Chilling Photos Reveal Key Evidence in Bryan Kohberger Case
Photos of the brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath, a critical piece of evidence, have been made public for the first time. These photos are part of over 2,300 pages of case files released by the Idaho State Police.
The Crucial Evidence
The sheath was left behind by Bryan Kohberger after the tragic murders of four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—on November 13, 2022. Forensic genetic genealogy linked the DNA found on the sheath at the crime scene to Kohberger, a 30-year-old criminology PhD student.
Details of the Sheath and Knife
- The sheath is brown leather, under 15 inches long, and bears a USMC military seal.
- Kohberger purchased the sheath and a Ka-Bar knife, believed to be the murder weapon, via Amazon in March 2022.
- This purchase occurred eight months before the murders and three months prior to his move from his parents’ home in Pennsylvania to Pullman, Washington.
- The knife itself has never been recovered.
"It was this crucial piece of evidence that led to the killer’s downfall, as forensic genetic genealogy traced DNA on the sheath left behind at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, to the 30-year-old criminology PhD student."
The release of these photos gives new insight into the investigation that brought Kohberger to justice.
Summary: The discovery and DNA analysis of a distinctive Ka-Bar knife sheath were pivotal in identifying Bryan Kohberger as the killer in the tragic University of Idaho murders.