Two Surprise Witnesses Revealed in Bryan Kohberger Murder Trial as August Date Nears

As the trial of Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in a brutal 2022 stabbing spree, approaches, two unexpected witnesses have been named—adding a new layer of intrigue to an already high-profile case that has gripped the nation.

Newly filed court documents in Pennsylvania have summoned William Searfoss and Anthony Somma to testify in the upcoming trial, scheduled to begin in August. While the documents do not indicate which side—prosecution or defense—has called the men to the stand, their backgrounds have sparked intense speculation about their possible roles in the case.

Kohberger, 30, was arrested in December 2022 at his parents’ home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, after a weeks-long nationwide manhunt. He is charged with the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, who were found stabbed to death in their off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. The shocking nature of the crime, along with Kohberger’s background as a PhD student in criminology at nearby Washington State University, has drawn sustained public and media attention.

A Correctional Officer and a Former Classmate

According to the court documents, William Searfoss is a correctional officer at Monroe County Correctional Facility, where Kohberger was held for five days after his arrest in Pennsylvania. Searfoss would have been present during Kohberger’s brief detainment before his extradition to Idaho to face charges. Though it’s unclear whether the two interacted directly, Searfoss’s potential testimony could shed light on Kohberger’s behavior, demeanor, or statements made while in custody.

In high-profile cases, jailhouse behavior—even over a short period—can be critical to shaping a narrative for jurors. The prosecution may be seeking to portray Kohberger’s mental state or attitude following his arrest, while the defense could attempt to demonstrate signs of mistreatment or constitutional violations during his brief imprisonment. Without knowing which side called Searfoss, the precise angle remains uncertain.

The second witness, Anthony Somma, is reportedly a former classmate of Kohberger from the Monroe Career & Technical Institute (MCTI), a Pennsylvania-based vocational school. According to information from his Facebook profile, Somma graduated from MCTI, where Kohberger briefly attended a youth law enforcement program as a teenager. A former school official has previously claimed that Kohberger was removed from the program after female students lodged complaints about him, though the nature of those complaints has never been made fully public.

Somma’s testimony could prove pivotal if it touches on Kohberger’s early behavior or any red flags raised during his youth—especially if the prosecution intends to build a psychological profile of the accused. Alternatively, the defense might present Somma to humanize Kohberger, challenging the earlier narrative and offering a more favorable perspective of his time at MCTI.

Questions Remain as Trial Nears

The inclusion of these two new witnesses comes at a critical juncture in the case, as both sides continue to shape their legal strategies ahead of the August trial. While much of the pre-trial attention has focused on forensic evidence, cell phone data, and Kohberger’s academic research into criminal behavior, the emergence of Searfoss and Somma introduces new variables into the equation.

Attorneys for both parties have largely remained tight-lipped about the purpose of these witnesses, and neither has issued public statements regarding the latest filings. Legal experts say it’s not uncommon for surprise witnesses to be called during the discovery phase, especially in a case with national scrutiny and multiple overlapping jurisdictions.

“These kinds of witnesses can be used in many ways—to establish character, provide context, or challenge the credibility of other testimony,” said former prosecutor Marsha Klein, now a criminal defense consultant. “What matters is whether the jury finds them believable and relevant to the charges at hand.”

The Long Road to Trial

Since his arrest, Kohberger has maintained his innocence, and his defense team has filed multiple motions seeking to limit or suppress certain evidence. In particular, questions have been raised about the legality of the DNA collection methods used to match Kohberger to material found on a knife sheath left at the crime scene.

Prosecutors allege that Kohberger stalked the victims before the attack and that his phone records place him near the home in the weeks leading up to the murders. Surveillance footage also allegedly places his vehicle in the area during the early morning hours of the killings.

If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty. The prosecution has already filed a notice of intent to seek capital punishment, citing the “especially heinous, atrocious or cruel” nature of the crimes.

For now, the court and the public await more details about the roles Searfoss and Somma may play in the unfolding legal drama. Whether their testimonies prove to be minor footnotes or crucial pieces of the puzzle will likely be revealed only in the heat of the courtroom.

As the nation watches, the case continues to raise disturbing questions—not just about what happened on that November night in Idaho, but about the man accused of orchestrating it and the people from his past who may now help determine his future.