Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger’s parents were called to testify over the case of a missing Pennsylvania woman who disappeared in the same county where he lived.
Michael and Maryann Kohberger will appear in front of a grand jury in connection to Dana Smithers’ May 28, 2022 disappearance – as investigators determine if their son was involved in other slayings.
Smithers, 45, was last seen in Ring camera footage at around 11pm on the day she went missing. Her remains were uncovered in a wooded area in Stroudsburg on April 27 – about 30 miles away from the Kohberger’s family home in Albrightsville.
But a source claimed that Bryan’s alibi proves that he likely wasn’t involved in Smithers’ disappearance, according to News Nation.
Bryan, 28, was charged with the November 13, 2022 deaths of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20.
Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger’s parents were called to testify over the case of a missing Pennsylvania woman who went missing in the same county where he lived
The court suspects Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger might be connected to Dana Smithers because she disappeared 30-miles from his parent’s home. Smithers, 45, was last seen on May 28, 2022 on Ring footage
Michael is expected to testify in court on Thursday while Maryann has already given her testimony.
The transcripts from the closed session may be transferred to Idaho where their son is expected to go to trial on October 2.
The suspect appeared in an Idaho courtroom on Monday where he refused to enter a plea to four counts of murder in the first degree.
Bryan had been expected to plead not guilty but instead, chose to use Idaho’s ‘standing silent’ plea which means he has not pleaded either way but can still be tried.
He had been due to face a preliminary hearing but the Washington State University PHD candidate was indicted by an Idaho Grand Jury who heard the evidence in secret and decided to send the case to a full trial.
The criminology major has been behind bars since December 30 when police raided his parent’s Pennsylvania home.
He was transferred to Latah County Jail on January 4 where he has remained since.
Michael Kohberger (right) is expected to testify in court on Thursday while Maryann Kohberger (left) has already given her testimony
Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (left) Xana Kernodle (right) and Ethan Chapin (center) – all students at the University of Idaho – were knifed to death on November 13 in the quiet college town of Moscow
The Moscow, Idaho, home where the murders took place is now boarded up as workers prepare it for demolition
Investigators in Moscow observed a white sedan speeding away from the crime scene toward Pullman, Washington, another small college town about 10 miles from Moscow, Idaho
Kohberger is believed to have planned the murders of Madison, Kaylee, Ethan and Xana, with a probable cause affidavit noting that he had repeatedly visited the area around their home prior to the killings.
His DNA was found on a KA-BAR knife sheath found next to the bodies of Kaylee and Madison.
Kaylee and Madison were discovered dead in bed next to each other, while Ethan and Xana were found on the floor below, with Xana discovered slumped over on the floor of her bedroom.
According to the document, survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke heard something of what happened, with Mortensen telling cops she heard Goncalves say ‘there’s someone here’ at approximately 4am.
Ten minutes later, she heard a thud and crying from Xana’s room and a male voice saying ‘it’s ok, I’m going to help you.’
Minutes later, Mortensen said she opened her bedroom door and saw a tall male with bushy eyebrows leaving through the sliding glass doors at the back of the home.
She described how she had been ‘frozen in shock’ as the suspect walked towards her. Mortensen said she locked herself in her room after he left.
The affidavit also reveals that Kohberger’s white Hyundai Elantra was captured on camera near the scene before being seen driving rapidly away from the home towards Pullman at approximately 4.20am.
Police rapidly connected the vehicle to Kohberger and noted the similarity between his appearance and Mortensen’s description of the intruder at the rental home.