Police investigating the Moscow college student homicides did not obtain search warrants in their handling of DNA from the crime scene — the critical, and perhaps only, piece of evidence that ties suspect Bryan Kohberger to the victims — and efforts to block it from his trial hinge on the novel argument they were legally

Determinations on the legal issues could have broad implications for crime-solving tactics, and how detectives must conduct themselves when they incorporate DNA evidence into investigations.

Bryan Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.