Bryan Kohberger, the suspect accused of killing four Idaho college students in an early-morning attack last year, chose to “stand silent” during his arraignment Monday.
Kohberger, 28, did not respond to the judge when asked about his plea, and his attorney indicated that he “stood silent.” Failing to answer, the judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
A trial date was set for Oct. 2.
Prosecutors have 60 days to file notice if they decide to pursue the death penalty.
Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for his arraignment in Latah County District Court on May 22, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho.
Zach Wilkinson/Pool via Reuters
Kohberger was indicted last week on charges that included four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, according to documents filed in Latah County District Court.
Prosecutors allege that Kohberger, a Ph.D. student in Washington State University’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, broke into a house where six University of Idaho students were staying early on November 13, 2022.
He is said to have killed Ethan Chapin, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. Two other students who were in the house at the time survived and were not treated as suspects.
In the months since the murders, prosecutors have presented evidence that included Kohberger’s white Hyundai Elantra that allegedly drove by the victims’ house several times before the murders, according to court documents.
Bryan Kohberger, right, appears at a hearing in Latah County District Court on Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho.
Pool via Getty Images, FILE
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The suspect’s cell phone had been on its way to Moscow but was turned off from 2:47 a.m. to 4:48 a.m., a time frame when the murders were committed, police said.
DNA matching Kohberger’s was found on a knife sheath left on one of the victim’s beds, officials said.
Kohberger, who is from Pennsylvania, drove cross-country after the semester ended. He was arrested Dec. 30 at his parents’ home in the Pocono Mountains. He agreed to be extradited to Idaho in early January.
Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar, who represented Kohberger in the extradition hearing, said in a statement at the time that his client “is eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these cases as soon as possible.”
ABC News’ Emily Shapiro, Mary Kekatos, Nadine El-Bawab, Aaron Katersky and Josh Margolin contributed to this report.
