Criminal defense attorney Lexie Rigden provides an update on the case against murder suspect Bryan Kohberger one year after the crimes occurred. This past year has been marked by a series of shocking crime cases that captured the attention of the entire country. From cracked cold cases to unforeseen arrests, the nation has been reeling from the revelations of violence and betrayal. Some of the most notable cases include the arrest in the infamous Long Island serial killer case, a surprise confession from the longtime suspected killer of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway, and the attention-grabbing massacre of four University of Idaho students. Serial killer cases have also emerged in California, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Oregon. Additionally, new details have been revealed in the JonBenet Ramsey case.
In the case of Bryan Kohberger, who is suspected of murdering Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in November 2022, the public has finally gotten a glimpse of the evidence against him. Kohberger was tracked by the police across the country, from Washington State University to his parents’ house in Pennsylvania’s Poconos. Phone records, surveillance images, DNA evidence, and a survivor’s eyewitness account all played a role in building a probable cause affidavit. Despite Kohberger’s attempts to have the case dismissed on procedural grounds, a judge denied his request, clearing the way for the trial to proceed. Kohberger has pleaded not guilty to the charges and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Another high-profile case that has captivated the nation is that of Alex Murdaugh, a former prominent South Carolina lawyer whose world unraveled following the murders of his wife and younger son. During the six-week trial, Murdaugh’s financial troubles and corruption were exposed, leading to his guilty verdict on unrelated financial crimes. However, he is appealing his murder convictions, claiming that the jury was prejudiced by the evidence presented in the financial crimes.
In a shocking development, Joran van der Sloot, a longtime suspect in the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway, confessed to her murder nearly two decades later. Van der Sloot, a Dutch national, also confessed to the murder of Peruvian casino heiress Stephany Flores. He revealed gruesome details of Holloway’s murder as part of a plea deal on international extortion charges. Van der Sloot was sentenced to 20 years in prison and will serve his sentence concurrently with those he faces in Peru for Flores’ murder.
Additionally, there have been updates in the Gilgo Beach serial killer case. Rex Heuermann, a New York City architect, has been arrested in connection with the murders of several women whose remains were found along Long Island’s Ocean Parkway. Heuermann has been charged with killing three of the victims and remains a suspect in the death of a fourth woman. The investigation into the other victims is still ongoing, and Heuermann could face life in prison without parole if convicted.
Lastly, a Texas jury found Kaitlin Armstrong guilty of murder in the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. Armstrong, who believed Wilson to be a romantic rival, went on a 43-day manhunt after the murder and attempted to escape custody just weeks before her trial. She has been sentenced to 90 years in prison.
These high-profile crime cases have captured the nation’s attention and continue to unfold as the legal process moves forward. The updates on Bryan Kohberger and other notorious cases serve as a reminder of the ongoing fight for justice and the importance of solving cold cases.
