With Kohberger’s silence, family members may never know motivepublished at 19:02 British Summer Time 23 July
19:02 BST 23 July
Madeline Halpert
US Reporter
It’s a question that has consumed this case since Kohberger was arrested over six weeks after four Idaho college students were murdered in the night in November 2022. Why would the criminology doctorate student drive to another campus a state over to stab four students to whom he had no known connections?
With Kohberger’s decision not to speak in court today, family members and friends of the victims may never know. Many reportedly muttered “coward” in court after Kohberger said he “respectfully declined” to give a statement, the only words he spoke in court.
During the hearing, one relative appealed directly to him for answers. Kim Kernodle, the aunt of Xana, told Kohberger that she had worked to forgive him.
“Any time you want to talk, I’m here for you,” she said. “I have questions.”
Family and friends of the victims may get more details now that a gag order has been lifted in the case, meaning the judge will at some point unseal documents and those who worked on the case are allowed to speak to the public.
But admitting he had questions himself, Judge Steven Hippler acknowledged many would likely be left unsatisfied.
He said it no longer made sense to be “dependent on the defendant” to give them a reason for his crimes.
“By continuing to focus on why, we continue to give Mr Kohberger relevance,” he said.