The lead attorney for Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, now will simultaneously lead the defense in a second high-profile North Idaho capital murder case. 

Anne Taylor, Kohberger’s top public defender, was assigned Wednesday to head up the defense for Skylar Meade, according to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman. The Idaho prisoner is charged with killing a Juliaetta man in Nez Perce County after escaping from corrections officers at a hospital in Boise during a shootout in March.

Like Kohberger, Meade, 32, faces the death penalty if found guilty by a jury. Kohberger’s murder trial is scheduled to start in June 2025, while Meade is set to be arraigned Thursday at the Nez Perce County Courthouse. 

Initially, Lewiston-based private attorney Rick Cuddihy was assigned to represent Meade. But Cuddihy is qualified only to act as co-counsel in a death penalty-eligible defense, which required appointing a lead to join him on Meade’s case. Taylor is one of 13 public defenders in the state approved by the Idaho Public Defense Commission to work as the lead in a death penalty case. She’s also the only one of the group based in North Idaho.

Taylor left her position last month as chief of the Kootenai County Public Defender’s Office and has transitioned into private practice, court records showed. Attorney Jay Logsdon, who is co-counsel on the Kohberger defense team, is now acting as Kootenai County’s interim chief for the Public Defender’s Office. 

A representative at Taylor’s office declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday by the Statesman. Taylor also did not respond to an email seeking comment.

EMMETT, Idaho — The Paddock Fire burning in a rural area splits three Idaho counties. Gem, Payette, and Washington. It was very active Wednesday night, but fire crews worked fast and hit it hard with everything they had. By Thursday morning things were significantly safer for homeowners on the southern edge of the fire.

RELATED | Crews arrive to fight 153,237-acre Paddock Fire amid Level 3 evacuations

• Paddock Fire is burning in three Idaho Counties: Washington County, Gem County, and Payette County.
• Fire Crews worked through the night to control the flames as the fire continued to spread in the area.
• A local beekeeper’s 72 hives survived the fire despite the spreading flames.

(Below is the transcript from the broadcast story)

It doesn’t take long to see and smell the damage the Paddock fire north of Emmett has already done. Well over one hundred thousand acres, the fire has attracted firefighters from all over the West. Elko County Fire Chief Matt Peterson and his crew rolled in last night.

“So, we got on the line last night about 1:00 we did some securing of the lines, from feedlot to the red barn. We secure the line as we go, it’s not 100 percent secure, we’ll work through the day shift and if it doesn’t move we want to put containment lines on the map. These ranchers last night were so happy to have us here and being able to help them, they showed us they into the fire they helped our bulldozer get in there it was awesome.”

Bulldozers are essential for fighting fires whether it’s new or old line, they can stop a fire in its tracks. The handful of homeowners were fortunate to get the help they needed. A herd of cows found safety and yes even the birds and the bees made it.

“We got a call last night and there was a roadblock down there the bees are important but it’s not worth risking a life over it. We weren’t prepared for it normally we come in here and get them out, but it came in so fast we didn’t have a chance to get them out. The question is how do you move hundreds of thousands of bees out here, with trucks and fork lifts. I can get the out of here in hours so.”

All of Kory Hamilton’s 72 hives did not lose a drop of honey.

The fire still has hot spots, and there are plenty of fire crews on the roads, so if you have to be in the area, use caution.

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Campus caffeine fix

There’s good news for groggy, late-night paper-writing, test-cramming Brigham Young University-Idaho students: The school’s new soda offerings have more types of pop that deliver more pep.

Church-owned BYU-Idaho now is selling caffeinated Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew and more at vending machines and dining venues. Energy drinks remain off-limits.

Provo’s BYU has been supplying caffeinated colas since 2017. It took seven years, but the Rexburg campus now has caught up with the flagship campus.

“We have a new contract with our beverage provider on campus,” BYU-Idaho spokesperson Perry Rockwood told multiple news outlets, “and, yes, it includes a greater variety of choices than it did before.”

This move stands as another reminder that, contrary to what many snippy outsiders and, frankly, nitpicking insiders think: consuming caffeinated sodas is not against the church’s Word of Wisdom health code.

So to all you thirsty BYU-Idaho students, cheers.

Catch our special report

Be sure to read our exclusive six-part series on the religious divide that separates the Beehive State’s Latter-day Saints from their neighbors and vice versa — a split that, according to a leading Mormonism scholar, remains “the defining feature of Utah cultural life.” Here are Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.

A sixth missionary death in 2024

A 26-year-old missionary serving in her Haitian homeland has died.

Jenny Lucas, who has been working in the Port-au-Prince Mission since January and hails from a suburb of the Caribbean country’s capital, died Aug. 2 from “what is believed to be sudden complications related to a preexisting medical condition,” church spokesperson Sam Penrod said in a Tuesday news release. “We send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Sister Lucas and the missionaries she was serving alongside.”

This represents the sixth publicly reported death of a full-time Latter-day Saint missionary this year.

The latest ‘Mormon Land’ podcast: Body and soul

What role might Latter-day Saint culture and theology play in how members view their bodies? A new BYU study provides intriguing answers.

Listen to the podcast.

Russell Nelson, by the book

For years, members studied the teachings of past church presidents using designated manuals — one for each leader. Now, they can begin diving into the life and lessons of the living prophet-president.

Four chapters from “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson” are now available online.

“This is the first time the church has released a ‘Teachings’ manual about a living prophet,” a news release noted. “The digital format allows this manual (as well as manuals about future church presidents) to become a living document that can be updated as President Nelson continues his ministry.”

From The Tribune

• For 17-year-old Latter-day Saint Parker Mitchell, his decision to wear his “I can’t. I’m Mormon” T-shirt — “I don’t wear that shirt almost ever,” he said — to an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game provided the prop for a viral video that attracted more than 1.4 million views.

• Tribune guest columnist Eli McCann recalls his first cup of coffee and coming out to his Latter-day Saint parents as a devotee of the “devil’s bean.”

• A new study reveals Latter-day Saints have more cosmetic surgery than the average American — and sometimes for what they see as religious reasons.

• Thousands of young Latter-day Saint singles gather for speed dating, games, music, messages and to sign a 100th birthday card for President Nelson.

• See how the Lost & Found Club is building an online and in-person congregation, of sorts, of former Latter-day Saints.