Idaho prosecutors have disclosed a college essay from Bryan Kohberger, a suspect in student murders, highlighting his familiarity with crime scenes, according to recent court documents.

In the document, penned during finals for a 2020 criminal justice course, Kohberger explained how crime scene investigators utilize “fiber-free” overalls, gloves, and booties to prevent contaminating the site with their own DNA and fingerprints.

At 1122 King Road, the alleged scene where he killed four University of Idaho students in November 2022, police have released minimal evidence except for a Ka-Bar knife sheath found beneath one of the victims, which reportedly carried Kohberger’s DNA. Before the FBI identified him as a potential suspect through investigative genetic genealogy, detectives had not known his name. 

Kohberger graduated from DeSales University with a master’s degree and then went on to Washington State University to pursue a Ph.D. in criminology. The school is just 10 miles away from the University of Idaho, where he is accused of entering a house at 4 a.m. and killing four of the six students inside on Nov. 13, 2022.

“Staging is common.”

— Bryan Kohberger

The victims were Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. The three young women were all roommates. Chapin lived nearby and was dating Kernodle.

Kohberger’s trial on four charges of first-degree murder and another of burglary is set to begin on Aug. 11. Jury selection is scheduled for July 30.

A previous judge entered not-guilty pleas on Kohberger’s behalf at an arraignment in May 2023. He could face the death penalty if convicted.