Crime Alert, hourly update, breaking crime news now. I'm Sydney Sumner. On the morning of November 13th at 1158 a.m., a 911 call reported an unconscious person. Moscow police officers responded and found two victims, two on the second floor and two on the third floor of 1122 King Road. The four were stabbed multiple times and were likely asleep during the attack. We have information of a white vehicle that was in the area.
either during the time frame of the homicide or around the time frame of the homicide. And we're looking for a 2011 to a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. Last night, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Detectives arrested 28-year-old Brian Christopher Kohlberger on a warrant for murder of Ethan, Zaina, Madison, and Kaylee.
It's now been just over two years since the public first heard Brian Koberger's name. The accused quadruple murderer was arrested on December 30, 2022, at his parents' Albrightesville, Pennsylvania home, 48 days after Madison... Mogan, Kaylee Gonsalves, Ethan Shapin, and Zanna Kernodel were found brutally murdered in their off-campus home. Koberger lived less than 15 minutes from the college students in Pullman, Washington, studying for a graduate degree in criminology at WSU.
The University of Idaho and Moscow communities were rocked by the senseless killing and are still waiting for justice, with Koberger's trial date now set for August 11, 2025. Over the last year, we saw several important developments. in the case. Koberger submitted his official alibi for the early morning hours of November 13th, claiming he was out stargazing. Both prosecutors and Judge John Judge were not impressed with the filing.
The way I understand this is, and this is in the so-called, not really an alibi, quote, He was out driving during the late night and early morning hours of November 12 to 13, 2022. However, defense attorneys successfully argued that Koberger's trial must be moved outside of Lataw County. Are they going to be brave enough to do that, to write not guilty, to say not guilty, and to stand their ground?
That comes right to impartiality, that the court has to be sure that that's not going to happen. You can't be sure that there's a way to pick an impartial jury in this community. Our defense team firmly. And I mean firmly believes in Mr. Koberger's innocence. And right now he's being held to have a trial in a county that believes that he is guilty.
If you deny a change of venue, Mr. Koberter's constitutional right to a fair trial is denied. Judge John Judge ultimately decided with the defense and moved the trial to Ada County, one of Idaho's most populated areas. Koberger was secretly flown to the Ada County Jail on an Idaho State Police plane where he is held in the maximum security section.
Judge Judge recused himself from the case, with proceedings now held under Judge Stephen Hippler. All right. I'd like to tell you I'm happy to be here, but why start with an untruth? I am accepting of my responsibility to be here. Judge Hippler sets stern expectations for his courtroom. Hippler is no stranger to gruesome murder cases, most recently presiding over a prison meeting murder trial.
handed out life sentences for a DUI driver who killed two, a man who tortured his ex-girlfriend before stabbing her to death, and parents who starved their nine-year-old son. Hitler immediately had concerns about the previously scheduled trial date. worried that parents in the jury pool would take issue with missing all of their children's summer vacation and propose two different trial timelines. I had two proposals. One was to start the trial in
the evidence portion of the trial the first week of May, and the other would be to start the evidence in early September. I'm not saying I'm have or necessarily will vacate the June trial date, but I want to look at alternatives here because I am concerned about that spread that takes the entirety of the summer. Ultimately, all parties agreed to reschedule for August 11th.
Hippler ruled that Koberger will be allowed to wear street clothes instead of his orange prison uniform for the remainder of his proceedings. The victims' families are beginning to feel like Koberger is getting everything he wants while they are forced to wait for just...
justice for their children. The person who did this crime looked at one of the victims and said, I'm here to help you. If that's not malice, that's the most type of evil that you could ever hear of. That shouldn't be rewarded with a suit. And a fresh haircut every time. That's wild. That's wild. We've been told that he does have shackles around his knees or whatnot, but it's like, you know, that's, I don't, I don't want to be hidden. A million people can tell me.
don't let it consume you be patient don't think about it just you know but i am me i am i i can't this is my daughter this is her best friend this is two other people um Kids and I You could tell me till the cows come home and I I can't stop just being consumed by it. Jurors will have the option to sentence Koberger to death if he's found guilty of the murders.
For a recap of 2024's developments in Brian Koberger's upcoming trial, tune in to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace on Dr. Phil's Merritt Street Media at 6 and 9 p.m. Eastern, or listen to Crime Stories on your favorite podcast app. With this Crime Alert, I'm Sydney Sumner.