The case against accused killer Bryan Kohberger just took another dramatic turn. The Idaho judge overseeing the trial has announced he will release a redacted transcript from a closed-door hearing last week. This hearing, which was kept hidden from the public and media, dealt with forensic investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) evidence.
The big question: Why all the secrecy?
Court Orders Transcript Release—But With Redactions
Judge Steven Hippler has now ordered the prosecution and defense to review the full transcript and suggest redactions. They have 14 days to decide what the public shouldn’t see. After that, the court will release a carefully edited version.
That’s right—the state is still trying to control what information gets out. What are they so desperate to hide?
The DNA Controversy—A Threat to the Case?
At the heart of this fight is IGG evidence, the cutting-edge DNA method that led authorities to Kohberger. His defense team wants it thrown out. They argue the FBI violated his Fourth Amendment rights by using genealogy databases to track him down.
But Judge Hippler wasn’t buying it.
“It wasn’t his DNA that was searched,” he told Kohberger’s lawyer. “At best, it was his ancestors.”
Prosecutors argue there’s no expectation of privacy with IGG. They say law enforcement followed legal protocols and used publicly available data. Meanwhile, Kohberger’s attorneys claim the FBI violated its own internal policies when handling the genetic evidence.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. If the court rules against the IGG evidence, it could cripple the prosecution’s case.
A Trial Cloaked in Secrecy
This isn’t the first time information in this case has been hidden from the public. Investigators used IGG to connect Kohberger to the brutal 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. But key details about how they built their case remain sealed.
Boise-based defense attorney Edwina Elcox believes the transcript could be explosive.
“I can’t imagine that there isn’t really eye-opening information contained in that transcript,” she said. “I think we will learn what the state has been fighting so hard to keep from the defense and the public.”
And that’s exactly why this transcript matters.
Kohberger’s Fate Hangs in the Balance
Kohberger has pleaded not guilty to the horrific home invasion murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. He faces the death penalty if convicted.
His lawyers are also pushing for a Franks hearing. If granted, it could challenge the validity of key warrants in the case. Experts say such hearings are rarely successful. But with the amount of secrecy surrounding this trial, anything is possible.
What’s Next?
The countdown is on. In two weeks, the judge will decide what the public gets to see. Will the transcript expose major flaws in the case? Or will the state continue to keep critical details hidden?
One thing is certain—this case is far from over.
