The case of Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the tragic murders of four Idaho students, has taken a fascinating turn as his defense team raises questions about unidentified male blood found at the crime scene. This discovery has sparked speculation among legal experts and criminal profilers, who suggest that Kohberger might have intentionally staged the crime scene to mislead investigators. John Kelly, a veteran criminal profiler and founder of STALK Inc., has been closely following the case and believes that Kohberger’s unusual behavior during his arrest could indicate a calculated strategy to divert attention from himself.
When Kohberger was arrested by a Pennsylvania SWAT team on December 30, 2022, he was reportedly wearing rubber gloves and sorting garbage in his parents’ kitchen. Upon being taken into custody, he asked, “Who else did you arrest?” This reaction struck Kelly as odd, as it is not the typical response of someone accused of such a heinous crime. Kelly theorizes that Kohberger’s question might have been rooted in his expectation that the police had identified other suspects or uncovered additional evidence, possibly planted by him to create confusion. “Maybe this is the reason why he made that stupid response: he staged some other DNA, blood, to throw authorities off,” Kelly speculated. He pointed out that Kohberger’s academic background—he was pursuing a Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice at the time of the murders—would have equipped him with the knowledge to stage a crime scene effectively.
The presence of unidentified male blood samples—found on a handrail at the King Road crime scene and on a glove outside—has become a focal point for Kohberger’s defense team. These samples, which do not match Kohberger and come from two different individuals, could potentially suggest the involvement of other suspects or, as Kelly suggests, a deliberate attempt to mislead investigators. Defense attorney Anne Taylor argued in court that the presence of this unidentified blood could mean that Kohberger is entirely unrelated to the crime. However, Judge Steven Hippler appeared unconvinced during a pretrial hearing, as the prosecution presented other evidence linking Kohberger to the murders, including a Ka-Bar knife sheath discovered under the body of Madison Mogen. The sheath allegedly bore Kohberger’s DNA, which was confirmed through a familial match to a sample taken from the trash at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania.
While the judge did not find the unidentified blood samples sufficient to dismiss the charges against Kohberger, experts agree that this evidence could create reasonable doubt during the trial, which is scheduled to take place later this year. Defense attorney Edwina Elcox noted that the presence of the unidentified DNA could be used to “muddy the waters” and challenge the prosecution’s case. However, she also acknowledged that the knife sheath with Kohberger’s DNA remains a significant piece of evidence for the prosecution. Kelly, meanwhile, has suggested that even the knife sheath could have been planted to misdirect investigators. He pointed out that the sheath was stamped with “USMC,” potentially implying a connection to someone with military ties. Kelly described this as “staging 101,” a tactic to lead investigators toward a false suspect.
Despite these arguments, the prosecution’s case against Kohberger appears to be formidable. Detectives have pieced together a timeline of events that places Kohberger near the crime scene and links him to the victims through forensic evidence. Additionally, Kohberger’s behavior during his arrest and subsequent questioning has raised eyebrows among experts. His decision to wear rubber gloves while sorting garbage, for instance, has been interpreted by some as an attempt to avoid leaving behind trace evidence. Furthermore, Kohberger and his father were stopped twice by Indiana law enforcement during a cross-country drive from Washington to Pennsylvania in the days following the murders. Bodycam footage from one of these stops shows Kohberger providing a vague and rambling explanation of their journey, which some have interpreted as evasive or suspicious behavior.
As the trial approaches, the defense team will likely continue to emphasize the unidentified blood samples as a key part of their strategy to cast doubt on Kohberger’s guilt. However, the prosecution’s evidence— particularly the DNA match on the knife sheath—will be a significant hurdle for the defense to overcome. While the unidentified DNA could complicate the narrative, it is unclear whether it will be enough to secure an acquittal for Kohberger. For now, the case remains a chilling reminder of the complexities of criminal investigations and the lengths to which some suspects may go to obscure their involvement in heinous crimes.
