Bryan Kohberger could escape death penalty because of leaked evidence aired during TV episode: fmr prosecutor

Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger might avoid the death penalty if convicted because of leaked evidence, a former prosecutor suggested.

Kohberger is accused of killing Madison Mogen, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Xana Kernodle, 20. On May 9, a television episode featured leaked information relating to the case, which Kohberger’s attorney has argued will taint the jury pool.

Included in NBC’s “Dateline” special on the University of Idaho murders was surveillance video from a neighboring house, which caught a car similar to Kohberger’s driving in the King Road area several times in the hours and minutes before the four college students were killed.

The episode also featured alleged evidence from a nearby FBI cellphone tower, which claimed to show that Kohberger’s phone pinged nearly a dozen times near a tower providing coverage to an area within 100 feet of 1122 King Road, where the students were killed. The phone allegedly pinged near the tower on multiple occasions between July 2022 and mid-August 2022.

• 4 a.m.: Suspect arrives at house
• Between 4 and 4:17: Time of murders
• 4:19: Roommate calls three victims; no one answers
• 4:22 to 4:24: Surviving roommates text each other from inside house
• 4:27: Roommate calls victims again; no one answers
• 4:32: Roommate texts Goncalves, “Pls answer”
• 10:23: Surviving roommate texts victims; no one answers
• 11:39: Roommate calls her father
• 12 p.m.: 911 call placed from roommate’s phone.

An amended scheduling order filed in Idaho’s Fourth Judicial District Court on Thursday indicated that the trial will be pushed back one week. Jury selection will begin on Aug. 4, but opening statements are now expected on Aug. 18, one week later than the previously anticipated start date on Aug. 11.

A court spokesperson said the updated timeline was not the result of any attempt by the defense to delay the proceedings, but rather an internal scheduling adjustment by the court.

Fox News Digital reached out to Kohberger’s lawyer, prosecutors and NBC for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.