Chilling Photos Reveal Key Evidence That Implicated Bryan Kohberger
Idaho State Police have released for the first time photos of the Ka-Bar knife sheath, a vital piece of evidence that contributed to exposing Bryan Kohberger as the murderer of four University of Idaho students.
Details of the Evidence
Kohberger abandoned a brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath at the crime scene shortly after the fatal stabbings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin on November 13, 2022. This item, left behind at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, played a crucial role in leading investigators to him.
Photos show the sheath's brown leather exterior, adorned with a USMC military seal and less than 15 inches in length.
How the Evidence Linked to Kohberger
Forensic genetic genealogy identified DNA on the sheath that linked directly to Kohberger, a 30-year-old criminology PhD student. This scientific connection was critical to pinpointing him as the suspect.
Additional Background
Kohberger purchased both the sheath and the Ka-Bar knife, believed to be the murder weapon, from Amazon in March 2022 — eight months prior to the killings and three months before relocating from his parents’ home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, to Pullman, Washington. The knife itself has never been recovered by authorities.
Summary
The discovery and DNA tracing of the Ka-Bar knife sheath provided the decisive break in a tragic case, revealing the killer through forensic evidence.
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