Kohberger case: Victim families fundraising to afford travel for trial
( NewsNation ) — As the second anniversary of the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho college students nears, their families are asking for help to afford travel costs to attend the trial of accused killer Bryan Kohberger in Boise, Idaho .
In September, the judge approved the trial to be moved to Boise, about 300 miles south of Moscow where the killings occurred. However, that means the victims' families will have to travel to the state's capital as well to attend the trial. It's a move that could hinder some of the families' ability to attend .
Last week, a family friend of Ben Mogen, the father of Madison Mogen, created a GoFundMe to help cover expenses for him to attend the trial. So far, the fundraiser has raised more than $15,000, surpassing its initial goal.
Another GoFundMe fundraiser was created toward the end of last month on behalf of Kaylee Goncalves' family. It was created with the hope of covering expenses for the Goncalves family to attend the August 2025 trial . So far, nearly $63,000 has been raised.
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Kohberger trial: Change of venue
The defense won a change of venue from Latah County, where the University of Idaho is located, to Boise, the state capital. Latah County Judge John Judge agreed with Kohberger's lawyer that the massive publicity surrounding the case would make it difficult to find impartial jurors in Latah County.
"Despite efforts by the parties and the Court to protect the jury pool from being inundated with information that is potentially prejudicial and false, extensive media coverage by mainstream media sources such as newspapers, radio stations, and television news outlets has continued throughout the state and nationally," the judge said.
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Kohberger trial postponed
The judge postponed Kohberger's trial from June to August of 2025.
The trial is now scheduled to begin Aug. 11, 2025, according to the order filed earlier this month. A hearing for arguments on motions challenging the death penalty remains on the court's calendar for November.
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Idaho College Killings
The four friends — Kaylee Goncalves , Madison Mogen , Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin — were stabbed to death in their shared home in Moscow in November 2022.
Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania at his parents' house after weeks of investigation, and flown back to Idaho to face murder charges. He is accused of breaking into the student's off-campus apartment and fatally stabbing them.
Since he didn't verbalize one in court, a judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.
Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, and victims' families say the legal process has moved painfully slow for them.
