The Coeur d’Alene defense attorney representing Idaho student murders suspect Bryan Kohberger had until recently been assigned to defend the mother of one of his alleged victims, court records show.
Kootenai County Public Defender Anne Taylor had previously been assigned to represent Cara Kernodle, the mother of 20-year-old victim Xana Kernodle, prior to Kohberger’s arrest on Dec. 30 in an unrelated drugs possession case.
Court records show she withdrew on Jan. 5, the same day as Kohberger’s initial appearance before an Idaho judge, and has been replaced by attorney Christopher Schwartz.
Schwartz did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The victims of Nov. 13 University of Idaho massacre, from left to right: Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen.
(Instagram @xanakernodle / @maddiemogen / @kayleegoncalves)
Taylor was appointed Kohberger’s provisional defense attorney shortly after his arrest – and became his official public defender at his first appearance in the Latah County Courthouse after he waived extradition in Pennsylvania and returned to Idaho.
He had been arrested at his parents’ house in Pennsylvania’s Poconos Mountains more than six weeks after the alleged crimes, and police said they recovered DNA from a trash can there that was a familial match toe DNA found on a knife sheath left near one of the victim’s bodies.
Bryan Kohberger enters a courtroom in Moscow, Idaho January 12, 2023 for a status hearing. The accused murderer waived his right to a quick preliminary hearing and will appear in court again on June 26.
(Kai Eiselein/Pool)
Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and a felony burglary charge after police allege he entered a home on King Road in Moscow and ambushed four University of Idaho students there – Kernodle, her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, and two 21-year-old housemates, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.
Defense attorney Anne Taylor joins investigators visit King Road crime scene on January 3, 2023. The house was the scene of a quadruple homicide in November last year, the victims all being students at the University of Idaho. Taylor will be defending Bryan Kohberger who is charged with the murder.
(Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
IDAHO MURDER VICTIMS’ ROOMMATE HEARD CRYING, SAW MAN IN MASK NIGHT OF KILLINGS: COURT DOCS
The attacks came around 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, according to authorities, and Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt previously said at least some of the victims were likely asleep at the beginning.
Bryan Kohberger escorted to court in Pennsylvania prior to his extradition back to Idaho to face charges in the deaths of Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. Inset: Kohberger’s WSU portrait and the last known image of the victims together
(The Image Direct for Fox News Digital, WSU, Instagram)
Two other housemates were unharmed — including one who police say witnessed a masked man with “bushy eyebrows” flee after the killings. Goncalves’ dog also survived the attack – and police later said they found possible animal hair while serving a search warrant at Kohberger’s apartment in Pullman, Washington, less than 10 miles away from the crime scene.
Kohberger, a Washington State University doctoral student, had been stalking the King Road home for weeks, according to a probable cause affidavit.
His cellphone pinged near the house at least a dozen times before the murders and once the morning after.
University of Idaho victims Madeline Mogen and Xana Kernodle.
(Instagram @xanakernodle)
IDAHO MURDERS VICTIM KAYLEE GONCALVES HAD REPORTED POSSIBLE MISSING WOMAN SIGHTING TO POLICE
Taylor revealed at a Jan. 12 appearance that her client intends to challenge the evidence against him but waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing.
Latah County Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall scheduled the proceedings for the last week of June, and they are expected to take four to five days.
WATCH: Moscow police bodycam shows Xana Kernodle speak with officers during noise complaint response
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Prosecutors could speed up the timeline by seeking a grand jury indictment instead of waiting until the preliminary hearing to prove probable cause, experts have told Fox News Digital.
The court has issued a gag order barring attorneys and investigators from commenting on the case.
Kohberger is being held without bond and could face the death penalty if convicted.
