News came out Monday that Idaho was moving forward in seeking the death penalty against alleged killer Bryan Kohberger. 
The Pennsylvania native is charged with four counts of felony murder and one count of burglary. This of course stems from the Nov. 13, 2022 deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. If convicted, Kohberger could be sentenced to lethal injection or another form of death in Idaho.
While we all want justice for the four victims and their families, I must admit I was a little stunned with much of the social media reaction to Monday’s news.
If you looked at Facebook in particular, you would have seen sharks in the water circling an injured seal pup or other form of marine life. To say Monday afternoon and evening was a feeding frenzy in some of the Facebook chat groups dedicated to the Idaho 4 case would be a clear understatement.
I get the emotion that stems from this case, particularly given the brutality with which the four victims met their demise. Anyone with a heart would want the killer/s to pay the ultimate price for what they did.
It is important to remember that Kohberger is innocent until proven guilty, though you may not know that from some of the reactions to this case on social media. For some, Kohberger is guilty until proven innocent. News flash!! That is NOT how our system works and we should all be thankful for that. This is not the days of the Old West and the posse strings someone up in some town be they guilty or perceived guilty.
If the person in custody now did these crimes, by all means they should pay with their life. In the event they had help, we need to double down and focus on finding who else was involved.
I’ve argued from day one that one person doing this horrific act was possible…. but more unlikely. I still stand by the notion that there was more than one individual involved. Perhaps strangers to the four victims, perhaps fellow students.
At the end of the day, justice will come to the Idaho 4 and their loved ones.
In the meantime, let us remember that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a jury of their peers.
Until then, let us tone down the lynch mob mentality.
DavidAlanThomas 