The sister of a missing Pennsylvania woman says Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger is likely not connected to her sister’s disappearance, despite his parents being called to testify.
Dana Smithers, 45, went missing on May 28, 2022. Her remains were discovered on April 27 of this year in a wooded area in Stroudsburg — about 30 miles from Kohberger’s home in Albrightsville.
In a bombshell development this week, Kohberger’s parents were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury investigating her case.
Smithers’ family called police after being alerted by internet sleuths to the “possibility” that Kohberger was in the area at the time she disappeared.
However, Stacey Anne, Smithers’ sister, told that in an interview NewsNation “there were indications that he was not in the area where her sister was last seen” and therefore could not be linked to her disappearance.
Missing Pennsylvania woman’s sister Dana Smithers (pictured right) says despite his parents being called to testify, Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger (pictured left) is unlikely to be connected to her sister’s disappearance
“She hopes that people will continue to invest in Dana’s case to find out what happened,” she told Brian Entin.
It remains unclear why Kohrberger’s parents were summoned by the grand jury.
Smithers’ note confirms what the Stroud Area Regional Police Department said Thursday: “The SARPD has no evidence that Dana Smithers’ disappearance is in any way related to Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger.”
Stacey Anne posted a message on her Facebook page, “Finding Dana,” on Jan. 2, thanking those who “recently reached out about the possibility that the suspect in the heinous murders in Idaho was in our area around the time of my sister’s , Dana’s disappearance.’
She added: “I have forwarded all your suggestions to the local police. Please pray for everyone involved.”
CNN first reported the news, citing a source who said the mother of the accused killer has already testified before the grand jury, while his father is set to appear on Thursday.
The information can then be shared with Idaho prosecutors.
The Stroud Area Regional Police Department said it: “is aware of the many currently reported news articles in which various media outlets have reported links between the SARPD missing persons investigation Dana Smithers and Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger.”
A source told News Nation that Kohberger’s alibi proves he was probably not involved in Smithers’ disappearance.
On the day she went missing, Smithers, her youngest daughter, 7, and the daughter’s father had gone to a festival in Stroudsburg.
Smithers was no longer in a relationship with the father, but friends said they were on good terms.
The trio appeared to be in good spirits before returning to the Smithers house.
That night, Smithers went to the home of friend and neighbor Tara Cioni, who later said she thought something might be bothering her.
Smithers — who had a history of drug abuse — smoked, something she only did when she was “nervous” or tense, Cioni said.
The mother of three was last seen in Cioni’s Ring CCTV footage around 11 p.m.
She was reported missing days later and her family said she would never have been away from her youngest daughter for so long.
Her cellphone, wallet and daily medication were later found at her home.
Her cause of death is still unknown.
Kohberger, 28, was charged with the murder of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, on November 13 last year.
His father Michael is expected to testify in court on Thursday, while his mother Maryann has already testified.
Maddie Mogen (above) Kaylee Goncalves (left) Xana Kernodle (right) and Ethan Chapin (center) – all students at the University of Idaho – were stabbed to death on Nov. 13 in the quiet college town of Moscow
Transcripts from the closed session could be transferred to Idaho, where their son will face trial on October 2.
The suspect appeared in a courtroom in Idaho on Monday. He declined to enter a plea to four counts of first-degree murder.
Kohberger was expected to plead not guilty, but chose to use Idaho’s “still” plea, meaning he didn’t plead either way, but could still be tried.
The Washington State University PHD candidate has been behind bars since December 30 when police raided his parents’ home in Pennsylvania.
He was transferred to the Latah County Jail on January 4, where he has remained ever since.
The criminology major allegedly planned the murders of the four Idaho students with a statement of probable cause noting that he had repeatedly visited the area around their home prior to the murders.
His DNA was found on a KA-BAR knife sheath found next to the bodies of Kaylee and Madison.
Goncalves and Mogen were found dead in bed side by side, while Chapin and Kernodle were found on the floor below, while Kernodle was discovered slumped on the floor of her bedroom.
According to the document, survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke heard some of what happened, while Mortensen told police she heard Goncalves say “there’s someone here” around 4 a.m.
Police raided the Kohberger family home in the Indian Mountain Lake Estates in Albrightsville’s Chestnuthill Township just before 1:30 a.m. on December 30
Ten minutes later she heard a thud and howl from Kernodle’s room and a man’s voice saying, “It’s okay, I’m going to help you.”
Minutes later, Mortensen said she opened her bedroom door and saw a tall man with bushy eyebrows exit through the sliding glass doors at the back of the house.
She described how she was “frozen with shock” when the suspect walked up to her. Mortensen said she locked herself in her room after he left.
The affidavit also reveals that Kohberger’s white Hyundai Elantra was caught on camera near the crime scene before being seen speeding from the home to Pullman at around 4:20 a.m.
Police quickly connected the vehicle to Kohberger and noted the similarity between his appearance and Mortensen’s description of the intruder at the rental home.