In their first statement released since his arrest, the family of the suspect accused of killing four students at the University of Idaho said they would support him and promote his presumption of innocence.
In a statement shared with The Associated Press, Bryan Kohberger’s parents, Michael and Maryann, joined his two older sisters, Amanda and Melissa, to say they “as a family we will love and support our son and brother.”
In the statement, the family said they have cooperated fully with law enforcement to try to “seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions.”
Kohberger was arrested on Dec. 30, more than one month after four students were found killed in an off-campus apartment near the University of Idaho. Kohberger was arrested in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, on charges related to the Nov. 13 murders of Kylee Concalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.
Kohberger’s attorney, Jason LaBar, said that his client plans to waive extradition at a hearing this week. LaBar told CNN that he is only representing Kohberger on the issue of extradition and has not seen any probable cause documents related to the case. The extradition hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 3.
In a statement to CNN, LaBar said, “Mr. Kohberger is eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible.”
Kohberger is enrolled at Washington State University, where he was pursuing a Ph.D. in criminology, according to The New York Times. Kohberger attended community college before studying psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University in Pennsylvania.
A classmate at DeSales, Brittany Slaven, told The New York Times that Kohberger showed a particular interest in crime scenes and serial killers.
“At the time it seemed as if he was just a curious student, so if his questions felt odd we didn’t think much of it because it fit our curriculum,” she told the newspaper.
Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said during a news conference Friday that investigators believe Kohberger broke into the victims’ home “with the intent to commit murder.”
Kohberger’s family said in their statement that they “care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them.”
Kohberger was at his family’s home in eastern Pennsylvania when he was arrested, having driven with his father from WSU in mid-December, LaBar told The Washington Post. LaBar said the pair drove in a white Hyundai Elantra. A car of the same model was cited by investigators as being seen in the vicinity of the attacks. A white Hyundai Elantra was seized by police during Kohberger’s arrest.
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