Controversy Surrounds Demolition Proposal for House Where 4 University of Idaho Students Were Murdered

A proposal to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were tragically killed last year has sparked objections. The families of three of the victims have expressed their desire to preserve the house until after the trial of the suspect charged in the deaths.

According to the Idaho Statesman, Shanon Gray, an attorney representing Kaylee Goncalves’ family, stated that the university is disregarding the families’ requests to keep the house intact until the trial of Bryan Kohberger, scheduled to commence in October.

The bodies of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were discovered on November 13 of last year in the rental home located near the University of Idaho campus. Bryan Kohberger faces four counts of murder in connection with their deaths.

The property’s owner donated it to the university after the tragic incident, and earlier this year, the university announced its plans to demolish the house. Although no specific date has been set for the demolition, Jodi Walker, a spokesperson for the university, mentioned that they aim to remove the house before the fall semester begins.

Gray expressed her disappointment in an email to the newspaper, stating that the university sought the families’ opinions but proceeded to ignore them and pursue their own interests. Gray highlighted the significant evidentiary value of the home, considering it the largest and one of the most crucial pieces of evidence in the case.

The attorney added that the Mogen and Kernodle families also oppose the demolition until after the trial. It remains uncertain what position the Chapin family holds, as they did not respond to the newspaper’s request for comment.

Furthermore, Gray represents the Goncalves and Mogen families in tort claims filed against the university, the city of Moscow, and Idaho State Police. This step safeguards the families’ rights to sue the government entities if they choose to pursue legal action in connection with the deaths of their children.

The university claims to have maintained regular communication with the victims’ families since acquiring ownership of the house. In correspondence with Gray, university attorney Kent Nelson mentioned that neither the prosecution nor the defense objected to the demolition of the property. Nelson requested a compelling argument supported by relevant case law or rules that would justify deviating from the demolition plans. He set a deadline of June 23 for a response.

As of now, it is unclear whether Gray met the deadline for a response or what course of action will be taken regarding the demolition proposal.

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More about Demolition controversy

• Idaho Statesman – Source of the original article providing details on the controversy surrounding the demolition plans for the house.
• University of Idaho – Official website of the University of Idaho, where the tragic incident occurred.
• Idaho State Police – Official website of the Idaho State Police, one of the government entities involved in the tort claims filed by the families.
• City of Moscow – Official website of the City of Moscow, another government entity mentioned in the tort claims filed by the families.