T.J. Holmes, Amy Robach Lawyer Up for Possible Lawsuit ... Race Could Be a Factor
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ABC could be staring down the barrel of a lawsuit if it fires or pushes T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach out of their anchor jobs ... because we're told the 2 have lawyered up big time and if it comes to litigation ... race might be an issue.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... ABC has not clued in T.J. or Amy as to why they were taken off the air a month ago ... after their romantic relationship surfaced. We're told they're confused and frustrated why the ABC News brass at first told people internally there would be no disciplinary action, and then the company did an about-face.
Our sources say Amy has hired Andrew Brettler, one of the best civil lawyers in Hollywood, and T.J. has lawyered up with Eric George, a legal force who has handled numerous celebrity cases.
We're told Brettler and George want answers, which they are not getting so far. Our sources say if ABC keeps T.J. and Amy off the air or fires them, the lawyers are ready to file suit, and one of the issues involves race.
We're told the lawyers will pose this question to ABC ... "Has ABC ever used the morals or conduct clause to fire or discipline 2 consenting adults at equal levels when both were white?" The sources go on to say it would be telling if this is the first time ABC invoked the morals clause under these circumstances ... with a Black and a White anchor.
The sources go on to say the damages could be enormous if their reputations and careers are ruined as a result of discipline by the network.
One source says the only thing T.J. and Amy can think of regarding what ABC thinks they did wrong was not informing them of the relationship in a timely fashion. To that, the sources say ... "Are you supposed to inform your boss when you catch feelings?"
We reached out to ABC ... so far, no word back.
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Lisa Marie Presley Austin Butler's Globes Speech Goes Viral After Death ... Fans Call It 'Shockingly Sad'
Austin Butler's Golden Globes speech is suddenly carrying even more weight after Lisa Marie Presley's death ... because tears were shed as he told her he'd love her "forever."
As you know, Austin took home the gold Tuesday night for his portrayal of Lisa Marie's father, Elvis Presley ... and now that she's passed, his speech is going viral as social media users are even more touched by his words.
The actor went through his list of thank yous, before stopping to offer special gratitude to the Presley family -- specifically Lisa Marie and her mother Priscilla Presley, who were both in the audience. He thanked them dearly for opening themselves up to the project, adding "I love you forever."
Lisa Marie got really emotional during Austin's big win, and folks online took the moment to heart ... with one saying the exchange is "extra powerful now," and another calling it "shockingly sad."
TMZ broke the story ... Lisa was rushed to the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest Thursday morning.
Sources told us EMTs were able to regain a pulse before she was transported, but tragically was pronounced dead at the hospital.
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Ezra Miller Pleads Guilty To Trespassing ... Serving 1 Year Probation
9:08 AM PT -- Ezra Miller's attorney, Lisa B. Shelkrot, tells TMZ, "Ezra would like to thank the court and the community for their trust and patience throughout this process, and would once again like to acknowledge the love and support they have received from their family and friends, who continue to be a vital presence in their ongoing mental health.”
Ezra Miller has pled guilty to one count of unlawful trespassing stemming from their 2022 incident, allegedly stealing liquor bottles from someone's home.
According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the 'Flash' star agreed to a plea deal in a Vermont courtroom Friday in exchange for a reduced sentence. Miller's now ordered to cough up $500 and will do one year of probation -- no jail time.
Miller had originally been charged with burglary and petit larceny as well, but those charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.
Hollywood actor Ezra Miller appears in a Vermont courtroom, taking a plea deal related to burglary charges from 2022. Miller now agreeing to plead guilty to a lesser charge to avoid jail time. pic.twitter.com/4auObCD54y
— Dom Amato (@WCAX_Dom) January 13, 2023 @WCAX_Dom
If Miller violates probation for any reason, however, the court says the dismissed charges can be reinstated.
Ezra Miller Accused Of Burglary, Allegedly Stole Booze From Home
TMZ broke the story ... a homeowner lodged a burglary complaint with the Vermont State Police last May against Miller -- after several bottles of alcohol were reported missing while the homeowners were away.
Surveillance videos allegedly showed Miller to be the perpetrator, so Miller was charged with felony burglary.
As you know, Miller's been in a ton of legal trouble in the past year alone ... including getting aggressive with cops while getting cuffed during an arrest on the Big Island. They were also accused of grooming a minor and cuffed for disorderly conduct, harassment and assault in 2022.
Originally Published -- 8:29 AM PT
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Motown Legend Marvin Gaye's Son Allegedly Points Gun At Cousin ... Flees In Corvette, Police Investigating
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The son of Motown legend Marvin Gaye is under investigation for assault after he allegedly pointed a gun at his cousin in his L.A. home and then took off in his Corvette before police arrived, TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... sheriff deputies received a call around 8:05 PM Thursday for a "family dispute" and responded to the Calabasas home of Marvin Gaye III.
We're told Gaye got into an argument with his wife and cousin -- something about a previous assault, but details were sketchy.
The dispute escalated and Marvin allegedly pulled a gun on his cousin. Marvin then jumped behind the wheel of his sports car and sped off, our sources say.
When deputies first arrived on scene, they thought Marvin was still inside the house so they asked him to come outside, but neighbors told them Gaye had already left in his Corvette.
Deputies met with Marvin's relatives and took an "assault" report ... Marvin is identified as a suspect in the report. It's unclear if anyone was injured.
No arrests yet ... but the investigation is ongoing.
Gaye is perhaps best known for winning a $7.4 million lawsuit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for copyright infringement over their 2013 song, "Blurred Lines." In the suit, Gaye and his family accused the artists of using their legendary father's 1977 hit song, "Got to Give It Up," without permission.
The judge ordered Thicke and Williams to pay the more than $7 million judgment, but the amount was later reduced to $5.3 million.
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Lisa Marie Presley Dead at 54 After Cardiac Arrest
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Lisa Marie Presley has died according to family sources ... TMZ has learned.
Sources tell TMZ ... Lisa was pronounced dead at the L.A. area hospital where she was taken after suffering cardiac arrest Thursday morning.
TMZ broke the story ... Lisa was rushed to the hospital after her housekeeper found her unresponsive at her Calabasas home. Her ex-husband, Danny Keough, was there and performed CPR on her until paramedics arrived and took over -- they administered at least one dose of epinephrine during resuscitation efforts.
We're told EMTs were able to regain a pulse before she was transported to the hospital.
A rep for Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie's mother, tells TMZ ... "Priscilla Presley and the Presley family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Lisa Marie. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”
As you know, Lisa Marie's the daughter of Elvis and Priscilla ... born exactly 9 months after her parents tied the knot.
She became joint heir to Elvis' estate with her grandfather and great-grandmother after he died of a heart attack in 1977.
LMP followed in her father's footsteps, becoming a singer/songwriter and dropped her debut album, "To Whom It May Concern" in 2003. The record reached number 5 on Billboard's album chart, and earned gold certification.
She also had several high-profile marriages. While Danny was her first husband, less than a month after divorcing him ... she shocked the world by marrying Michael Jackson in 1994.
Shortly after their surprise nuptials, the couple shared a very famous -- and seemingly awkward -- kiss on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards.
MJ and LMP divorced after less than 2 years, and in 2002 she tied the knot with Nicolas Cage -- although, that marriage only lasted a few months before he filed divorce docs.
She walked down the aisle once more in 2006 when she married her guitar player Michael Lockwood -- with whom she had 2 children -- before filing for divorce in 2016.
Just this week, Lisa Marie and her mom attended the Golden Globe Awards to see Austin Butler score a win for his portrayal of the King of Rock n' Roll in the Baz Luhrmann movie, "Elvis."
Lisa Marie is survived by 3 children ... actress Riley Keough and twin girls Harper and Finley Lockwood. Her son, Benjamin Keough, died by suicide in 2020.
2022
She was 54.
RIP
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Shaq Settles TCU-UGA Bet ... Eats Frog Legs Live On-Air!!!
Shaquille O'Neal's clearly a man of his word ... 'cause after he bet he'd eat a frog if TCU lost to Georgia in the national championship -- he settled his debt live on television on Thursday night!!!
Shaq initially made the wager with his "NBA On TNT" co-host Ernie Johnson last week ... saying if UGA managed to pull out the victory over the Horned Frogs on Monday, he'd scarf down a plate of toad.
Georgia won the National Championship...
— Daily NBA Fantasy (@DailyNBAFantasy) January 10, 2023 @DailyNBAFantasy
This now means Shaq has to eat a frog 😂😂pic.twitter.com/sUuDsezeGG
The Dawgs ended up smacking TCU 65-7 ... and when it came time to pay up on the bet on Thursday's show, Shaq didn't shy away.
Ernie brought out a plate of what appeared to be multiple fried frog legs, and the NBA legend stuffed his mouth with them one by one as a nation of basketball fans looked on.
The Big Fella is a man of his word 👀@SHAQ really ate frog legs to settle his bet with EJ 🐸 pic.twitter.com/jKCVYYaSyi
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 13, 2023 @NBAonTNT
Shaq took bite after bite after bite -- while Ernie gloated with a Georgia helmet strapped to his head.
"I'm a man of my word," O'Neal said as he chomped away on the dish. "I'm a man of my word, Ernie."
Shaq had some fun with the guys on the set while finishing off the legs -- sticking a piece of the meal in his teeth while adding, "I just want to let ya'll know these frog legs are good!"
Jamal Crawford gets annihilated by popcorn as a nice welcome to the NBA on TNT shenanigans.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 11, 2023 @awfulannouncing
"Got him! Welcome! Welcome to the show!"- Shaq🏀🍿😂 pic.twitter.com/apH6YGw2wC
O'Neal is known to get the last laughs more often than not -- after all, he did just dump a load of popcorn on Jamal Crawford on a show earlier this week -- so, enjoy the one-up while ya can, E.J.!
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Elizabeth Holmes Must Enter Mental Health Program After Prison Sentence
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Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the failed blood-testing start-up Theranos, could be looking at a rigorous schedule even after she gets out of prison ... one that involves her completing a mental health program.
According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the specifics of the program will go down as directed by her probation officer, but Holmes will foot all -- or at least part -- of the bill.
The docs say Holmes must also cooperate in the collection of DNA, and must be willing to submit herself, her home, office, vehicle and all her property to a search if her probation officer has any reasonable suspicions she's violating the terms of her supervised release.
As we reported, Holmes was sentenced in November to more than 11 years behind bars and 3 years of supervised release. She has to report to the prison at the end of April.
You'll recall, she was convicted on 4 of the 11 charges she was facing in her fraud trial -- one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 3 counts of wire fraud.
She was charged after her start-up biotech company Theranos collapsed amid allegations she deceived investors, patients and advertisers ... all in search of money and fame.
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WWE's Alexa Bliss I'm Happy Logan Paul's Former Pet Pig Was Rescued ... Animals Need Love, Too!!
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WWE Superstar Alexa Bliss is overjoyed that Logan Paul's former pig, Pearl, has found a new home ... telling TMZ Sports all that matters now is that the animal is getting proper care.
As we previously reported, Logan took Pearl to a horse ranch in California before he moved to Puerto Rico a few years ago ... but sadly, after being rehomed again, the pig was found abandoned and in grave condition.
While many were quick to blame Logan for Pearl's state, the YouTuber made it clear he had no idea his beloved pet ever left the ranch ... nor did he know she was in terrible shape until the Gentle Barn animal sanctuary posted about her on TikTok.
The former women's champ -- who had a pet pig of her own for years -- spoke with us at LAX about the whole situation ... and she's not focused on who's at fault, but rather the fact Pearl is on the mend.
"Unfortunate as it is, I'm happy his pig was rescued and is in a better situation," Bliss says.
"As long as the animal is taken care of, that's all that matters."
Bliss goes on to give a bit of advice to anyone looking to get an oinker as a pet -- "mini" pigs don't exist ... and she'd know, considering her pet, Larry-Steve, a Vietnamese pot-bellied breed, weighed about 150-200 pounds!!
BTW -- Alexa's pig was a social media star, racking up nearly 90,000 followers on Instagram. Unfortunately, Larry-Steve died in 2021 after battling a severe illness.
As for Pearl, Logan has vowed to help Gentle Barn in any way possible ... and told TMZ he's hoping to assist with her care moving forward.
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'Milkshake' Singer Kelis 'Memba Her?!
New York City native and singer Kelis was just 23 years old when she went viral around the world with her 2003 hit song "Milkshake" -- a song that has since been a dance jam and is still popular amongst all ages to this day!
The banger was part of her "Tasty" album and also featured songs "Millionaire" featuring Andre 3000 and "In Public" featuring her ex-husband Nas. "Milkshake" became even bigger in 2004 after it was featured in the movie "Mean Girls."
Kelis has since stepped away from singing and is now living the farm life!
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Michael Bay Charged with Killing Pigeon On Italian Set ... Says It Didn't Happen!!!
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Filmmaker Michael Bay is now charged with killing a pigeon while directing a film in Italy ... but he's firing back, denying it ever happened under his watch.
The blockbuster director was hit with charges relating to the bird's death, which allegedly happened back in 2018 on the set of the Netflix flick “6 Underground."
However, sources connected to the production tell TMZ ... all the homing pigeons used in the film landed safely during filming.
One source told us, "Everyone knows Michael is an animal activist. This would never happen on his set. There are dozens of witnesses who said that this didn’t happen."
Italian officials say otherwise -- prosecutors claim the pigeon was killed by a dolly while Michael was filming in Rome ... where it is illegal to harm or kill wild birds.
Authorities say someone from the set saw the whole thing, and took a photo before reporting it to law enforcement.
The allegation isn't that Michael himself harmed the bird, but because he was the director ... he's being held responsible for the incident. Michael reportedly tried to get the case thrown out several times, but prosecutors persisted.
According to The Wrap, who broke the story, Michael was given the option to pay a small fine to settle the entire case, but he declined, saying he simply wouldn't plead guilty to harming an animal.
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Lisa Marie Presley Critical Condition, On Life Support, In Coma
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Lisa Marie Presley is in the Intensive Care Unit, on life support with a temporary pacemaker after suffering cardiac arrest ... sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ.
Our sources say Lisa Marie is in an induced coma and in critical condition.
Lisa Marie Presley Dead at 54
TMZ broke the story ... Lisa Marie was in full cardiac arrest Thursday morning, before paramedics arrived. We're told her housekeeper found Lisa Marie unresponsive in her bedroom, and just as the housekeeper made that discovery her ex-husband, Danny Keough -- with whom Lisa Marie lives -- returned home from taking their kids to school. He administered CPR until paramedics took over.
Paramedics gave her at least one epinephrine shot and her pulse was restored. She was then rushed to a nearby hospital.
Our sources say Lisa Marie had complained early Thursday morning of stomach pains, that got more and more intense. The sources wanted to make clear ... this was NOT a suicide attempt.
Lisa Marie's mom, Priscilla Presley and her daughter, Riley Keough, are at her bedside.
Story developing ...
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Andrew Callaghan Responds To Sexual Misconduct Claims ... Says Alleged Victim Asked For Money
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Andrew Callaghan, the "All Gas No Brakes" host and star of HBO's new documentary "This Place Rules," is responding to sexual misconduct allegations against him ... claiming one of the alleged victims asked him for serious dough before making her accusation public.
A legal rep for the journalist tells TMZ, "Andrew is devastated that he is being accused of any type of physical or mental coercion against anyone. Conversations about pressure and consent are extremely important and Andrew wants to have these conversations, so he can continue to learn and grow."
Adding, "While every dynamic is open to interpretation and proper communication is critical from all those involved, repeated requests for money should not be part of these conversations."
For those unaware, Andrew started getting heat on TikTok after a woman named Caroline Elise recounted an alleged incident between her and Andrew -- claiming he got her consent to sleep together by wearing her down.
A source with direct knowledge tells us Caroline requested money from Andrew, referencing the "fat check" he got from HBO for his documentary. She allegedly asked to be paid just minutes before the doc aired.
We're told Andrew didn't pay up, and Caroline uploaded the TikTok a few days later -- urging others to come forward, which is exactly what happened.
Andrew's legal rep tells us he vows to be better with balanced communication and improve himself, and wants to remind his audience that "while even one concerned partner is too many, there are always multiple sides to a story."
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Lisa Marie Presley Suffers Cardiac Arrest, Rushed to Hospital ... Ex-Husband Performed CPR
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1:43 PM PT -- A source with direct knowledge tells us it was Lisa Marie's housekeeper who found her unresponsive in her bedroom. At about the same time, Lisa's ex-husband, Danny Keough, got home from taking the kids to school and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Danny and Lisa have been living together for quite some time now.
1:19 PM PT -- Priscilla just arrived to the hospital to be by her daughter's side.
12:05 PM PT -- We're told Lisa Marie Presley went into "full arrest" ... our sources say someone administered epinephrine at the scene at least one time in order to help Presley regain a pulse.
Lisa Marie Presley has been rushed to a hospital after EMTs responded to her home for a possible cardiac arrest ... TMZ has learned.
Sources directly connected to Lisa Marie tell TMZ ... paramedics performed CPR Thursday at her house in Calabasas before rushing to a hospital. We're also told they were able to regain a pulse before she was transported.
It's unclear what her condition is at this point, but we know she's getting treatment in a hospital.
Lisa Marie, daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, was just at the Golden Globe Awards on Tuesday night in Beverly Hills. She and her mother were on hand to see Austin Butler win a Globe for his portrayal of the King of Rock n' Roll in the film "Elvis."
The 54-year-old singer and songwriter has 4 children, including actress Riley Keough and her son, Benjamin, who died by suicide in 2020.
She owned and operated the immensely lucrative Elvis Presley Enterprises until 2005, when she sold off all of the business. LMP is still the owner of Graceland, Elvis' famed Memphis estate.
Originally Published -- 11:47 AM PT
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Odell Beckham Jr. Blasts Critics After Plane Vid Surfaces ... 'Enjoy The 🧀 Board!!!'
Odell Beckham Jr. still ain't apologizing for his role in clearing out a plane back in November -- in fact, he's now blasting people who are criticizing him for the way he conducted himself ... even throwing out his famous cheese board diss again!!
OBJ fired off a series of tweets railing on his detractors on Thursday ... just one day after police released video which showed the actions that led up to him being booted off an American Airlines flight in Miami back on Nov. 27.
Odell spoke in vague terms in the social media posts ... but his message to his haters was clear -- get off my back about the incident.
"Can't address everything in this world, it's exhausting," Beckham wrote. "Errbody got an opinion on situations they weren't involved in. All u can do is kno who u truly are. Purell only kills 99.9% of germs…there's always gon be a lil left over."
He continued, "The one thing that no matter how much I've grown is still the hardest thing for me to do. Is let someone play wit my name. Period. For those tht kno me kno me, u kno exactly how I am. I really be koolin. But…..if u press that button and bring a certain energy. Do NOT be surprised when u get that same energy back."
"I kno who I am. Period. All the rest and opinions really don't matter to me."
Odell then capped off his rant by writing, "Have a blessed day and enjoy the [cheese] board!"
Of course, the charcuterie-themed line was the same barb he used on the plane ... when police video showed he got into an argument with a man who had been annoyed that officials were clearing out the ride to get Beckham off of it.
The footage showed Beckham called the guy "fat" -- before telling him, "Enjoy the cheese board on the way home with your ugly ass."
People have said Beckham acted unruly -- and seemed to be a jerk ... opinions OBJ now very obviously takes umbrage with.
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TikToker Waffler69 Viral Food Eater Dead At 33
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TikTok star Waffler69, known for eating tons of fast food and other bizarre items, has died ... TMZ has learned.
The food influencer, whose real name is Taylor, passed away Wednesday according to his brother Clayton, who believes Taylor suffered a heart attack.
Clayton tells TMZ ... Taylor was experiencing some discomfort and had called his mother, but things got worse, so he called for an ambulance to rush him to a hospital from his house in Louisiana. Taylor died at the hospital.
Clayton says Taylor's dad and grandfather suffered from genetic heart problems.
Clayton asks fans to keep Taylor's legacy alive by rewatching his content ... and also started up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs.
Taylor's known for eating a ton of wild and nostalgic food -- often putting the meals on top of a random VHS tape for an extra dose of nostalgia. He's chowed down on everything from massive fruit loops to octopus spaghetti, and even an "Addams Family" promotional cereal from 1991.
He garnered 1.7 million followers on TikTok, with a whopping 32.8M likes across the platform -- not to mention his success across Instagram, as well as YouTube, where he says he's been making content for the past 16 years.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
He was only 33.
RIP.
Bryan Kohberger Judge Orders No Bail ... Waives Right to Speedy Trial
9:24 AM PT -- Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Bryan's scratches are from shaving before court.
Bryan Kohberger is in no hurry to stand trial for the quadruple murder, and, not shockingly, the judge is ordering him to be held without bail until that trial.
He appeared in a Moscow, ID courtroom Thursday morning -- with apparent scratches on his face and wearing an orange jumpsuit -- as he waived his right to a speedy trial. The whole hearing was over after just a few minutes, and a preliminary hearing for the trial has been set for June 26.
Kohberger is accused of fatally stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in an off-campus rental home in Moscow, ID, on November 13. The three women lived at the house; Chapin was visiting.
Investigators had Kohberger on their radar nearly from the start ... two weeks after the homicides, police obtained several videos showing a white Hyundai Elantra cruising past the murder house several times before finally stopping at 4:04 AM.
About 20 minutes later, surveillance videos showed the car speeding away from the house. Police deduced that the Elantra had traveled about 10 miles away to Washington State University, where Kohberger was enrolled as a graduate student in criminology.
Cops then released a bulletin asking the public to be on the lookout for the Hyundai Elantra. A WSU officer spotted a vehicle matching the description parked in the driveway of Kohberger's home and ran the license plate ... turns out the car belonged to Bryan.
Police caught a few more breaks. One of the surviving victims -- who saw the killer up close during the bloody rampage -- described him as a man 5'10" or taller, not very muscular but athletically built with bushy eyebrows, wearing black clothing with a mask. Detectives obtained Kohberger's photo driver's license, which had a similar description, including bushy eyebrows.
Police pulled cell phone records, which showed Kohberger was on the move the night of the murders. He drove from the WSU campus at 2:44 AM and headed south through Pullman, Washington. His cell phone went dead for a period of time, then picked up again around 5:30 AM -- but only after the slayings. Police believe Kohberger deliberately disabled the phone to conceal his travels.
Investigators also found Kohberger's DNA on a leather sheath he allegedly left at the crime scene and matched it to his father's genetic profile through testing.
Police had retrieved the father's DNA from trash discarded at their family home in Pennsylvania. Bryan had been staying there while he was on Christmas break from school.
Kohberger was arrested on Dec. 30 after an FBI SWAT team descended on the PA home. He was later charged with four counts of murder and now faces a possible death sentence if convicted. Kohberger denies any wrongdoing and says he's fighting the charges.
Originally Published -- 8:21 AM PT