The demolition of the King Road house, the site of the crime scene where four University of Idaho students were murdered last year, took place in the early morning of Thursday, Dec. 28, during the university’s Christmas break. This led to an array of different reactions from current students at UI.
Despite the victims’ families issuing a statement that begged for it not to be done, the university still went ahead with the demolition as planned. The school aimed to reduce the effect of the demolition on students by scheduling the demolition to occur over the break, as opposed to during the semester.
Students had varying reactions to the news that the demolition had occurred over the break, ranging from strong agreement with the timing of the demolition and the need for healing to questioning if it was truly the right call.
Jorja Darrow, a sophomore at UI, gave her opinion as to why she believed it was a mistake.
“It was demolished a little too soon because it’s an ongoing investigation and the trial hasn’t even begun,” Darrow said. “I know they [the university] wanted to do it for healing purposes but I think it’s more important to have the evidence than tear it down.”
Darrow also expressed her concern about the potential lack of evidence, with a trial date for Bryan Kohberger not having been set thus far. She commented on how she thought the demolition of the house did not make a big difference in the healing process.
Samantha Shaffer, a senior at UI, had a varying point of view.
“The scene was already contaminated enough with how many people were in and out of there. I think it gave the parents a little bit of relief and resolution,” Shaffer said. “There is no resolution for the parents with a trial right now since it hasn’t started yet, and a jury wouldn’t even be able to go in there, so they would have to go off the pictures anyway.”
Shaffer continued to agree with the university as to how the destruction of the King Road house would only bring about more healing. She added that students do not need to be constantly reminded of what has happened.
“I don’t think we need a reminder [of the murders] up and still standing,” Shaffer said.
The demolition of the house was also remarked upon by Erik Brown, a former UI student.
“I understand their desire for healing within the student body, regarding what happened, but I’m more concerned with a suspect actually being convicted,” said Brown.
Brown described how he felt it made more sense to wait until a conviction happened to ensure there was no longer a need for the house and how he thought it would be smart to give the police and jury every chance to convict a suspect.
“Even if they are determined that they have gathered all the evidence they need, it would have made more sense to me to wait. I think that starting the trial would bring much more closure and healing than just tearing down the house,” Brown said.
Rebekah Weaver can be reached at [email protected].
Dale James McCracken
In a lot of crimes you really do have to wonder what the motive is. I am much more a disciple of the Innocence Movement than True Crime. With all due respect to Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Ethan Chapin in the tradition of Semper Fi I would die so that others could live, but I would violently object to killing the Innocent. Can anyone figure out a motive?
Dale James McCracken
Yeah Karen, it has to be a violation of Idaho State Code 18-2603 and a felony with a possible sentence of Five Years. WhoDoneIt has turned into another WhoDoneIt. Kohberger is going to have company even if he is the only one involved. However, I just can nazi how he did it himself. Did everyone - four fit young ppl - just line up. I doubt he had anything to do with it. For motive look up TH Morgan. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757926/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757926/
Peggy K Schunk
Healing is a hard word to attach to the situation. Lost to the jurors is the opportunity to walk through the house themselves and that is not insignificant until a conclusion has been reached. The familes wishes, well not united, ought to have been paramount.
MB Busmann
What were they to discover after the so many had trampled through the house? It wasn’t the same as when murders happened.
JWoodland
I do hope, they cleansed the house before demolition. Hoping their spirits are layed peacefully.
J Olsen
Wether the house is still standing or they turn the location into a memorial. It will forever be a tourist attraction. I just hope Bryan Kohberger doesn't get off free because the college had the house demolished. That was a horrible thing to happen to those young people and to their families and friends.
Karen
Well if they got the wrong guy they will never be able to charge anyone else….. why pay for security for over a year to demolish it? I’ve tried to find one case where a the crime scene was destroyed prior to trial and guess what l- there’s none! Congrats Idaho be proud…..
Debbie H
I’m glad it is gone. It was an in your face reminder of the horror. It is so disrupted that no more evidence can be gleaned anyway. Only some of the families wanted it to stay. Not all of them. It was a macabre tourist attraction. It needed to be gone. Leaving it would not accomplish anything.