Death Penalty Sought For Bryan Kohberger In Idaho Student Murders Case

PENNSYLVANIA — Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in their off-campus house in November, according to a court document filed Monday in Idaho.

In the filing, prosecutors provided a list of aggravating circumstances for crimes Kohberger is accused of, writing that multiple murders were committed and Kohberger showed "utter disregard for human life." The filing also noted that the state has not been given any mitigating circumstances which would prohibit Kohberger from receiving a capital sentence.

Kohberger, 28, was indicted in May by an Idaho grand jury on four counts of first-degree murder and burglary charges in connection with the stabbing deaths of the four students. A not-guilty plea was entered on Kohberger's behalf by an Idaho judge.

Kohberger was arrested at his parents' Pennsylvania home in December nearly seven weeks after authorities found the students—Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee GonCalves—stabbed to death in their Moscow, Idaho, home.

Autopsies showed the students were likely asleep when they were attacked on Nov. 13. Some had defensive wounds and each was stabbed multiple times.

A motive for the killings is still unclear; however, a slew of details, including descriptions of events on the night of the murders from surviving roommates of the victims, were revealed after Kohberger arrived in Idaho on Jan. 4, prompting the probable cause affidavit to be unsealed.

In their search of Kohberger's apartment in Washington state — where he was a doctoral student at Washington State University — investigators seized stained bedding, strands of what looked like hair, and a single glove, but no weapon, according to documents released in January.

According to a search warrant that allowed Pennsylvania law enforcement officers to search Kohberger's parents' Pennsylvania home—where he was arrested—officials swabbed Kohberger's DNA and seized a silver flashlight, four "medical-style gloves," a white Arizona Jean Co. T-shirt, a black Champion sweatshirt, a pair of black-and-white size 13 Nike shoes, black Under Armour socks, black Under Armour shorts and black Under Armour boxers.

READ MORE:

• Bryan Kohberger's Parents Subpoenaed By PA Grand Jury: Report
• Bryan Kohberger Indicted By Grand Jury In Idaho Student Killings
• Gun, Knives Seized From Bryan Kohberger's PA Home: Docs
• Sister Of Bryan Kohberger Once Starred In Horror Film: Reports

The Associated Press contributed to this report.