On Nov. 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Ethan Chapin, were stabbed to death in their off-campus housing. For over a month, police and citizens investigated the scene, making their best effort to figure out what happened. On Dec. 30, a month and a half later, Bryan Kohberger was arrested in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania early in the morning. Kohberger was caught due to DNA found on a knife sheath at the scene of the crimes. Police and FBI discovered cell phone data which showed him in the same location as the victims twelve different times before the night of the murders.

  While the majority of the public believes that Kohberger is guilty, arguments for his innocence still stand. One of which being when police deal with such a highly watched case such as this one, the public pressure pushes police to solve cases quickly, or make an arrest for a suspect. This can lead to innocent people getting arrested and facing backlash for a crime they potentially didn’t do. Believers of Kohberger’s innocence also bring the argument that while the DNA from the knife sheath and the phone data provide a basis for a strong case, the public is largely kept in the dark about details from investigators.

  Public opinion of the case largely believes that Kohberger is guilty of the four killings. From the sheath to how often Kohberger was at the off-campus housing before the crime took place, the public views this as definite evidence. Based on the evidence and various news coverage that has been broadcasted, Kohberger’s possibility of innocence seems to be slimming by the day. Whether Kohberger is guilty or innocent, after such a tragedy, getting the victim’s family peace and justice is one of the most important objectives.