Officials want to tear down the house where four students were killed in Idaho
New emails have revealed that both the defense and the prosecution have said they have “no objection” to the demolition of a home where four University of Idaho students were brutally murdered prior to trial.
Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves were murdered in their off-campus rental home in the early morning hours of November 13 last year.
The documents obtained by the New York Times revealed that the house was in a dramatically different state than it was when the murders took place and would not affect the trial.
Personal items have been removed and returned to families, wallboards and floors changed, as well as extensive use of chemicals that could pose a hazard if a jury were to do a “walk-through” during the trial.
But families of the victims have said they have no objection to the demolition as long as the home their children were killed in remains intact for trial in case they need it.
The defense and prosecutor in the murder trial of four University of Idaho students have ‘no objection’ to the demolition of the house in which they were murdered
Bryan Kohberger is accused of murdering Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves in their off-campus home on November 13 last year
Bryan Kohberger is accused of murdering the students and faces four counts of first degree murder and one count of burglary.
Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson wrote, “The place has changed considerably from what it was at the time of the murders.”
‘Including removal of relevant property and furnishings, removal of some structural items such as wallboard and flooring, and subject to extensive chemical applications posing a potential health hazard.
“These are some of the reasons why we concluded that a ‘jury’s opinion’ would not be appropriate.”
Anne Taylor, the public defender representing Kohberger, told university officials she had “no objection” to the demolition.
Some relatives of the victims are concerned about the demolition.
Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, both 20, were killed in their sleep. Two other housemates were spared
Shanon Gray, a lawyer for the Goncalves family, previously said the house has potential value in the October lawsuit
Shanon Gray, a lawyer for the Goncalves family, previously told NewsNation the house has potential value in the October trial.
“I think we’ve told them over and over that it’s important to keep the house there in case someone needs it, and when the process is over, do what you want with it,” Gray said on July 5 against the broadcaster.
“The response was: The families of the victims are legally spending money to give us a legal argument why we shouldn’t be demonstrating the house,” which I find absolutely ridiculous.”
The house was donated to the University of Idaho by its owners. The university said in February that the property would be demolished, though no date has been set.
A spokeswoman for the university told the outlet that the home has been a constant reminder of the horrific stabbings and that demolition was “another step toward healing.”
“It’s definitely a balancing act,” added Jodi Walker.
The same cleaning team was at the King Road property on December 31 (pictured)
At a memorial in front of the house is a yellow rose, the school color
Last month, cleaning crews were photographed in Moscow, Idaho, removing personal items.
The property, 1122 King Road, has been closed since the murder of Goncalves, Mogen, both 21, Kernodle and her boyfriend Chapin, both 20.
Scott Green, the university’s president, sent an email to students in February saying that removing the “physical structure” would serve the community more than keep it there.
“Demolition also wipes out attempts to make the crime scene even more sensational,” Green said.
‘We are investigating possibilities in which students can be involved in the future development of the building.’
Green said a university committee, which includes students, is beginning to create a memorial to the four murdered students in a medicinal garden somewhere on the Moscow campus, the location of which has yet to be determined.
“While the memorial will be a focal point of a garden, the garden will also be a place of remembrance for other students we have lost and a place of healing for those left behind,” the email read.
Employees take things out of the house in December
The blood runs down the walls of the house where the four students were murdered
In the aftermath of the murders, detectives were constantly in the house taking away boxes of evidence.
Now the pace of activity has slowed and the house is boarded up.
Kohberger was in court the day the house was searched, appearing before a judge for a preliminary hearing.
His public defenders asked prosecutors for more information about their case. The judge said he will provide a written response to their pleas shortly.
Prosecutors told the court they were seeking the death penalty, given the “gruesome” multiple murders and the lack of mitigating circumstances.