University of Idaho Controversy: Plans to Demolish Crime Scene on Thursday Morning Sparks Outrage Ahead of High-Stakes Murder Trial

In a shock to many, the University of Idaho is preparing to demolish the off-campus house where four Idaho university students were killed last year on Nov. 13th, having being found stabbed to death. Prosecutors allege that Bryan Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University, had broken into the home and committed the murders.

The house is slated for demolition tomorrow, Thursday, December 28th at 7:00 a.m. The university just announced their demolition plans on Thursday, December 14th, not giving the public much notice to allow them to object in time to stop it.

But people ARE taking notice including the popular true crime podcast “Crime Weekly” whose co- hosts don’t think the university should be destroying a crime scene before the trial even takes place. In fact, a trial date hasn’t even been set yet.

Where are the injunctions by the police? The prosecutors? The defense attorneys?

Although Kohberger’s defense team was given access to the home on December 14th and 15th to take photos and measurements and state prosecutors were also allowed the same access, it’s not as good as having the real house still in existence.

Co-hosts Stephanie Harlowe and Derrick Levasseur recently released a podcast episode on the university’s demolition plans which you can listen to here on Apple Podcasts. In it, Harlow takes issue with a statement from Scott Green, the university’s president, who said, “While we appreciate the emotional connection some family members of the victims may have to this house, it is time for its removal and to allow the collective healing of our community to continue.”

Harlowe says about the demolition, “This doesn’t make any sense to me.” She goes on to push back against Green’s statement by saying it’s “condescending” to use an emotional attachment as an excuse to bring the house down. She says, “It’s just literally, the whole point of this is it’s a crime scene. A crime happened there and the crime hasn’t been adjudicated yet. It’s not gone through the justice system yet. Not only do you maybe want to take a jury through there but there could potentially be evidence that hasn’t been collected yet. There could be things there that could still have some use for the defense or the prosecution, for either side.”

Florida-based defense attorney, Mark NeJame from NeJame Law, who has no affiliation with the case, agrees with Harlowe. Demolishing the house, he says, will likely benefit Kohberger’s defense. The U.S. Sun reports NeJame as also saying that the prosecution’s case could be in jeopardy if a ruling is made against the FBI’s 3D rendering of the home. NeJame told them, “It will be beneficial to the defense because of there’s a discussion in keeping out a 3D rendering or video, then you’re simply relying on people’s memories and recollections and the reports that are put together by law enforcement.” He added, “There’s nothing more important than actual evidence. I would think the community is outraged over this…”

Harlowe says in her podcast that 98% of the families are not happy with this. The Goncalves family released the following statement through their attorney, Shanon Gray: “Let us ask this: Isn’t it better to have the King Rd. House and not need it than need the house and not have it? That has been our question to the Prosecution and the University of Idaho for the entire time the demo of the King Road has been an issue. But why is it even up for discussion? This is one of the most horrific crimes in the history of Idaho and the University of Idaho wants to destroy one of the most critical pieces of evidence in the case – and it is also important to make note that there is now a demolition date before there is even a trial date set. This alone speaks volumes. There may be additional discovery by either party that prompts one side or the other to go back to the scene of the crime.”