Sadly, we reached the eight-month milestone this week in the deaths of the Idaho 4. 
When Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were murdered back on Nov. 13, 2022, little did we know this case would take its share of turns, speculation and more.
Yes, many murder cases are not all that cut and dry. There always seem to be a few twists and turns as they proceed to trial and even once the trial gets underway until it finishes.
I will say as both a journalist and an observer in general of notable crime cases that this case has become more confusing as the months go by.
Yes, I thought it was pretty safe to assume we had a 28-year-old stalker on our hands when Bryan Kohberger was first arrested and even for a while after that.
Flash-forward many months later and I feel it is much more involved than this.
IMO, this case will ultimately prove to show drugs were in play in some manner and that is what led to the deaths of these four University of Idaho students.
As we await a scheduled trial Oct. 2, though the date could well get pushed back to later in the year or even 2024, here are the 3 most absurd things I’ve found to date:
- IT IS COMMON TO SEE MASKED PEOPLE IN YOUR HOME AROUND 4 A.M. – When one of the two surviving roommates had her info in the probable cause affidavit released, it was noted that she saw a masked figure pass by her. Dylan Mortensen also reportedly went into a state of frozen shock if you will and closed her second floor bedroom door. Now, while I am grateful Mortensen did not end up a murder victim, her story has bothered me from day one. While her version of events that early morning may ultimately pan out, they are strange to say the least. The mask thing is what intrigues me and how so many of Mortensen’s defenders think it is perfectly normal to see a masked individual in your home around 4 a.m. I have heard from her defenders that such an individual could be one of the U of I frat guys playing a prank, COVID was still around at the time and the person was simply protecting themselves and so on. First, I doubt such a prank is going to take place at that time of the day given the potential risk it involves. Suppose one of the residents has a gun in the home and in a moment of fright in seeing a masked figure they pull the trigger. Would you wear a mask in someone’s home at that time of day in mostly if not all dark conditions for any reason other than you were trying to conceal a portion of your face? Second, how many college kids do you know wearing COVID masks in a home around 4 in the morning? Please, if you know such people, send them my way so I can interview them. Obviously this individual was trying to shield their identity IMO. Mortensen should have had alarm bells going off in her head whether she was totally sober, a little drunk, on something and so on. Sorry, but I’m not buying what the mask is normal at 4 ish in the morning in a home crowd is selling.
- STALKING IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE MOTIVE IN PLAY – How many individuals do you know brazen enough to walk into a strange home in the middle of the night armed with only a knife? Keep in mind there were multiple vehicles in the parking lot at 1122 King Road when the killings took place. While I would only consider taking a life in self-defense, I sure as heck would not go into a home with only a knife, not knowing what is on the other side of the door. If a gun had been used in this tragedy I would be more willing to buy the stalking angle. The killer had no idea (unless tipped off by someone) who was there that night, how many guys may have been crashing there and so on. So, you mean to tell me the defendant just strolled in there because he had an obsession with one or more of the females in the home? If this were the case, why not kidnap them? You would have ample opportunities to do this. It could be on her way to or from class, while leaving or going to a business, out for a jog or walk and so on. Unless you are already a member of the Bryan Kohberger is guilty club, you’re leaving all options on the table, including a drug hit or a drug deal gone bad.
- KOHBERGER CAN GET A FAIR TRIAL IN MOSCOW – While I hope I am wrong on this one, it is becoming less obvious that the defendant can get a fair trial in the town of 25,000 or so. All one has to do is go on social media and look at some of the Facebook discussion groups for instance. Some of them are loaded up with people ready to see this guy pass away following a conviction. If this were the Old West, some would have already done away with BK. Look, I want to see justice for the Idaho 4 as much as anyone. Getting to that point means we have a fair trial and the defendant is afforded all his Constitutional rights. I know that social media and the courtroom are two entirely different things. Even with that in mind, it is appalling at some of the comments I’ve read over these last number of months. For some on social media, it is guilty until proven innocent. Here is breaking news for these people frothing at the mouth for a death penalty being carried out, the defense only needs to put a sliver of doubt in the minds of the jury for there to be a mistrial or even a not guilty verdict. It is up to the state of Idaho to 100 percent convince 12 men/women that Kohberger is the only killer and that he murdered these four students. While I know we are likely to see more evidence at trial, right now I could not convict BK on what I have seen and heard. Doesn’t mean he’s not guilty, I just would not be doing my job as a member of the jury if I convicted him right now.
So, what have you found to be questionable, strange and even absurd in this case to date?
Share your thoughts and let’s talk.
DavidAlanThomas 