The new details appear in the case against Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of stabbing four students of the University of Idaho - WSVN 7News | News from Miami, weather, sport

(CNN) – More than two years after a quadruple homicide devastated Moscow, Idaho, a judge revealed the transcript of a recent hearing against Bryan Kohberger-the accused of stabbing four students in a house outside the campus.

The hearing, which was closed to the public, came after Defense Lawyer Anne Taylor claimed that investigators acted inappropriately when they used genetic investigation genealogy to try to isolate a suspect.

Genetic investigation genealogy, or IgG, is a relatively new forensic technique, which combines DNA analysis with genealogical research. Authorities can take the DNA profile of an unknown suspect and can load it into a public database to find out about the suspect’s family members. Investigators can use this information and other evidence to build a family tree and to identify potential suspects.

But the attempt to defend a judge to suppress the IgG evidence has failed. And Kohberger’s murder process will start this summer-with the criminal prosecution that has sought the death penalty if the 30-year-old is convicted.

Due to a broad order of Gag, prosecutors, defense lawyers and lawyers for the families and witnesses of the victims are forbidden to say something public, apart from what is already in public records.

Here are some of the new details revealed from the transcription of the hearings with closed doors:

Detective learned Kohberger’s name only after genetic genealogy

A lead detective in this case, the Moscow CPL police detective. Brett Payne said he had not heard the name of Bryan Kohberger mentioned until December 19, 2022 – more than a month after killings.

“This was the result of the investigative genetic genealogy that was undertaken by the FBI. I had a phone that night and we were told by Bryan Kohberger’s name, ”Payne confessed.

But IgG was not quoted in a probable cause

Payne acknowledged that he did not mention the genetic genealogy in a probable statement for Kohberger.

“What led to this decision?” Taylor asked.

“This decision was a collaboration decision,” the detective replied. “I made this decision in the effort to independently verify the information that was provided to us as a Tip from the FBI, in the same way that we would be any other advice in law enforcement. So it was in no way meant to obtain any kind of information, but we can simply validate Mr. Kohberger’s involvement in this incident or we cannot. That was it. “

“As a group effort, have you decided to leave it intentionally from your statement?” Taylor asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” Payne replied.

DNA of one person was detected on a knife sheath

DNA tests on parts of a knife sheath has detected a single source, said Rylene Nowlin, a forensic laboratory manager of the Idaho State Police.

The laboratory has tested samples from the knife sheath for the “touch DNA” – which can come in the form of skin cells that are poured on the articles that are touched.

An analyst has changed “the entire portion of the leather of the belt, both up and bottom, and then from the bottom of the button,” Nowlin confessed. “He did not do from the top of the button as he was determined to be the most likely place to find the fingerprints.”

Idaho authorities have traveled with DNA in Texas

Idaho State Police had a contract with the Othram Laboratory in Houston for certain types of forensic works, Nowlin said. Othram is specialized in DNA sequence combined with genealogy mapping.

“This DNA sample was delivered by the Moscow Police Department in Person at Othram Labs,” the director of the Idaho State Police Laboratory, Matthew Gamette, testified.

“I accompanied the officer from Boise to Houston and to the Othram Laboratory. I did not have the possession of the sample, but I was with the investigator who did it. “

After the Idaho authorities delivered the DNA sample, Gamette remained in touch with Othram “about what kind of analysis I asked them to make what kind of search,” he said.

“I remember that they have especially asked for consent to make certain types of search. We had to authorize things through the memoirs and what did not do certain searches, especially I think it was FamilyTedna for which they needed an authorization, ”Gamette said.

Many popular genealogical sites do not allow law enforcement searches

FamilyTreedna is one of the two main genealogical databases that allow law enforcement, Payne said.

Another genealogical database that law enforcement can use is GedMatch Pro, confessed GedMatch Pro, confessed genetic genealogist Leah Larkin.

“These are the only two databases of any significant dimension that allow the search (genetic genealogy of forensic investigation),” Larkin said.

“The ancestors forbid them, 23ands forbids it, Myheritage forbids it.”

Many of the largest genealogy sites are addressed to customers who simply want to know about their ancestors -and they may not want their DNA data to be used by law enforcement.

In recent years, after law enforcement have used some of the most popular genealogical sites for criminal investigations, many companies have changed the conditions of service.

An expert claims that authorities have used an unauthorized database

Othram, the laboratory company in Texas, stopped the work for case on December 10, 2022, Taylor said. “FBI took over and I heard that until December 19, nine days later, they made an identification,” the lawyer said.

This chronology is significant “because Othram’s matches were, as in their own words in their report, these matches were low,” confessed Larkin.

She mentioned that Othram recommended testing four brothers “to get more information”.

But “if you went out and if you approached those men and even if one of them said: Yes, you can test my DNA, the test itself would have taken some time; Obtaining a kit to a person, obtaining the spit, sending him to the laboratory, considering. And he would not have led to the profile of the crime scene, because it was a branch of the wrong family, ”confessed Larkin.

“So you move from small matches to an ID or at least one tip, whatever it would call it, in nine days, he told me that they entered a database in which they should not be.”

CNN addressed the FBI for a response to the accusation that he had improperly used a genealogical database. Prosecutors did not respond directly to this request during the meeting.

Larkin said he also saw “screenshots from Gedmatch” in E -mail communications.

Unlike the Gedmatch Pro, which is smaller and allows law enforcement searches, “Gedmatch is just a super open database” and does not allow searches for criminal investigations, said Larkin. Gedmatch has many more users and “any kit in the system that is public, you can see their matches.”

“So if you are in Gedmatch and I am in Gedmatch and say we are summers, I could enter and watch my kit and I would see you in my list of matches, but I could also enter your kit and to I see in your list of matches, ”confessed Larkin.

In Gedmatch Pro, law enforcement may not see the same matches.

Finally, the FBI “acknowledged that they were loaded to Myheritage” – a database within law enforcement limits, Larkin said, citing a document shared with the court.

What happens next

Kohberger’s process will start in August and will take several months. Prosecutors said they would request the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted.

Meanwhile, the families of victims Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin continue for a long time waiting to learn the suspect’s fate.

But Goncalves’s family expressed the relief that the judge did not suppress the evidence of genetic genealogy.

“We are grateful to the court for a timely decision and we appreciate that the work (The) has been put so far,” the family posted on Facebook last week.

“In the overall image of life, justice is only a few moments.”