Kohberger, 28, a criminology graduate student from Washington State University, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary in the Nov. 13 deaths of Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21.Kohberger and his defense counsel opted to"stand silent," which is protected under the Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination. Judge John C. Judge filed his plea as"not guilty" on all counts.
Prosecutors have 60 days to announce they are seeking the death penalty. In late March, the Idaho legislature passed a bill reinstating the firing squad as an alternative option for the death penalty instead of lethal injection. Gov. Brad Little signed the bill on March 24, and the law goes into effect on July 1.The trial date has been set for Oct. 2 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific time.
Other alleged pieces of information not specified in court documents are an ID card connected to a victim and photos of a female victim on Kohberger's phone.