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Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger appears in court in bid to overturn indictment claiming ‘insufficient evidence’ and ‘juror bias’

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Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger appears in court in bid to overturn indictment claiming ‘insufficient evidence’ and ‘juror bias’


The man suspected of savagely knifing four college students to death last November will appear in court in Idaho today in a bid to have his indictment overturned due to ‘insufficient evidence’ and alleged juror bias.

Criminology student Bryan Kohberger, 28, was indicted by an Idaho grand jury who heard the evidence during a closed-door session in May and decided to send the case to a full trial.

Kohberger, who refused to make a plea and instead chose to ‘stand silent’ at a hearing the same month, now wants to void the decision and proceed to a preliminary hearing to test the evidence against him.

Should events go his way, prosecutors in Moscow, Idaho, would be forced to argue their case in a mini trial which could result in Kohberger’s release should a judge agree that police do not have enough evidence to secure a conviction.

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The Washington State University PHD candidate was arrested last December and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one of burglary over the horror attack which left a scene so appalling, police described it as ‘the worst we’ve ever seen’.

Bryan Kohberger (pictured last month) will appear in Latah County Court Thursday for a two-part hearing where his attorneys will argue that his indictment should be dismissed

Kohberger is the only suspect in the quadruple murders of Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (second from left) Xana Kernodle (second from right) and Ethan Chapin (center) - all students at the University of Idaho - who were knifed to death on November 13, 2022 in the quiet, college town of Moscow

Kohberger is the only suspect in the quadruple murders of Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (second from left) Xana Kernodle (second from right) and Ethan Chapin (center) – all students at the University of Idaho – who were knifed to death on November 13, 2022 in the quiet, college town of Moscow

DailyMail.com visited the students' former home in Moscow, Idaho, which university officials plan to demolish, however it remained intact but boarded up on Wednesday

DailyMail.com visited the students’ former home in Moscow, Idaho, which university officials plan to demolish, however it remained intact but boarded up on Wednesday  

Best friends Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, were all killed in their beds at the three women’s rented home.

The attack was so brutal, blood could still be seen dripping down the walls of gray-painted home days after the killing.

In the wake of the murders, the house was turned over to the University of Idaho which plans to knock it down to make way for a memorial to the murdered students.

When DailyMail.com visited on Wednesday, it remained intact but is boarded up and guarded by college security guards.

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A hearing on Kohberger’s motion to vacate his indictment will be held at Latah County Court in two parts: a closed morning session and an afternoon session that will be open to the public and media.

In the morning session, Kohberger’s defense attorney Anne Taylor will argue that the indictment should be dismissed based on a ‘Biased Grand Jury, Inadmissible Evidence, Lack of Sufficient Evidence, and Prosecutorial Misconduct in Withholding Exculpatory Evidence’.

Like the hearing, the motion arguing the case is sealed and could not be reviewed by DailyMail.com.

The second part of the day will see Taylor argue for a dismissal based on an error in the instructions handed to the jury, saying that jurors were ‘misled’ on the standard of proof required for an indictment.

In a closed-door morning session Thursday, Kohberger's defense attorney argued that the indictment should be dismissed based on a 'Biased Grand Jury, Inadmissible Evidence, Lack of Sufficient Evidence, and Prosecutorial Misconduct in Withholding Exculpatory Evidence'

In a closed-door morning session Thursday, Kohberger’s defense attorney argued that the indictment should be dismissed based on a ‘Biased Grand Jury, Inadmissible Evidence, Lack of Sufficient Evidence, and Prosecutorial Misconduct in Withholding Exculpatory Evidence’

An afternoon session that will be open to the public and media will hear the defense's motion to dismiss on grounds of 'error in grand jury instructions'

An afternoon session that will be open to the public and media will hear the defense’s motion to dismiss on grounds of ‘error in grand jury instructions’ 

A small memorial paying tribute to the four college students is seen outside the home where the horrific murders took place

A small memorial paying tribute to the four college students is seen outside the home where the horrific murders took place

Kohberger’s bid for freedom comes 10 months after he was apprehended during a raid on his parents’ Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania home on December 30 before being flown back to Idaho in a small Pilatus PC-12 turboprop plane on January 4.

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Since being returned to the Gem State, the alleged killer has been locked up at the Latah County Jail, with prison sources telling DailyMail.com he spends his time obsessing over TV coverage of the case and has turned to God – meeting with a local pastor every Sunday.

Kohberger has been locked up at the Latah County Jail since being flown back to Idaho on January 4

Kohberger has been locked up at the Latah County Jail since being flown back to Idaho on January 4

The November 2022 killings shocked the tiny college town of Moscow which had not seen a single murder for seven years when Madison, Kaylee, Ethan and Xana were found dead in their beds.

Police initially appeared to be stumped by the murders and issued a series of contradictory statements over whether the students had been targeted and whether the public was at risk.

Shortly before Thanksgiving, they released a photo of a white Hyundai Elantra and a plea for further information about the vehicle’s movements and owner.

The car turned out to belong to Kohberger who, in an extraordinary twist, was pulled over twice while driving the vehicle back to Pennsylvania in early December.

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Since his arrest, it has emerged that loner Kohberger had battled heroin addiction in his teens and early twenties and was banned from a bar near his parents’ home due to his creepy behavior towards women.

Police sources have since said that following his move to Pullman, Washington, to pursue a PHD in criminology, he applied to work for the Washington State University police department – but was turned down.

The manner in which the killer navigated the three-story home to kill the four students – who were sleeping in separate rooms and floors – in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022 has raised questions about his motives

The manner in which the killer navigated the three-story home to kill the four students – who were sleeping in separate rooms and floors – in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022 has raised questions about his motives 

Investigators were seen in January removing a bloodied mattress from the home where four University of Idaho were murdered in November

Investigators were seen in January removing a bloodied mattress from the home where four University of Idaho were murdered in November

Fellow students said he took an unusual amount of interest in the Moscow murder case and described his ‘sexist’ attitude towards women in his classes.

As a result of his ‘rude behavior’ towards women and his penchant for grading them differently, he was fired by his professor at the WSU criminology department John Snyder on December 19 – just days before his arrest for murder.

Over the weekend, a Dateline report provided further evidence of his bizarre behavior with a female friend at WSU claiming he broke into her home a month before the murders and moved her possessions about to make her feel ‘uneasy’.

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She also said she had asked him to set up security cameras to help her catch the person who had moved her belongings – only to belatedly realize he was the culprit and, chillingly, had enjoyed access to the footage.

Kohberger is believed to have meticulously planned the murders of Madison, Kaylee, Ethan and Xana, with a probable cause affidavit noting that he had repeatedly visited the area around their home prior to the killings.

The document also said his DNA was found on a KA-BAR knife sheath found next to the bodies of Kaylee and Madison, and that he was seen in the home by roommate Dylan Mortensen, 19.

Kaylee and Madison were discovered dead in bed next to each other, while Ethan and Xana were found on the floor below, with Xana discovered slumped over on the floor of her bedroom.

Kohberger, meanwhile, has maintained his innocence in the case, and due to a sprawling gag order, few details have emerged. He chose to 'stand silent' during his arraignment in May instead of entering a plea

Kohberger, meanwhile, has maintained his innocence in the case, and due to a sprawling gag order, few details have emerged. He chose to ‘stand silent’ during his arraignment in May instead of entering a plea

According to the document, survivors Mortensen and Bethany Funke heard something of what happened, with Mortensen telling cops she heard Goncalves say ‘there’s someone here’ at approximately 4am.

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Ten minutes later, she heard a thud and crying from Xana’s room and a male voice saying ‘it’s ok, I’m going to help you’.

At 4:17am, a dog was captured barking loudly on a neighbor’s security camera. Around the same time, Mortensen said she opened her bedroom door again 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 black-clad male walked towards her and said she locked herself in her room after he left.

A shoe print was later found outside her door.

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.

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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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Idaho teen, 18, arrested after dead newborn found in hospital’s Safe Haven baby box

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Idaho teen, 18, arrested after dead newborn found in hospital’s Safe Haven baby box


An Idaho teen is behind bars after a dead baby was found in a hospital drop-off box meant for the anonymous surrender of newborns. 

Angel Newberry, 18, was arrested in Twin Falls more than a month after medical officials found the dead baby girl wrapped in a blanket with her placenta still attached in the Safe Haven Baby Box at the Grove Creek Medical Center in Blackfoot, authorities announced Friday. 

“The Safe Haven Baby Box is intended to safely and anonymously allow custodial parents to surrender a newborn under 30 days old without legal repercussions, provided the child is unharmed,” the Blackfoot Police Department said in a social media post. 

Angel Newberry, 18, was charged in a felony arrest warrant for failing to report a death to law enforcement. Blackfoot Police Department

“Unfortunately, the placement of a harmed or deceased infant is not protected under the system of Idaho law.”

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Hospital staff immediately responded to an alarm on Oct. 13 indicating a baby had been placed in the box — making the disturbing discovery that the newborn had been dead long before she was abandoned, according to Safe Haven Baby Boxes.

Idaho law only allows for the surrender of an infant who is unharmed.

Idaho law only allows for the surrender of an infant who is unharmed. KTVB7

“We are heartbroken,” Safe Haven Baby Box founder Monica Kelsey said last month.

“Let this be clear: this is an illegal, deadly abandonment.”

The dead baby was found wrapped in a blanket with the placenta still attached on Oct. 13. Bingham Healthcare
Additional charges could be filed as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death is ongoing. KTVB7

The accused teen was charged with failing to report a death to law enforcement officials and the coroner, police said.

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Additional charges could be filed as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death is ongoing.

She is being held at Bingham County Jail.



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Idaho State Controller's Office says it may take 2-3 years before Luma system is optimized • Idaho Capital Sun

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Idaho State Controller's Office says it may take 2-3 years before Luma system is optimized • Idaho Capital Sun


Officials with the Idaho State Controller’s Office told a legislative committee Friday that it may take two or three years for the new Luma business and IT system to be fully optimized.

On Friday, officials with the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluation presented their new evaluation report on the Luma business, finance, HR and IT system to the Idaho Legislature’s Joint Legislative Oversight Committee. 

“The key takeaway is clear; transitioning to Luma was the right decision,” Idaho State Controller Brandon Woolf told the committee. “In visiting with other states, projects of this magnitude require two to three years to fully optimize, and we are firmly on the right path to success.”

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Luma, which is based on software purchased from Infor, is designed to improve security and efficiency for state agencies by replacing legacy systems from the 1990s that had outlived their useful life and were vulnerable to security threats. But the $117 million Luma system, launched in July 2023, experienced a rocky rollout that included duplicated payments, payroll challenges, late payments, reporting and reconciliation challenges and the inability to independently verify cash balances, according to the evaluation and a series of previous audits of Luma.

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In the latest Luma challenge, state budget officials said Tuesday that the state was not able to identify $14.5 million in state revenues by the deadline to use that money to reduce Idaho property taxes this year. 

After Friday’s presentation, Woolf issued a response and fielded questions from legislators. Luma is housed in the Idaho State Controller’s Office, which was also involved in purchasing Luma. 

Woolf told legislators his office takes accountability for the challenges with Luma, and believes sticking with Luma and optimizing it to see its full potential is the best option for the state moving forward.

Woolf said the Idaho State Controller’s Office is developing a “people-first” strategy working to repair relationships with state employees and rebuild trust. As part of that effort, the office is developing a sustainable training strategy and focusing on communication.

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“As we move forward, we are guided by a clear vision – to restore trust, improve transparency and ensure that Luma delivers the value it was designed to provide,” Woolf said. “This is a collective effort, one that depends on ongoing collaboration and respect with all involved.”

Idaho Office of Performance Evaluation Director Ryan Langrill told legislators the best path forward for the state is improving Luma.

“We believe that moving forward with Luma, rather than migrating back to the legacy system or doing a whole new procurement for a new system, is the most realistic option,” Langrill said.

In the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluation report on Luma, evaluators suggest legislators consider changes to Idaho’s purchasing process and consider changes to the governance and accountability of Luma. In the report, Langrill’s team suggested the purchasing process the state used to get Luma may have limited choices available to the state.

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Moving forward, Woolf said his top priority is improving the reporting processes in Luma. But Woolf stressed he believes in Luma and that it will bring security benefits to the state and standardize data entry across different agencies and divisions. 

“The narrative that Luma does not work is counterproductive and not accurate,” Woolf said. “Luma is functional but it’s not perfect – it processes transactions, handles payments and ensures everyone gets paid.”

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Idaho teen is arrested in connection with a dead infant found in a baby box at a hospital

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Idaho teen is arrested in connection with a dead infant found in a baby box at a hospital


BLACKFOOT, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho teenager has been arrested in connection with the body of an infant found last month at a hospital in a box meant for people to anonymously give up a newborn, police said Friday.

The Blackfoot Police Department said in a social media post that an 18-year-old from Twin Falls, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southeast of Boise, had been arrested there and booked into the Bingham County Jail.

She was arrested on a felony arrest warrant for failing to report a death to law enforcement officials and the coroner, police said.

Police in Blackfoot responded to a report Oct. 13 of a deceased baby left at Grove Creek Medical Center. Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder Monica Kelsey has said hospital staff responded immediately to an alarm indicating a baby was in the box and realized that the infant had died before being placed inside.

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Idaho law only allows for the surrender of an infant who is unharmed.

“The Safe Haven Baby Box is intended to safely and anonymously allow custodial parents to surrender a newborn under 30 days old without legal repercussions, provided the child is unharmed,” police said in the social media post. “Unfortunately, the placement of a harmed or deceased infant is not protected under this system or Idaho law.”

The baby had been wrapped in a blanket, and the placenta was still attached, Kelsey said previously.

Police said they weren’t releasing further information in part because more charges could be filed.

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