BY Lorri Wickenhauser, The Western JournalFebruary 16, 2023
1 year ago
BY 
 | February 16, 2023
1 year ago

Report: We Now Know Who Called 911 About Idaho College Murders, But No Name Revealed

For months, people have speculated on who discovered the bodies of four murdered University of Idaho students on Nov. 13.

NewsNation's Ashleigh Banfield reported on her "Banfield" show Tuesday that sources revealed Ethan Chapin's best friend, whom she did not name, discovered the bodies of Chapin and his girlfriend, Xana Kernodle, who were both 20.

The bodies of the other two victims, Kaylee Goncalves, and Madison Mogen, both 21, were also discovered in the home. All four had been brutally stabbed.

Banfield discussed the revelation with criminal defense attorney, Mark Geragos.

"This was Ethan's best friend who actually made the discovery of the bodies," Banfield said. "It wasn't first responders ... Up until now, we'd always assumed that perhaps they were behind locked doors and that's why the roommate had called, 'We can't wake our friends up.' It was Ethan's best friend.

"But not only that, he took the pulse, called out to call 911, and ended up talking to 911 on Dylan Moretensen's cell phone."

Banfield asked Geragos to comment on the case, which has been under a gag order since shortly after accused killer Bryan Kohberger's arrest.

"Does it matter to the rights of the defendant in this case ... [that] these kinds of details are all being gagged?"

Geragos, taking the opportunity to drop some names of several of his famous clients from previous high-profile cases, spoke out against the practice, because in his view, information is going to come out anyway.

"One of my frustrations in defending these cases is, when you clamp down on the coverage and you do it by way of a gag order -- you'll remember, many years ago, that started during with Michael Jackson and Scott Peterson and then Kobe Bryant ... it was to protect the defense.

"Now, what it does ... is that it works to the detriment of the defense."

Even with gag orders, Geragos said, leaks continue and restricted information inevitably emerges.

"I always think, in these kinds of cases, more information is better than less," the attorney said.

Banfield asked Geragos if there is a danger of "protecting the jury pool too much."

Geragos argued in favor of sequestering juries during the trial, rather than trying to clamp down on the flow of information.

"If they're sequestered, I think that's the magic silver bullet," he told Banfield.

Kohberger is a criminology student who was in the first semester of a Ph.D. program at Washington State University at the time of the murders, according to the New York Times. While it is across the state line, the campus is just a 15-minute drive from the crime scene in Moscow, Idaho.

Kohberger has said he does not believe he will be convicted of the crimes, according to the Washington Post.

In a Dec. 31 story, public defender Jason LaBar of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, told the Post that's why Kohberger did not fight extradition from Pennsylvania back to Idaho after his arrest.

“He’s willing to waive because he’s looking forward to being exonerated. Those were his words,” LaBar told the outlet during a phone interview.

“Whether that means he’s innocent or not, it’s implicit in saying he wants to be exonerated that he’s innocent. He didn’t use the word ‘innocent.’”

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

Written by: Lorri Wickenhauser, The Western Journal

NATIONAL NEWS

SEE ALL

Fulton County DA Accused of Misusing Funds for Trump Investigation

The handling of allocated budgetary funds by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has drawn significant scrutiny, and accusations suggest that funds intended for general…
18 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

Rep. Lauren Underwood to Chair Homeland Security Subcommittee After Cuellar's Indictment

Amid unfolding legal drama, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) has ascended to a crucial congressional role following her colleague's recent indictment. Lauren Underwood will replace indicted…
1 day ago
 • By Staff Writers

Campaign Launches Against AZ Supreme Court Justices Over Abortion Law Ruling

A targeted campaign from Progress Arizona has been launched to displace two justices of the Arizona Supreme Court who contributed to upholding a century-old abortion…
1 day ago
 • By Staff Writers

Des Moines Man Sentenced for 2021 First-Degree Murder

In a poignant courtroom scene, Darren Diggs was sentenced to life without parole by Judge Jeffrey Farrell, following his conviction for first-degree murder in the…
1 day ago
 • By Staff Writers

Greene Initiates Motion to Remove Speaker Johnson Amid GOP Divisions

In a bold political move, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) has launched a campaign to dethrone House Speaker Mike Johnson, stirring significant controversy within…
1 day ago
 • By Staff Writers

DON'T WAIT.

We publish the objective news, period. If you want the facts, then sign up below and join our movement for objective news:

    LATEST NEWS

    Newsletter

    Get news from American Digest in your inbox.

      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: American Digest, 3000 S. Hulen Street, Ste 124 #1064, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, US, http://americandigest.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.
      Christian News Alerts is a conservative Christian publication. Share our articles to help spread the word.
      © 2024 - CHRISTIAN NEWS ALERTS - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
      magnifier