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Kohberger defense team says it is ‘appalled’ by former expert’s public comments about Idaho murders case
A public rift has emerged between Bryan Kohberger’s defense lawyers and a hired expert witness following his guilty plea in the murders of four University of Idaho students.
In their first public statement made outside the courtroom since Kohberger’s arrest in December 2022, Kohberger’s lawyers have accused a former defense expert, the criminologist Brent Turvey, of violating a confidentiality agreement by speaking about the case.
“Mr. Turvey has not been released from his confidentiality agreement, and is now speaking about topics that are still confidential, many of which are outside of his areas of expertise,” reads a statement signed by Kohberger attorneys Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth and Bicka Barlow.
Turvey is a forensic scientist with a Ph.D. in criminology. In a fiery statement released Tuesday evening, Kohberger’s lawyers wrote they are “appalled” by his recent comments.
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“It is the opinion of the defense team that Mr. Turvey’s conduct falls outside of the ethical and legal norms that are applied to experts in criminal cases, and his reliability should be seen through the lens of this conduct,” they wrote.
Turvey has spoken with a number of news outlets in recent days, including Fox News Digital, after breaking his silence in a newly released book about the case by former FBI agent Christopher Whitcomb, “Broken Plea,” which revealed a defense assertion that there were serious problems surrounding the chief piece of physical evidence in the case.
In those interviews, Turvey discussed evidence he reviewed for the defense and internal disagreements over testing and strategy — prompting the rare statement from Taylor, Massoth and Barlow.
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However, he denied that he divulged any confidential information and alleged that Taylor’s office was under investigation in connection with the leak of confidential video before Kohberger’s guilty plea in violation of a restrictive gag order.
“Her press release comes as a bit of a surprise given that nothing confidential was revealed by me,” he told Fox News Digital.
In addition to denying having divulged any confidential material, he mentioned that Taylor’s office had been investigated in connection with a leak of investigative materials to Dateline last year. The prosecution team had also been investigated over the incident, and the court has not publicly identified the leaker.
“I know that the NBC evidence link was not me, and I’ve sworn an affidavit to that effect for the court’s administrative investigation which has been completed, but the results sealed,” Turvey said. “The most bizarre part of Anne Taylor’s press release is that she makes an allegation without being specific or providing any evidence. It’s not just false and unprofessional, it likely violates her own ethics as an attorney and the law if she is alleging a crime.”
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He said the things he’s been speaking about have been “buried in mass public disclosures.”
The major revelation in “Broken Plea” stems from a purported chain of custody problem with Kohberger’s Ka-Bar knife sheath, which had his DNA under the snap. It was not mentioned in Turvey’s expert report, which he said was filed before he learned of it.
The evidence bag appears to have been filled in twice — once on the bag itself, and later on a sticker attached to the front.
The earliest date visible on the bag is “11/14/22,” alongside the initials “BP,” likely belonging to lead detective Brett Payne. It was written over the evidence tape sealing the bag.
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The label, affixed sometime later, has six recorded exchanges between Nov. 13 and Nov. 16 written with a single pen in similar handwriting, according to Turvey.
Turvey maintains that should have made it inadmissible.
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Had Kohberger’s case gone to trial, prosecutors would have challenged his findings, which have not been evaluated by a judge or jury. Experts have downplayed the significance of his claims.
Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor, reviewed images of the chain of custody forms and said he didn’t see a significant problem for the prosecution.
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“What it could point to is that is a vulnerability in the case, so they take a plea,” he said. “They could have been concerned about losing a juror on that. On the other hand it’s very indicative of what you do when you have absolutely no defense, you put the procedure on trial, instead of the facts.”
Turvey said his rift with Taylor goes back to around the time of Kohberger’s plea deal. She had not pursued his chain of custody concerns or DNA testing he wanted for additional hair evidence.
“Until we had the first and only all team member meeting, the day after the plea agreement, we were in excellent terms and in a place of complete confidence and professional trust — as far as I was concerned,” he said. “Things took a dramatic turn during that meeting.”
He declined to discuss specifics, but said previously that the plea deal came as a surprise to him and despite his chain of custody concerns and a push to have additional DNA testing performed.
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Taylor did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Kohberger admitted to the murders of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on July 2, 2025.
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He took a plea deal that spared him from the potential death penalty. He forfeited his right to appeal. He gave no explanation for the crimes and sat emotionlessly through sentencing weeks later, as the victims’ families read scathing impact statements in court.
On the night of the murders, he searched Google for local police dispatch audio, according to public records tied to the case. He powered off his phone before the murders and turned it back on after them. While investigators found none of the victims’ DNA in his car after they seized it in Pennsylvania, an FBI analyst determined soil on a shovel found inside it matched dirt from the Moscow area.
“Truth be told, I’m unable to come up with anything redeeming about Mr. Kohberger,” Judge Steven Hippler said at sentencing. “His grotesque acts of evil have buried and hidden anything that might have been good or intrinsically human about him.”
Hippler handed down a sentence of four consecutive terms of life in prison with no parole, plus another 10 years.
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Four noncitizens charged with illegally voting in 2020, 2022 and 2024 federal elections in New Jersey
Four noncitizens were charged with illegally voting in multiple federal elections and making false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
According to criminal complaints filed in the District of New Jersey, each defendant allegedly cast ballots in at least one federal election, including the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections.
“Four individuals have been charged with illegally voting in federal elections and making false statements applying for U.S. citizenship,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X.
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“The individuals — all noncitizens — voted in elections including the 2020 Presidential election, 2022 midterms, and 2024 Presidential election cycles.”
Prosecutors identified the defendants as David Neewilly, 73, of Atlantic County; Jacenth Beadle Exum, 70, of Bergen County; Idan Choresh, 43, of Monmouth County; and Abhinandan Vig, 33, of Monmouth County.
They are accused of registering to vote in New Jersey while not U.S. citizens and falsely certifying their citizenship status on voter registration forms.
“This administration will not tolerate aliens who attempt to vote in our elections when they know they are not eligible,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.
“As alleged, these green card holders lied in order to register to vote and then lied again to immigration authorities by falsely claiming never to have voted in a federal election.”
Blanche added the Justice Department “will use every authority to protect the integrity of U.S. elections.”
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According to prosecutors, the defendants later falsely stated on naturalization applications that they had never registered or voted in federal elections.
“As alleged, the defendants broke federal law by voting in elections they were not eligible to participate in and then made false statements under oath to conceal that conduct,” U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said in a statement.
“Today’s charges reflect this office’s commitment to protecting the integrity of our election system and ensuring that those who attempt to circumvent both our voting laws and our naturalization process are held accountable.”
Neewilly was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and making false statements related to naturalization. He appeared April 22 before a U.S. magistrate judge in Camden.
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Choresh faces multiple charges, including voting by an alien in a federal election and unlawful procurement of citizenship. He appeared May 1 in Newark federal court.
Vig was charged with unlawful procurement of citizenship and appeared May 1 in Newark.
Beadle Exum faces charges of making false statements related to naturalization and unlawful procurement of citizenship. She also appeared May 1 in Newark.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Justice Department and FBI for comment.
Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands or even stand beside Israel Football Association Vice President Basim Sheikh Suliman during a tense exchange at the FIFA Congress Thursday.
Both officials were invited to the stage by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, but the Palestinian representative resisted efforts to bring him closer to his Israeli counterpart.
Infantino briefly placed a hand on Rajoub’s arm and gestured for him to step forward, but Rajoub did not comply.
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The Palestinian FA, led by Rajoub, has long pushed for Israel to be suspended from international soccer competition.
Rajoub defended his decision, saying he remains committed to formal processes but believes stronger action is needed.
“I still respect and follow the legal procedure, but I think it’s time to understand that Israel should be sanctioned. The double-standard policy should stop,” Rajoub said, according to The Times of Israel.
“I refused to shake hands. Sport is sport. … For me, that should be respected, but if the other side is representing a criminal like Bibi [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] and speaking on behalf of Bibi as if Bibi is Mother Teresa, how can I shake hands or have a photo with such a man?
“I think Gianni has the right to try to bridge gaps and bring people together, but I think maybe he does not understand or does not know the deep suffering of the Palestinian people.”
After the exchange, Infantino addressed the room, urging cooperation.
“We will work together, President Rajoub, Vice President Suliman. Let’s work together to give hope to the children. These are complex matters,” Infantino said.
Speaking just before the incident, Suliman emphasized the unifying role of the sport.
“In football, there is no place for politics,” Suliman said. “Everyone has the right to play and compete. We are teaching children values like respect, equality and love for others, and we hope that by the next time we meet, the situation will be better. We extend a hand to the Palestinian FA in the spirit of those shared values.”
UEFA was reportedly moving toward a vote to suspend Israel over the war in Gaza in September, but the motion was put on pause.
Infantino announced no action would be taken against the team on Oct. 3 after a historic peace proposal by President Donald Trump and Netanyahu.
However, even after the peace proposal, Israeli sports teams have faced opposition and exclusion.
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Father of teen allegedly killed by stepbrother on cruise says he can’t ‘relive’ trauma at murder trial
The father of a teen allegedly slaughtered by her stepbrother on a cruise is skipping the June murder trial, saying he simply cannot “relive” the trauma of discovering the girl’s body in her cabin.
“Unless they ask for me to be there, neither my wife or I will be attending,” Christopher Kepner, 41, told the Daily Mail.
“I’ve heard all the evidence. I saw it for myself. They have everything they need. It’s going to be too painful to relive it all again.”
Kepner’s 16-year-old stepson, Timothy Hudson, is headed to trial June 1 in Miami federal court on first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges in the Nov. 7 slaying. Timothy has pleaded not guilty.
In a harrowing account, Kepner described the moment his family vacation became a living nightmare.
“I checked her pulse. I pulled her out from under the bed,” Kepner said. “I knew my daughter was dead long before the medical examiner got there. I don’t want to be back in that room.”
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Authorities later ruled her death a homicide caused by “mechanical asphyxiation,” caused by “mechanical asphyxiation,” according to documents previously reviewed by Fox News Digital.
According to investigators, she was found under the bed in her cabin, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life jackets. The cabin was shared with her stepbrother.
Now, the family is working to remember the 18-year-old cheerleader from Central Florida affectionately called “Anna Banana.”
“We are celebrating Anna by keeping it all about her and doing the things she liked,” Kepner said. “We want to remember Anna how she lived — and not how she died.”
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If convicted, the teen faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
“I want to see him in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. He does not need to be free. He does not need to be in the general public, around any kids or women in general,” Kepner previously said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Timothy Hudson’s attorney for comment.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss,” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said. “A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a vessel in international waters. We will present the evidence in court and pursue this case with professionalism and care. As in every case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
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