4 Univ of Idaho Students Murdered, Bryan Kohberger Arrested, Moscow, Nov 2022 #101

[SteveP]

Sure. But if she said the person had "no eyebrows" it would arguably be slightly damaging to the prosecutions case. So the bushy eye brows do have some value. Particularly when you consider that the Pullman PD officer noted BK's bushy eye brows when examining his license picture.

I agree. In some ways, What DM did not say is as important as what she did say, in that she did not say anything at all that would exclude BK from being the intruder. She described a white, slim build man, at least her height or a little taller, bushy eyebrows, wearing what appeared to be a ski mask, and pretty much covered in dark clothing. All of the physical description that she gave seems to fit BK. While we debate whether DM is 5'7, 5'8, or 5-10, the jury won't have to. At some point, they will see her standing, and will see BK standing, and will be able to determine for themselves if he is "a little taller", and will see his slim build, athletic but not muscular. Even if his eyebrows are pencil-thin, at trial, jurors will surely see photos of him shortly after arrest., and while the word 'bushy' may or may not be allowed, and is subjective, they will surely find that her description of what she saw would describe BK's.. If the state can provide a receipt for the purchase of coveralls, by BK, and it seems that they can, there is your covered clothing, and LE reportedly found black mask(s) and multiple pieces of black clothing when searching BK's Pennsylvania home. The defense will probably go after her when she takes the stand, but if they go hard, it may alienate jurors, and I do not believe that they will be able to shake her, nor will they be able to successfully cast doubt upon her testimony. JMO

 

[wendy44]

BBM

IMO DMs eye witness evidence is most important to establish the timeline, and a single male attacker.

Eyebrows are a small point of potential corroboration of little significance.

Which is why the defence will want to elevate it into the most important failure of the witness.

MOO

This is a great point.
JMO

 

[Cool Cats]

I am waiting to find out who brought up the term “bushy” first.

Idaho Murders Update: Bryan Kohberger's Bushy Eyebrows Helped Link Suspect To Stabbing

A surviving roommate of the four murdered University of Idaho students recalled to the police that she saw the killer on the night of the incident.

www.ibtimes.com

Kohberger’s license picture, which is what allowed the cops to make an initial ID on the basis of “bushy eyebrows,” according to the PCA.​

Mortensen noted that the killer wore a face mask, which covered his mouth and nose. But she noticed his bushy eyebrows.

• A surviving roommate of the four murdered students said the killer wore a face mask and had bushy eyebrows
• The lead investigator of the Idaho murders noticed Bryan Kohberger's bushy eyebrows in a driver's license photo
• Kohberger's physical detail was used by Idaho police in their probable cause affidavit

 

[arielilane]

As we already know, defense wants to exclude any evidence referencing "bushy eyebrows."



On that fateful morning, at 4:17 am, a security camera located at 1112 King Road, picked up distorted audio of what sounded like voices or a whimper followed by a loud thud. A dog can also be heard barking numerous times starting at 4:17 am. The security camera is less than 50 feet from the west wall of XK’s bedroom.


DM opened her bedroom door (for the third time) after she heard the crying and saw a figure clad in black, wearing a mask, walking toward her.


DM described a person as 5’10” or taller, male, athletically built, but not muscular, w/bushy eyebrows. DM stood in a “frozen shock phase” … as she watched as he passed her and exited. This encounter suggests that allegedly BK completed the killings and was leaving the scene, unaware or unconcerned that he’d been seen.

Affidavit
Defense Motion in Limine #7 RE Witness Identification by Bushy Eyebrows

 

[arielilane]

Unidentified male blood DNA found at Idaho home of murdered college students could aid Bryan Kohberger defense

In the bed of one of the stabbing victims, police said they also found what many regard as the case's key piece of evidence: a leather sheath for a fixed-blade knife.

www.oregonlive.com

Updated: Mar. 10, 2025

 

[arielilane]

My leading theory is the dog started barking, and he was trying to get out of there as fast as possible. He apparently drove away at a high rate of speed, which supports this.

In any event, it appears he was rushed.

Agreed... and exhausted. jmo

 

[Megnut]

Question:

If BK first arrived at 1122 at approximately 3:30am, why did he loop away?

Were lights still on? Was there vehicle or pedestrian traffic?

If BK was back in the neighborhood at about 3:39am, why didn't he make entry then?

I'd sure love to know where campus security and local PD were patrolling that morning. Did BK encounter them so kept driving?

Did he plan to loop from the get-go? Thought he was ensuring lights out?

If BK entered the neighborhood for the third time at about 3:56am, why did he loop again? Did he encounter the DD driver? 'Approximately 4am' -- could that be the same as 3:56am?

And if BK entered the neighborhood for the fourth time at 4:04, did he catch movement which compelled him to change course? A vehicle moving -- the DD driver, even if he didn't realize it was at 1122, or lights on, XK moving around?

If BK didn't stop and commit four murders between 4:08 and 4:20, how come he stopped circling the neighborhood? Seems like whoever was doing all that driving around and not stopping, did drive around, did stop (for twelve minutes), and then didn't drive around there anymore, almost as if, whatever he'd come there for, he'd completed it.

JMO

 

[girlhasnoname]

Idaho Murders Update: Bryan Kohberger's Bushy Eyebrows Helped Link Suspect To Stabbing

A surviving roommate of the four murdered University of Idaho students recalled to the police that she saw the killer on the night of the incident.

www.ibtimes.com

Kohberger’s license picture, which is what allowed the cops to make an initial ID on the basis of “bushy eyebrows,” according to the PCA.​

Mortensen noted that the killer wore a face mask, which covered his mouth and nose. But she noticed his bushy eyebrows.

• A surviving roommate of the four murdered students said the killer wore a face mask and had bushy eyebrows
• The lead investigator of the Idaho murders noticed Bryan Kohberger's bushy eyebrows in a driver's license photo
• Kohberger's physical detail was used by Idaho police in their probable cause affidavit

GAAAAAH, how 'bout a heads up before posting those woolly boogers sheesh. LOL

 

[minazoe]

If he had a noticeable physical feature such as red hair or a hair lip or a facial tattoo would that not be allowed in order to validate identification of the suspect?... as his features match the description..his eyebrows match the description...I mean everyone would agree ( apart from Eddie Munster) that his eyebrows are bushy as heck. mOO

 

[Arkay]

If he had a noticeable physical feature such as red hair or a hair lip or a facial tattoo would that not be allowed in order to validate identification of the suspect?... as his features match the description..his eyebrows match the description...I mean everyone would agree ( apart from Eddie Munster) that his eyebrows are bushy as heck. mOO

I agree.

IMO the eyebrows and the height and body build as described by DM are important because they are inclusive of BK, as well as exclusive of other potential physical characteristics (short, overweight, female, person of color, red or blond eyebrows), and therefore they help weave together a partial picture of the assailant.

However, the presence of BK’s DNA on the snap of the sheath, as we’ve mostly all discussed ad infinitum, is the slam dunkiest of slam dunks.

From that DNA they could probably build up a full description of the murderer if they had enough DNA to work with. Thankfully they had enough to unequivocally ID him.

Her uncertainly about some other physical characteristics is, to me, more realistic given the circumstances and the fleeting amount of time that he passed by her door.

JMO

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I've heard 911 operators state here on WS that they prefer to use the all-encompassing term "UNRESPONSIVE" (for death/fainting spell/overdose/murder/suicide/accident/you name it) because:

• it saves crucial seconds but gets paramedics going
• neither the caller nor the 911 operator (usually) are medical doctors or accident reconstructionists, thus, have no information at that moment. Within minutes, the pros (EMTs/LE) will take over at the scene and get that accurate patient/scene info.

This is especially impt when there's uncertainty (as in this case with B&D). The most that the girls knew was that their roommates were NOT RESPONDING to calls or texts, so that was an easy "yes" when they were asked if they had UNRESPONSIVE roommates. B&D had probably snuck straight out the front door to meet the guys outside in the morning and NOT gone to check. I wouldn't have!

Now, when the one male did go in and perhaps venture just close enough to see the body of X in the open doorway (who was not responding to his voice), he too could confirm that she was "unresponsive." Her room may have been dark, the hall as well, and if she was wearing dark clothing, he may not have seen any blood. Or, if he did, he may have kept quiet in order to not upset B&D. He just confirmed the "unresponsive" status and knew the paramedics and police would be there soon to deal with the details and reality.

With so many people talking on the phone, the operator didn't get too far beyond initial questions, and had to repeat them multiple times. B&D had NOT seen blood, so they didn't mention it. If the male saw blood, there was no need to mention it since the cops were already there and the call came to an end.

I hope this explains why the blood may not have come up in that call! Nothing odd about it because there was confusion and lack of knowledge in the moment.

Unresponsive in a healthcare/medical setting and to a dispatcher has a very real meaning. Not responding to texts isn't being unresponsive.

I don't think we'll know why the call played out as it did until the trial. JMO.

 

[Curiousobserver]

I absolutely believe he did this but I do not believe this is a slam-dunk case.

There are really only two things that link him to this crime- his DNA on the knife sheath, and his obvious efforts to conceal forensic evidence when he got home.

The defense actually has a lot to work with on this and they could easily muddy the waters enough to overcome reasonable doubt.

There are lots of tall-ish, bushy eyebrowed, skinny but athletic people in a college town. Same for white cars that look like Elantra's.

There was no blood on or in his car, even though the car was practically disassembled, including the key-fob. They have not found bloody clothes or a murder weapon. There was no DNA from any of the victims found in his car or in his apartment, and no DNA from the dog in either as well. I have been working or managing a lab for 25 years and I don't think I could pull that off without stripping down and taking a shower before I got into the car. The lack of canine DNA is especially remarkable because many forensics studies have shown that you cannot enter the home of a person with a dog and not get some canine DNA on you.

There is also the issue of other blood samples in the house that do not belong to him as well as blood on the glove outside.

 

[Nila Aella]

I've heard 911 operators state here on WS that they prefer to use the all-encompassing term "UNRESPONSIVE" (for death/fainting spell/overdose/murder/suicide/accident/you name it) because:

• it saves crucial seconds but gets paramedics going
• neither the caller nor the 911 operator (usually) are medical doctors or accident reconstructionists, thus, have no information at that moment. Within minutes, the pros (EMTs/LE) will take over at the scene and get that accurate patient/scene info.

This is especially impt when there's uncertainty (as in this case with B&D). The most that the girls knew was that their roommates were NOT RESPONDING to calls or texts, so that was an easy "yes" when they were asked if they had UNRESPONSIVE roommates. B&D had probably snuck straight out the front door to meet the guys outside in the morning and NOT gone to check. I wouldn't have!

Now, when the one male did go in and perhaps venture just close enough to see the body of X in the open doorway (who was not responding to his voice), he too could confirm that she was "unresponsive." Her room may have been dark, the hall as well, and if she was wearing dark clothing, he may not have seen any blood. Or, if he did, he may have kept quiet in order to not upset B&D. He just confirmed the "unresponsive" status and knew the paramedics and police would be there soon to deal with the details and reality.

With so many people talking on the phone, the operator didn't get too far beyond initial questions, and had to repeat them multiple times. B&D had NOT seen blood, so they didn't mention it. If the male saw blood, there was no need to mention it since the cops were already there and the call came to an end.

I hope this explains why the blood may not have come up in that call! Nothing odd about it because there was confusion and lack of knowledge in the moment.

The States MIL describes HJ discovering XK body before the 911 call was placed.

Page 4
H.J. located the unresponsive body of Xana Kernodle and informed B.F and D.M. to call 911.
E.A. was present at the time.
The declarations were made immediately after H.J. discovered Kernodle's body.

https://coi.isc.idaho.gov/docs/CR01-24-31665/2025/022425-REDACTED-Motion-inLimine-RE-911-Call.pdf

JMO

 

[detectivewannab]

Do we have any I formation on his computer searches?

 

[MassGuy]

I absolutely believe he did this but I do not believe this is a slam-dunk case.

There are really only two things that really link him to this case- his DNA on the knife sheath, and his obvious efforts to conceal forensic evidence when he got home.

The defense actually has a lot to work with on this and they could easily muddy the waters enough to overcome reasonable doubt.

There are lots of tall-ish, bushy eyebrowed, skinny but athletic people in a college town. Same for white cars that look like Elantra's.

There was no blood on or in his car, even though the car was practically disassembled, including the key-fob. They have not found bloody clothes or a murder weapon. There was no DNA from any of the victims found in his car or in his apartment, and no DNA from the dog in either as well. I have been working or managing a lab for 25 years and I don't think I could pull that off without stripping down and taking a shower before I got into the car. The lack of canine DNA is especially remarkable because many forensics studies have shown that you cannot enter the home of a person with a dog and not get some canine DNA on you.

There is also the issue of other blood samples in the house that do not belong to him as well as blood on the glove outside.

Smoke and mirrors. Good luck overcoming the DNA on the knife sheath, as it's corroborated by his movements that night. His phone shows that he went for a drive in the dead of night, just as he'd have to do if he was the killer. The most damning part of that is his phone's two hour dark period, which covered the entire murder window. We can see from the evidence the prosecution intends to introduce, and the defense efforts to keep this stuff out, that there's plenty more where that came from.

We have a bear bones outline right now, but a single piece of evidence would seal the deal (a knife purchase for instance).

The lack of DNA is explained by covering clothing, like coveralls (that there may also be a purchase record for). Coveralls, gloves, booties; he strips them off when he leaves and puts them into a bag. I'm sure he lined his car seat with trash bags or something, but that may not have even been necessary. He also had weeks to clean up anything he missed, and there are reports the FBI saw him doing just that.

As for the DNA the defense is pointing to, it loses a great deal of value once you consider a few things:

The blood on the railing is in a part of the house the killer isn't believed to have been.
The glove was found outside the crime scene. My guess is we're going to learn that it is not the type of glove the killer would have worn, and most importantly, doesn't have a hole in it (from the killer cutting himself).

Also of note, neither sample repeated anywhere in the crime scene, as one would expect if the killer did cut himself.

I'm not the least bit concerned.

 

[MassGuy]

Do we have any I formation on his computer searches?

Nope, and that's something I'd love to know.

Well, nothing official anyway. Kaylee's dad claims he was told by investigators that computer searches involved "sadistic" content.

 

[Curiousobserver]

Smoke and mirrors. Good luck overcoming the DNA on the knife sheath, as it's corroborated by his movements that night. His phone shows that he went for a drive in the dead of night, just as he'd have to do if he was the killer. The most damning part of that is his phone's two hour dark period, which covered the entire murder window. We can see from the evidence the prosecution intends to introduce, and the defense efforts to keep this stuff out, that there's plenty more where that came from.

We have a bear bones outline right now, but a single piece of evidence would seal the deal (a knife purchase for instance).

The lack of DNA is explained by covering clothing, like coveralls (that there may also be a purchase record for). Coveralls, gloves, booties; he strips them off when he leaves and puts them into a bag. I'm sure he lined his car seat with trash bags or something, but that may not have even been necessary. He also had weeks to clean up anything he missed, and there are reports the FBI saw him doing just that.

As for the DNA the defense is pointing to, it loses a great deal of value once you consider a few things:

The blood on the railing is in a part of the house the killer isn't believed to have been.
The glove was found outside the crime scene. My guess is we're going to learn that it is not the type of glove the killer would have worn, and most importantly, doesn't have a hole in it (from the killer cutting himself).

Also of note, neither sample repeated anywhere in the crime scene, as one would expect if the killer did cut himself.

I'm not the least bit concerned.

If they can link him to that knife that would be huge (obviously), same for equipment and supplies for concealment. I hope they have it.

 

[Megnut]

Any indication of WSU computers recovered? As a TA/PhD student, would he have a school-issued device? Was he "clever" enough not to use his own, personal laptop for his own, very private iinternetting?

Looks like he didn't disguise his Amazonning very well.

Not very smart for the smartest person in the room between his ears.

JMO

 

[NCWatcher]

Any indication of WSU computers recovered? As a TA/PhD student, would he have a school-issued device? Was he "clever" enough not to use his own, personal laptop for his own, very private iinternetting?

Looks like he didn't disguise his Amazonning very well.

Not very smart for the smartest person in the room between his ears.

JMO

I could be wrong but I doubt he'd have a school-issued computer. Most incoming grad students would already own some sort of computer and would consider them a necessary item for school. The same may not be true for undergrads so some schools may provide them.
MOO

 

[schooling]

Smoke and mirrors. Good luck overcoming the DNA on the knife sheath, as it's corroborated by his movements that night. His phone shows that he went for a drive in the dead of night, just as he'd have to do if he was the killer. The most damning part of that is his phone's two hour dark period, which covered the entire murder window. We can see from the evidence the prosecution intends to introduce, and the defense efforts to keep this stuff out, that there's plenty more where that came from.

We have a bear bones outline right now, but a single piece of evidence would seal the deal (a knife purchase for instance).

The lack of DNA is explained by covering clothing, like coveralls (that there may also be a purchase record for). Coveralls, gloves, booties; he strips them off when he leaves and puts them into a bag. I'm sure he lined his car seat with trash bags or something, but that may not have even been necessary. He also had weeks to clean up anything he missed, and there are reports the FBI saw him doing just that.

As for the DNA the defense is pointing to, it loses a great deal of value once you consider a few things:

The blood on the railing is in a part of the house the killer isn't believed to have been.
The glove was found outside the crime scene. My guess is we're going to learn that it is not the type of glove the killer would have worn, and most importantly, doesn't have a hole in it (from the killer cutting himself).

Also of note, neither sample repeated anywhere in the crime scene, as one would expect if the killer did cut himself.

I'm not the least bit concerned.

Maybe he’s just REALLY unlucky.