Did Bryan Kohberger Plan to Accuse Kaylee Goncalves’ High School Sweetheart of Idaho Murders

Bryan Kohberger agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors just days after a judge rejected his attempt to suggest possible alternate suspects in the murders.

Those proposed alternate perpetrators were first raised by Kohberger’s defense team in a sealed motion filed on May 16. While their identities were never publicly revealed in court filings, statements from the court and details from newly released documents indicate one of them may have been the ex-boyfriend of Kaylee Goncalves.

Ada County District Court Judge Steven Hippler wrote that three of the individuals Kohberger sought to name “were each socially connected to one or more of the victims, interacted with one or more of the victims at social events in the hours prior to the homicide, lived within walking distance of the crime scene, and were familiar with the layout of the victims’ home from prior social events.”

According to those court details, Goncalves’ former partner fit that description.

A recently released Moscow Police Department document notes that someone identified as J.D. “was scheduled to provide fingerprints at the [Idaho State Police] Lab in Coeur d’Alene at 1300 hours” on May 29 — just over a week after the defense filed its motion. In his June 26 order denying that motion, Judge Hippler said each of the individuals named by the defense “cooperated with law enforcement, providing DNA samples, fingerprints.”

In a November 16, 2022, interview with police, a friend of Goncalves identified as K.N. said she had dated J.D. “for a couple of years” and that they were high school sweethearts. Another friend, R.R., confirmed J.D. was her ex-boyfriend, adding that they had maintained a good relationship despite breaking up.

Unsealed records also show Goncalves and J.D. shared custody of her dog, Murphy, and that J.D. ensured the dog did not end up with animal control after the murders. Investigators confirmed J.D. fully cooperated throughout the case and was never considered a suspect.

Days after the judge rejected his motion, Kohberger — a former criminology student — confessed to killing Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20.

Three weeks later, he was sentenced to serve four consecutive life terms in prison.

The Idaho State Police and Moscow Police Department declined to comment.