Cold case files reopened in Pennsylvania after Idaho murders

PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Government in at least two Pennsylvania counties where Bryan Kohberger attending college searched their cold case files, looking for links that might connect those cases to the suspect in the University of Idaho murder.

“Your natural question is to start wondering, ‘is this guy wanted?’,” said Terence Houck, Northampton County District Attorney, who ordered his staff to research whether Could Kohberger have a relationship with any unsolved cases in his jurisdiction. ?Does he do anything in (my) county?”

Authorities had previously said that Kohberger, 28, had no criminal record.

However, because Kohberger was a student at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, the Pennsylvania government dug deeper into the record. He may also have taken classes at a satellite facility in Monroe County. Using a crime information center, authorities in Northampton County searched the files of unsolved cases using Kohberger’s height, weight, operational methods, and characteristics. otherwise may cause him to be considered an unsolved criminal.

Houck said authorities did not find any evidence linking Kohberger to the unsolved cases.

“Actually, nothing related to Kohberger has occurred in our investigations of unsolved cases or unsolved cases to this point, but we do,” Houck said. always continue to investigate and pursue leads.

In neighboring Lehigh County, where Kohberger spent four years studying criminology on the DeSales University campus, District Attorney Jim Martin asked similar questions.

After Kohberger’s arrest on December 30“The first thing I did was ask the director of the RIC (Regional Intelligence and Investigations Center) if we had any contact with Mr. Kohberger,” Martin said.

That database includes six million police reports and related data. It shows only one contact with Kohberger: a 911 call in which his car was locked behind a bike trail parking gate.

“And there was a response from him thanking the police and apologizing for the inconvenience,” Martin said.

Martin said his office’s investigation found no connection to Kohberger and any unsolved crimes.

“We have no unsolved murders that are in any way consistent with the way this event operates in Idaho,” Martin said.

Monroe District Attorney E. David Christine, Jr. did not respond to a recent message or visit by the KING 5 News team. Bryan Kohberger has lived with his parents in Monroe County for many years and this is the same jurisdiction where Kohberger was arrested by a SWAT team in December. .

Kohberger faces four charges of first-degree murder in Idaho in the death of Kaylee Goncalves21; Madison Mogen21; Xana20 and Ethan Chapin, 20. Investigators said in court documents that Kohberger broke into a home in Moscow, Idaho on November 13, where all four were staying. They assumed he stabbed them with a knife. The documents do not reveal a motive or any connection between Kohberger and the victims.

Jack Baylis told a KING 5 News group that recently visited his home in Center Valley, Pennsylvania: “I hope he didn’t do that. I am a person who believes in innocence until proven guilty.”

Baylis met Kohberger in eighth grade when both boys lived on the outskirts of the Poconos Mountains.

Baylis said Kohberger was a “normal” kid until he started taking drugs with another friend around the age of 16.

Baylis said of Kohberger’s addiction: “It was definitely heroin and it was pretty horrible.

When the pair reconnected years later, Kohberger came clean and attended nearby DeSales University as a criminology student.

“He’s always been fascinated with how the brain works, how people think and why they do what they do,” says Baylis. “I’d say he wanted to be a policeman since he was a kid.”

At DeSales, a classmate thought Kohberger was just like an ordinary student – ​​at first.

Film and television student Vernard James was assigned to a biology class project in 2018 with Kohberger as team leader.

“We were approaching the due date and I felt like I was left out,” James said.

James said Kohberger completed the project without him involved, which resulted in James getting a bad grade. He confronts Kohberger in the DeSales University library.

“A very intense look,” James said. “I remember that. You know, I’ll never forget that I almost looked into my soul as we talked about this over and over again.”

James said Kohberger dismissed his complaint and took no responsibility as the project leader.

James said: “(He was) very charismatic. “Cold.”

After Kohberger was arrested, James wondered if he had witnessed anything more than an odd personality trait.

“It’s not every day you expect to be in contact with someone who is accused of that, you know?” James said. his math.”

The KING 5 news team was unable to contact Kohberger’s parents in Pennsylvania.

Monroe County Sheriff Jason LeBar told KING 5 he could not be reached for further comment on the incident. Lebar represented Kohberger in extradition proceedings in Pennsylvania.

He has previously said that Kohberger believes he will be exonerated in Idaho.

Clock: Pullman police interviewed Bryan Kohberger for a job