A new court document states that the defense team representing Bryan Kohberger, a suspect in the quadruple murder case in Idaho, intends to argue during the trial that the knife sheath discovered at the crime scene might have been planted by the actual perpetrator.
In the state’s filing released on Tuesday, prosecutors summarized a defense filing that appears to be sealed.
The filing highlights that instead of disputing the claim that the DNA found on the knife sheath belonged to Kohberger, the defense team will suggest that the DNA evidence does not definitively link him to the crime scene, implying that someone else could have placed the knife sheath there.
Investigations in Idaho uncovered a DNA mixture from three individuals beneath the fingernails of Madison Mogen, a 21-year-old University of Idaho student, who was among the four victims tragically killed in her off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho on November 13, 2022, as revealed in earlier court submissions.
The FBI declined to comment and instead pointed to Ada County Judge Steven Hippler’s Feb. 17 order, which found investigators had not violated Kohberger’s constitutional rights with the IGG searches.
Kohberger’s trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 11, and he could face the death penalty if convicted.
Fox News Digital reached out to Kohberger’s attorney for comment.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
