Family of Idaho murders victim Kaylee Goncalves bite back at Bryan Kohberger's 'moon and stargazing' alibi, saying 'if it had weight, it would have been submitted months ago'

The family of Idaho murders victim Kaylee Goncalves have slammed suspected killer Bryan Kohberger's alibi, feeling that 'if it had weight, it would have been submitted months ago.' 

Kohberger's defense came under scrutiny this week after he submitted his alibi after months of delays, where he claimed he couldn't have committed the quadruple murders because he was out driving 'to see the moon and stars.' 

Prosecutors say his phone was turned off between 2:47am and 4:48am on the night of the murders of University of Idaho students Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. 

In response to the alibi filing, Goncalves' family pointed out that this means that if Kohberger disputes cellphone data - as his filing indicated he would - it would be 'either before or after the times of the murders.' 

'Hence, not really an alibi,' they said. 

The victim's family posted in response: 'We have been waiting on this information for months and it has finally arrived. 

'It is so hard not knowing anything about the case and you find you have to cling to dates, motions, and hearings in order to figure out anything.

'A big part of this has been waiting on the alibi information. 

'Now that it is here we feel even more confident in the prosecution of the defendant. The Defense’s claim is that [Kohberger] was driving late at night hiking/running and stargazing. 

'We are not sure why it has taken over a year for this to come out as those don’t seem to be complicated activities.

'We also believe that if this alibi had any weight it would have been submitted months ago. It also is in direct conflict with the Probable Cause affidavit that states that the defendant's phone was turned off between 2:47am and 4:48am. 

'So if the defendant was driving around and there is cell phone information that he was in a different place it would be either before or after the times of the murders. Hence not really an alibi.

'We continue to look forward to justice in this case and can now put this part of the proceeding behind us. Thank you for all your support for our family.'  

Goncalves' family have previously spoken out over their frustration at delays in the case, with Kohberger's defense attorneys accused of delay tactics that have seen the trial date pushed back to at least the spring of 2025. 

In December, after another previous delay, the Goncalves' mother Kristi said the ongoing process has been 'gut wrenching.'

'Why does this have to be so drawn out?' she questioned to KHQ. 'I can't believe that this is how it works.' 

On April 17, Kohberger, 28, claimed through his attorneys that he was out driving on the night of the quadruple killings on November 13, 2022 - as he often did to watch the night sky. 

In a newly released court filing, his lawyers said that his demanding schedule lecturing at Washington State University meant he didn't have time for his normal hobbies of running and hiking. 

Instead, he claims to have taken up driving at nighttime as a pastime, and says that phone records will show he frequently drove around the countryside near Wawai County Park in Whitman County. 

Prosecutors say they tracked Kohberger's phone to near the home where he allegedly murdered the students, however his attorneys also say they plan to present an expert on cellphone information to dispute this. 

Last year, Kohberger's legal team had claimed that he was out driving alone on the night of the murders, but declined to offer specifics. 

As the victim's families spoke out over ongoing delays, a judge ordered a Wednesday deadline to provide more details, after previously saying the excuse of driving alone was insufficient - branding it a 'so-called alibi.' 

Now, Kohberger's lawyers say they have further details of the alibi, but claimed that prosecutors haven't shared more discovery information as requested.

They claim that without the discovery evidence, the cellphone expert's testimony will 'also reveal that critical exculpatory evidence, further corroborating Mr. Kohberger's alibi, was either not preserved or has been withheld.' 

Kohberger is next due in court on May 14, when a judge will decide over a change of venue motion from his attorneys, who claim the fervent attention around his case in the area would impact jury impartiality. 

When Kohberger was arrested in December 2023, over a month after the slayings, cops said a key piece of evidence was a white Hyundai seen in surveillance footage driving to and from the site of the killings that matched Kohberger's car. 

However, Kohberger's alibi filing claims that cellphone expert Sy Ray will offer testimony that shows his cellphone did not travel towards the home, and 'thus could not be the vehicle captured on video.' 

Along with the surveillance footage, another key piece of evidence put forward by prosecutors is Kohberger's DNA allegedly found on a knife sheath left behind at the massacre. 

Kohberger's legal team have come under fire from the families of his alleged victims, amid claims they are using delay tactics to help his chances at trial, which remains in its preliminary stages over one-and-a-half years after the slayings. 

Although he was initially set to stand trial in the spring of 2024, the repeat delays saw a judge in February push the court date back to at least the spring of 2025.