2025 Mar 14, 10:16
The University of Idaho has started demolishing the off-campus rental home where four students were killed in a home invasion stabbing last year. The house, located at 1122 King Road, had been boarded up, fenced in, and guarded continuously. Demolition of the property began early Thursday morning, with an excavator tearing down parts of the house and clearing away debris. Some critics, including family members of the victims, wanted the house to remain intact until the trial of the suspected killer, Bryan Kohberger
However, experts argue that keeping the house standing could cause logistical issues and may not significantly impact the jury's decision in the long run. Previous murder cases involving jury visits to the crime scene have yielded mixed results. For instance, during O.J. Simpson's trial in the 1990s, the defense used family photos inside the house to evoke sympathy from jurors
Nevertheless, the logistics of transporting and accommodating jurors at the crime scene can be challenging. David Gelman, a defense attorney, believes that visiting the scene is not always effective in helping jurors understand the case. He recalls only one case where jurors visited the scene, which turned out to be more of a theatric gesture by the defense. Other experts argue that visiting the crime scene can be crucial in certain cases, as videos and pictures may not accurately capture the scene like an in-person visit
Attorney Shanon Gray, representing the families of the victims, has urged authorities to preserve the house until Kohberger's trial for evidentiary purposes. However, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson has stated that a jury view would not be authorized due to the substantial changes made to the premises since the time of the murders. Bryan Kohberger was arrested in December last year and is accused of killing four students at the King Road house while studying for his Ph.D. at Washington State University
The bodies of the victims, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle, were found on different floors of the three-story building. The landlord later donated the property to the University of Idaho, which plans to demolish it and construct a memorial garden. The families of the victims have called for justice and a trial date to be set. Kohberger's trial, originally scheduled for October, has been delayed as he challenges the indictment and DNA evidence.