The University of Idaho has announced plans to demolish the house where four undergrad students were stabbed to death last year. The house, located at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, will be torn down on December 28, less than a year after the suspect’s arrest and with no trial date set. The decision has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that the house should remain standing until jurors have the opportunity to see the crime scene firsthand.
The six-bedroom home, situated near the university’s Greek Row, is at the heart of a complex filled with student housing. Bryan Kohberger is accused of sneaking into the house on November 13, 2022, and killing four of the six people inside. The victims include Kaylee Goncalves and Maddie Mogen, both 21 years old, who were found in Mogen’s bedroom with a knife sheath alleged to have Kohberger’s DNA. Xana Kernodle, 20, who lived in the house, and her visiting boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, also 20, were also killed.
University President Scott Green stated that the demolition is necessary for the collective healing of the community. However, critics argue that allowing jurors to visit the crime scene would provide them with a perspective that cannot be captured through photographs alone. They point to previous trials, such as the OJ Simpson trial and the trial of Alex Murdaugh, where jurors were able to visit the crime scenes in person.
Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor, believes that the house should be preserved until the trial concludes or Kohberger pleads guilty. He emphasizes the importance of jurors being able to see the scene firsthand. Defense attorney Anne Taylor also expressed the need for an in-person visit, stating that video and pictures may not accurately depict the scene.
The decision to demolish the house has drawn criticism from the victims’ families as well. They argue that the house holds memories of the victims’ lives and tearing it down would be a disservice to their memory.
Kohberger’s trial, originally scheduled for October, has been delayed as he challenges the indictment and DNA evidence. The University of Idaho plans to build a memorial garden on the site of the demolished house. The decision to demolish the crime scene house has sparked debate over the importance of allowing jurors to visit the scene in person and preserving the memory of the victims.
