Prosecutors work at murder scene, as U of I plans demolition next week

Today, the prosecution team is at the house where four University of Idaho students were slain in November 2022.

The work comes a week before the U of I follows through on a controversial plan to raze the house.

It’s unclear what prosecutors are doing at the house, which is located on King Road, near the U of I campus. The defense team accessed the house last week, taking measurements and photographs.

“Both prosecution and defense asked for access to the house and have both gone into the house in the last two months,” the U of I said in a news release today. “Neither has asked for the house to be retained and U of I will proceed with demolition.”

That demolition is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 28.

Four U of I students — Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Wash.; Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls; and Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene — were stabbed to death in the house on Nov. 13, 2022. Bryan Kohberger, a former Washington State University student, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the slayings.

No trial date has been set.

Shanon Gray, an attorney for the Goncalves family, has repeatedly asked the U of I to delay razing the house, the Idaho Statesman has reported.

“This is one of the most horrific crimes in the history of Idaho, and the University of Idaho wants to destroy one of the most critical pieces of evidence in the case — and it is also important to make note that there is now a demolition date before there is even a trial date set,” Gray said in a statement to the Statesman.

The house was donated to the U of I in February.

 

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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