTEED COURTROOM SEATING
DM is one of two surviving roommates. She came within three feet of a masked intruder moments after the murders, according to court documents that only refer to her by her initials.
Madison Mogen, top left, smiles on the shoulders of her best friend, Kaylee Goncalves, as they pose with Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and two other housemates in Goncalves’ final Instagram post shared the day before the four students were stabbed to death. (@kayleegoncalves/Instagram)
After Kohberger’s arrest, she told police she did not know him and had not seen him before. Prosecutors have alleged he was unknown to the victims before the crime and committed the murders using a large knife.
They also pointed to a 2020 college essay he wrote about handling a murder scene for a criminal justice class, arguing that he was well versed in crime scene procedures and the concept of transferring evidence and knew how to avoid it.
WHAT WENT BRYAN KOHBERGER’S WAY — AND WHAT DIDN’T — AT EVIDENCE MOTIONS HEARING
DM is the only known witness to have encountered the intruder and lived to tell her tale after she froze in shock and he walked toward a back sliding door. Recently unsealed text messages show she tried in vain to reach her murdered friends minutes after the intruder left.
Bryan Kohberger arrives at the Monroe County Courthouse in Pennsylvania in advance of an extradition hearing. (The Image Direct for Fox News Digital)
Hippler also denied a defense motion seeking to have prosecutors blocked from describing Kohberger’s car as the “suspect vehicle.”
A defense motion to block an expert from the Idaho State Crime Lab was denied in part and granted in part. The expert will be allowed to testify, but witnesses for both sides will be instructed not to use the terms “touch DNA,” “contact DNA” and “trace DNA.”
Hippler also partly granted the state’s motion regarding evidence of Kohberger’s autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnoses.
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Four University of Idaho students were found dead Nov. 13, 2022. (Angela Palermo/Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Expert testimony about Kohberger’s autism diagnosis would only be relevant if it was necessary to explain his mannerisms after taking the witness stand in his own defense, Hippler wrote.
“At that point, Defendant’s demeanor — which goes to his credibility — is relevant evidence a jury can consider, which the State concedes,” the judge wrote. “However, prior to presenting testimony on the matter, Defendant must raise the matter with the Court outside the presence of the jury to discuss the permissible scope.”
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He reserved the right to rule on Kohberger’s purported obsessive-compulsive disorder at a later date.
Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and felony burglary in the stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
A judge entered not guilty pleas on his behalf. Prosecutors have notified the court they intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted.
The trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 11.
PAYETTE — A Payette mom’s bond was revoked Tuesday after she was charged with suffocating her twin children earlier this month and is believed to pose a danger to the life of her newborn child.
The case, which has drawn national headlines, concerns Andrea Renee Shaw, a 23-year-old Payette mother who in May 2025 said her 18-month-old fraternal twins died the same day, after receiving routine childhood vaccinations. In January, Shaw joined as a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with several other plaintiffs claiming vaccine injury or death.
Kennedy, who now serves as secretary of Health and Human Services, is no longer part of the group after taking on the cabinet position, as was reported by the Associated Press.
In Idaho, the twins’ deaths prompted a 14-month investigation by the Payette County Sheriff’s Department. On June 29, the investigation yielded a grand jury indictment of Shaw on two counts of first-degree murder by suffocation. If convicted, Shaw can be punished by up to life in prison or the death penalty, and the court would have the ability to order the penalties be served consecutively, or back to back.
Tuesday’s arraignment at the Payette County Courthouse was primarily attended by Shaw’s relatives and members of the media. Payette County Judge Kiley Stuchlik, who serves Idaho’s Third Judicial District, presided.
A key consideration for Stuchlik on Tuesday was a request from Joseph Filicetti, the legal counsel for Shaw, to have her bond reduced from $2 million to $100,000. Filicetti said this would allow for Shaw to care for a newborn girl, who, according to court documents, was born by caesarean section on June 25, four days prior to Shaw’s grand jury indictment.
State prosecutors objected to the motion for bond reduction, noting at hand was a potential death penalty case and asserting, unlike her husband, Shaw’s story repeatedly changed during questioning. Prosecuting Attorney Mike Duke said releasing Shaw would ultimately put the newborn’s safety at risk.
“That child is the most at risk. We do not think she should be allowed to be anywhere near any children, let alone her own children,” Duke said.
Stuchlik decided to revoke bond entirely, stating Shaw posed a “risk of safety” to the newborn child that was not known to Stuchlik or prosecutors when the $2 million bond was initially set.
Also for consideration Tuesday was a request to have grand jury transcripts of witness testimony provided to prosecutors and defense counsel to prepare their respective cases.
Idaho
Idaho is home to the nation's first DarkSky Reserve. Now it's home to the nations first DarkSky Certified Resort
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A controversy is brewing as the City of Idaho Falls reviews its alcohol ordinance.
The goal is to consolidate four existing ordinances for beer, wine and liquor into a single law and ensure compliance with state code.
However, at its meeting last Thursday, the Idaho Falls City Council unanimously voted to remove the proposed ordinance from its agenda, in order to receive and consider additional public comment.
The proposed ordinance would:
1. Require commercial establishments selling, dispensing or permitting consumption of alcohol – including beer, wine or liquor – to have an alcohol license, alcohol catering permit or a charitable event permit.
2. Business events with 20 or less employees consuming alcohol at the business would be allowed.
3. Require alcohol servers to complete training every three years.
4. Individuals who violate the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.
Idaho Falls City Council President Jim Francis said the changes were the culmination of months of collaboration between law enforcement, business owners and city attorneys.
“We wanted to provide a safe environment – the primary point here – for public gatherings,” Francis said. “We recognize that certain antiquated elements of the current code are overly restrictive and needed to be addressed. We wanted to make the code more accessible to the public. We needed to address over-pouring issues. We wanted to reduce penalties where possible for violations, particularly the first offenses, and yet make the code clear enough to be enforceable consistently by law enforcement.”
But City Council Member John Radford said the changes represent an overreach by city government.
“I believe it’s a bad policy. What problem are we solving in the name of trying to solve a non-problem?” Radford said. “We’re becoming big brother around alcohol in your private property. I’m concerned that landlords will be at risk of being charged with a misdemeanor if they knowingly, which I made sure that was in there, because that is what we’ve been talking about, allowed people to drink in our business. We will be outside the norm of Idaho cities. This is a big step, and I don’t think the public has weighed in on this.”
At a City Council Work Session on June 1, Idaho Falls Chief of Police Bryce Johnson cited an increase in alcohol-related crime – particularly downtown – as a reason for the changes.
“DUI is there, but this would include sexual assaults, assaults, batteries, disturbances, urination, public vandalism, shooting – all sorts of crimes,” Johnson said.
But business owners are concerned about the potential impact on commercial enterprises.
“The ordinance doesn’t address the real problem – which is people drinking … at one event and then showing up in a bar or restaurant already hammered and causing problems anyway,” ” said Terri Ireland, representing the Idaho Falls Downtown Merchants Association. “The industry is really well-regulated by state and local laws already.”
The City of Idaho Falls began the process of updating its alcohol ordinance in January 2026, seeking input from community stakeholders.
Multiple community members spoke out about the ordinance.
For more in-depth information, you can read the full 39-page proposed alcohol ordinance here.
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