‘Presumption of innocence’: Idaho slayings suspect’s family voices sympathy for victims

Captain Dahlinger told The Associated Press on Saturday that authorities believe Kohberger was responsible for all four murders. “We believe we have our man,” he said.

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Bill Thompson, a district attorney in Latah County, Idaho, said at a news conference Friday that investigators believe Kohberger broke into the University of Idaho sorority house near campus “with the intent to commit murder.” The bodies of the victims were found on November 13, hours after investigators believed they had died.

The Students – Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Idaho; and Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington — were members of the university’s Greek system (made up of fraternities and sororities) and close friends. Mogen, Goncalves, and Kernodle lived in the three-story rental house with two other roommates. Kernodle and Chapin were dating, and he was visiting the house that night.

Autopsies showed that all four were probably asleep when they were attacked. Some had defensive wounds and all were stabbed multiple times. There was no sexual assault, police said.

Christina Teves, a spokesperson for the Chapin family, declined to comment Monday on the Kohberger family’s statement. Shanon Gray, a lawyer for the Goncalves family, did not immediately respond to an email asking for comment.

Latah County prosecutors have said the affidavit for four first-degree murder charges in Idaho will remain sealed until returned. He is also charged with burglary in Idaho. Many details of the case are expected to be released after Kohberger’s first appearance in an Idaho courtroom, Dahlinger said.

Reuters

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