1122 King Road to remain standing for now

There is not a lot of good news that will come from a quadruple murder when you stop and think about it.

On Wednesday, those of us following the case of the Idaho 4 did get some good news. That is the house at 1122 King Road will remain standing at least for now.

If you’ve followed the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, you know that the home they were killed in has been in the limelight for many months now.

Once the home was given by the owner to the University of Idaho months ago, the latter indicated it would demolish the residence sooner than later. In fact, recent talk had been the home would come down prior to students heading back to the Moscow campus on Aug. 21 for the start of fall classes.

To many of us following the case, the home is the prime piece of evidence that officials have. At least the evidence we know to come out up to now through the gag order in place.

So, why would either the prosecution or the defense want the home torn down before a trial has finished up? It would seem beneficial to one or both to leave the home standing until the trial is over and we have a guilty or not guilty verdict.

I get the pain the home causes many in the community, especially the students living within eyesight of the six-bedroom residence.

Despite such emotional pain, I’ve always said leaving the home up until this tragedy is over with a court verdict was critical. Once the home is gone, it is gone forever. In my mind, you can have all the photos, state-of-the-art videos and so on of the inside and it will not replace actually being there.

Now, the question of actually being there in person should a jury make such a request is up in the air. The judge in this case would have to sign off on such a thing. Right now, there is no indication such an approval would be given. Of course we do not have a jury in place yet for a scheduled Oct. 2 trial of the defendant Bryan Kohberger.

It has been reported the inside of the residence is a bio-hazard among other things. It was also reported some of the floorboards and other key pieces of the home have been removed.

So, even if a jury was granted permission to tour it, the home would not be in the same shape it was on the morning of Nov. 13, 2022 when the murders took place.

I would still argue that should a jury be given the okay to tour the place that it would be worthwhile to them. Even if it is not the same conditions that were present the day four young adults lost their lives, just being there could sway one or more jury members in that they can better grasp what the defendant is accused of.

I visited the home (outside only) during my visit to Moscow back in late May. I can honestly say being there gave me an entirely different perspective of this case than what I had viewed on television or the Internet.

Short of any surprises in the coming weeks and months, 1122 King Road will remain for now.