Bryan Kohberger Defense Seeks to Exclude DNA Evidence in Idaho Murder Case

Attorneys argue investigative genetic genealogy violated constitutional rights as court hearings address evidence admissibility.

Bryan Kohberger, accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, faces a hearing on motions to suppress key evidence ahead of his August trial.
The defense claims that the use of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) to identify Kohberger as a suspect violated his Fourth Amendment rights and seeks to exclude related evidence.
Prosecutors argue that IGG is constitutional, emphasizing that Kohberger’s relatives voluntarily submitted DNA to genealogy databases, and that defendants have no privacy rights over DNA left at crime scenes.
The defense also alleges police misconduct in obtaining search warrants for Kohberger’s apartment, car, and parents' home, though specifics remain sealed by the court.
Judge Steven Hippler has closed portions of the hearings to the public to protect the jury pool, while media organizations continue to push for greater transparency in the case.