Chilling Photos Reveal Evidence That Led to Bryan Kohberger's Arrest
For the first time, photos of the Ka-Bar knife sheath connected to Bryan Kohberger have been released as part of over 2,300 pages of evidence published by Idaho State Police. This brown leather sheath played a pivotal role in identifying Kohberger as the murderer of four University of Idaho students.
Key Evidence at the Crime Scene
Kohberger left the sheath behind when he fled after the fatal stabbings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in the early hours of November 13, 2022.
DNA recovered from the sheath at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, was linked to the 30-year-old criminology PhD student through forensic genetic genealogy.
Details of the Sheath and Weapon
- The sheath is made of brown leather, displays a USMC military seal, and is less than 15 inches long.
- Kohberger purchased the sheath along with a Ka-Bar knife, suspected to be the murder weapon, from Amazon in March 2022.
- This purchase was eight months before the murders and three months prior to Kohberger relocating from Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, to Pullman, Washington.
- The murder weapon itself has never been recovered.
"It was this crucial piece of evidence that led to the killer’s downfall."
The release of these images and documents provides a deeper insight into the investigation that brought Kohberger to justice.
Author's Summary
The discovery of a knife sheath with Kohberger’s DNA was instrumental in solving the tragic murders, highlighting the power of forensic evidence in modern investigations.