Idaho College Murders: FBI Agents ‘Interrogated’ DNA Witness About Contradictory Testimony, Kohberger Defense Lawyer Reveals

An Idaho prosecutor has called in the Federal Bureau of Investigation after a genetic genealogy expert testified during Bryan Kohberger's recent hearing and provided “contradictory testimony."

Following the alleged revelation, the FBI tracked down the expert, Danielle Vargas, to question her, as reported by Kohberger's defense lawyers, according to Knewz.com.

Kohberger's lead attorney, Anne Taylor, informed the court that "last night [Vargas] was visited by two FBI agents and interrogated about her testimony and the findings of her declaration."

According to CrimeOnline, Taylor argued that this development directly impacts Kohberger's due process rights.

Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson stated, "When we heard of that, I reached out to investigators and asked: 'Can you find out what is going on?'"

The FBI subsequently launched an investigation, and, according to reports, Vargas claimed that she unintentionally overlooked certain details in her declaration that she had agreed to or signed without fully reading.

While Kohberg's defense is unhappy with the treatment of a key witness, other experts feel that there is nothing questionable about the federal law enforcement agency’s conduct.

Fox News quoted another legal expert's opinion: "I don't think it's entirely unusual for prosecutors to direct their investigators/agents of law enforcement to follow-up with a witness," said Edwina Elcox, a Boise-based defense attorney who is not connected to the case. "Unless something untoward happened, mere contact and follow-up…is certainly not out of bounds."

Bryan Kohberger, a Ph.D. criminal justice student at Washington State University, was arrested in December in Pennsylvania for the fatal stabbing of Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Kaylee Goncalves at an off-campus home on November 13, 2022.

Police believe that he turned off his phone during the murders but it is alleged that he visited the area 12 times before the slayings occurred.

Kohberger was arrested after a cross-country trip with his father from Idaho to Pennsylvania.

During the ride, the pair were stopped twice by Indiana police.

The defendant currently faces four counts of first-degree murder and burglary and prosecutors have filed court documents expressing their intent to pursue the death penalty, as they believe the four slayings were "especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel."

Kohberger, who is considered a flight risk, remains behind bars without bail.