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Not guilty plea entered in murders of 4 University of Idaho students

A trial has been set for Oct. 2.
Suspect in University of Idaho killings expected to enter plea
Posted at 11:55 AM, May 22, 2023
and last updated 2023-05-22 14:01:08-04

A not guilty plea was entered Monday for the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students.

Bryan Kohberger's attorney told the court that they intended to remain silent during the arraignment hearing, which required the judge to enter the not guilty plea. 

The judge then set a trial date for Oct. 2.

Kohberger was indicted last week for the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. 

Monday's hearing came more than six months after the college students were found dead in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. 

Autopsies showed all four were likely asleep when they were initially attacked. Police said there were no signs of sexual assault.  

SEE MORE: Man indicted for murders of 4 University of Idaho students

Kohberger was a doctoral student and teaching assistant at Washington State University's Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology prior to his arrest. 

According to court documents, Kohberger's DNA was traced to a knife sheath found at the scene of the crime. His cellphone also pinged near the students' home a dozen times before the November killings, the court documents state. Authorities say his vehicle was also spotted near the home on the day the four college students were killed. 

Kohberger was arrested at his parents' home in Pennsylvania more than a month after the killings. He was extradited back to Idaho where he has remained in jail. 

SEE MORE: University of Idaho continues to recover months after murders


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