Conflict of Interest: Accused Idaho Killer Bryan Kohberger’s Public Defender Represented Parents of Murder Victims
quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger appears in Idaho court with his public defender Anne Taylor
Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger’s public defender, Anne Taylor, also represented the victims’ parents.
Bryan Kohberger, 28, is accused of fatally stabbing 20-year-old Ethan Chapin of Conway, Washington; 21-year-old Madison Mogen of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; 20-year-old Xana Kernodle of Avondale, Arizona; and 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves of Rathdrum, Idaho on November 13.
murder victims from left: Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen
The killer murdered the victims around 4:17 am (between 4:00 and 4:25) based on testimony from one of the surviving roommates.
According to the court documents, Kohberger’s DNA was found on a tan leather knife sheath left behind on Maddie Mogen’s bed on the 3rd floor at the King Road Residence.
Bryan Kohberger is being represented by Anne Taylor, the chief public defender for Kootenai County.
Anne Taylor was assigned to the case since the four public defenders in Latah County were unable to represent Kohberger for one reason or another.
It turns out Anne Taylor previously represented parents of two of the murder victims.
Anne Taylor represented Xana Kernodle’s mother, Cara Northington, in a drug possession case.
Cara Northingon said she feels “betrayed” after Anne Taylor abruptly withdrew from her case earlier this month.
WATCH:
Anne Taylor also represented Madison Mogen’s father, Benjamin Mogen and his wife, Korie Hatrock for misdemeanor drug charges.
Inside Edition reported:
The public defender representing Brian Kohberger previously worked with the father and stepmother of murder victim Madison Mogen.
Court records obtained by Inside Edition Digital list Anne Taylor as a member of the defense team on criminal cases involving Benjamin Mogen and his wife, Korie Hatrock.
Inside Edition Digital previously revealed that Taylor had been representing the mother of Xana Kernodle in a court case but stepped down and assigned another lawyer in her place just hours after making her first court appearance alongside Kohberger.
Courts records show that Taylor served as counsel for Mogen in September 2020, when he was facing two misdemeanor drug charges.
Mogen eventually entered a guilty plea to one of the charges as part of a deal with prosecutors according to court records, and was sentenced to 90 days in prison.
Taylor worked with Hatrock as recently as June according to court records, and was part of her legal counsel after she was charged with one misdemeanor and two felony drug counts.
Criminal defense lawyer Mark Garegos and others weighed in the conflict of interest.
WATCH:
Judge Megan Marshall, overseeing the case against Kohberger, expanded the existing gag order last week.
The amended gag order “now restricts the remarks of attorneys for the victims, their families and witnesses – in addition to investigators, the prosecution and defense.” Fox News reported.
22 news outlets have formed a coalition to narrow the expanded gag order, the Associated Press reported.
“This order is unnecessarily sweeping and broad and severely impedes the public’s understanding of a significant criminal investigation that profoundly impacted the community,” said Josh Hoffner, national news director for The Associated Press.
