Judge in Kohberger Idaho murder case rules on 'bushy eyebrows' testimony

Kevin Fixler and Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman on Apr 18, 2025

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BOISE, Idaho — One of the two roommates who were left physically unharmed during an attack that left four University of Idaho students dead will be allowed to testify at Bryan Kohberger’s murder trial that the intruder she saw inside their off-campus home had “bushy eyebrows,” the presiding judge ruled Friday.

Ada County Judge Steven Hippler said that the roommate’s testimony was “remarkably consistent” over the course of five interviews with police following the fatal stabbings, as well as during her testimony before a grand jury that unanimously indicted Kohberger on four counts of murder. Hippler denied the defense’s effort to keep testimony from the surviving roommate about that physical attribute, and rejected the argument that it would be unfairly prejudicial against Kohberger.

“D.M.’s testimony about ‘bushy eyebrows’ is highly relevant in this case,” Hippler wrote. “D.M. is the only eyewitness to the intruder responsible for the homicides. It is the jury’s task to determine whether (the) defendant is that person.”

The order is the first of about a dozen outstanding rulings expected from Hippler following an all-day motions hearing last week to resolve several arguments between prosecutors and Kohberger’s defense about how certain evidence may be used at trial. Hippler previously issued several orders from the bench at the hearing, and said he would provide future written orders on the remaining items.

Kohberger, 30, is accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in Moscow in November 2022. At the time, he was a graduate student of criminal justice and criminology at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, located about 9 miles west of Moscow over the Idaho state line.

The victims were Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls; and Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington. The three women lived at the off-campus home with the other two female roommates, while Chapin was Kernodle’s boyfriend and slept over for the night.

Kohberger’s murder trial is scheduled to begin with jury selection in late July. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted of the murders.

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