Travis Richards
BONNEVILLE COUNTY (KIFI)- Idaho State Police and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office are responding to a crash closing parts of I-15, according to Sergeant Bryan Lovell of the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.
Southbound I-15 is closed from Exit 116 at Sunnyside Rd. to Exit 113 at 66th S.
Law enforcement urges all drivers to drive with caution and to avoid the area.
Linda Larsen
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Victor Perez, the 17-year-old disabled teen shot by Pocatello Police, has been declared clinically brain dead, according to the autistic teen’s family. The Perez family has now reached the difficult decision to take Victor Perez off life support tomorrow morning in response to the diagnosis.
In the hours following the announcement, the father and son who made the 911 call leading to the incident have expressed their grief and heartfelt apology to the victim’s family.
On most days, you can find father and son Brad and Bridger Andreas working together in the auto repair shop. On Saturday, they were doing just that. They had the garage door open, enjoying a nice spring day, when they noticed a disturbance in a neighbor’s backyard behind the shop.
“It was getting out of hand, and it didn’t look like they were able to get things under control,” said Bridger Andres.
The Perez family had been enjoying an afternoon barbeque that day when Victor got a hold of a large kitchen knife. Victor has been diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy, and according to the family, the teen was prone to behavioral outbursts.
The family says Victor had a similar outburst during their family barbecue, as the teen took a kitchen knife and threatened family members. They repeatedly tried to get the knife away from him. Because of his inability to walk, he was mostly lying on the ground.
Seeing the Perez family struggle to get the knife from Victor, Brad Andres began to call the police.
“My intent when I made that 911 call is ,’I see somebody across the street with a knife. I don’t want anybody to get hurt,” said Bridger. “I wanted police to show up, talk to the man, and de-escalate. They did the exact opposite of that.”
Within seconds of the officers’ arrival, the situation escalated to a tragic conclusion. Victor Perez was shot nine times and had to be revived on the scene.
911 caller faces online death threats
“I definitely do feel a sense of responsibility,” Bridger told Local News 8. “Here’s how I look at it. If I didn’t make the 911 call, none of this would happen.”
The public outcry against the way the police handled the scene has been intense, with some people striking back at Brad and Bridger for calling the police. Even more disturbing, Bridger has received multiple death threats via social media, accusing him of being responsible for Victor’s injuries.
“I have people from all over the country saying, I’m going to come and go do your work, and I’m going to hurt you,” said Bridger. “I’m going to come and jump you. I’m going to make you learn.”
Shared grief between neighbors
Riddled with guilt about what happened, the father and son say they wanted to talk to the family.
“Like I said, I feel the guilt of it,” said Bridger Andres. “And going over there is like, hey, yeah, I made the call that now put your son into this situation. And I’m sorry.”
It was during Local News 8’s interview with Victor’s aunt Ana Vazquez regarding the 17-year-old’s condition that Brad and Bridger approached the family fo the first time and apologized for what had happened.
In a short conversation, the father and son quietly embraced the grieving aunt and asked if she was doing okay. And when Vazquez answered in an inevitable and resounding ‘no,’ the pair supported her in her grief.
“I believed terrible things when I made that call,” Brad Andres told Vazquez. “I believed they were trained. I believe somebody talked to all those officers and told them how to deal with this. And I’m so sorry.”
According to Pocatello Police, their officers believed that Victor was intoxicated and dangerous as they approached the family’s home, partially due to the initial 911 call.
In his short talk with Vazquez, Brad Andres apologized profusely for his part.
“I know Victor was not drunk. In my life experience, I look at someone acting that way, and that’s what I thought I could have been, and I’m sorry for accusing that,” said Andres.
In response, Vazquez told the pair the call wasn’t the problem.
“The problem is that the police acted based on the call,” Vazquez told Andres. “How can you react based on the call? …I have family that works in police as a federal, as a correctional, as a state police, and all of them, as soon as they come to a place, they ask, what is this situation? And they (the Pocatello Officers) didn’t.”
“It was all there. It was all obvious,” agreed Brad Andres.
“Well, the police looked like they don’t care. They don’t care,” said Vazquez with finality.
Nothing can change what happened, but the hope is to take steps to ensure that it never happens again.
Pocatello Mayor responds to Perez health update
As word broke of Victor’s condition, Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad sent out the following statement:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time. We recognize the pain and grief this incident has caused in our community,” said Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad.
Mayor Blad has faced increased online criticism in the days following the officer-involved shooting, which left a non-verbal 17-year-old with autism and cerebral palsy, Victor Perez, in critical condition. Blad only recently addressed the incident in a recorded statement released the Thursday following the shooting.
However, Blad has confirmed that the four officers involved in the incident were immediately placed on administrative leave following the incident. He says the city will release the police body camera footage in the coming weeks.
For more details on Mayor Blad’s response, click HERE.
Vigil moved up as the community grieves with Perez family
For members of the community who wish to attend, the time of the candlelight vigil supporting the Perez family has been changed.
The vigil will now be held at 9 AM, Saturday, April 12. Victor will then be taken off life support after the vigil is finished.
Ariel Jensen
REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – Thousands packed the Brigham Young University-Idaho campus in celebration of their spring 2025 graduation.
“I was really excited to be part of this. I had a lot of fun, and I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time,” said Robert Muhldstein Professional Studies graduate.
A total of 2,403 students received their diplomas Friday afternoon, April 11, 2025.
Over 700 of them were online students.
This year’s commencement speech was given by Elder John C. Pingree Jr, a General Authority Seventy for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Students were excited to have achieved this milestone.
“I’m excited and happy to have all my family here to support me and excited to move on to the next thing and close this chapter,” said Kazel Flameling Accounting graduate.
451 of this semester’s graduates began their education after the age of 30.
Seth Ratliff
JACKSON, Wyoming (KIFI) – The Teton County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for videos or photos of an incident at the Jackson Hole Resort Rendezvous Music Festival. According to the Sheriff’s Deputies, during the event, a male trespasser refused to leave and became combative with event staff.
Around 7:20 PM, Deputies were called to a trespassing incident at the event, according to a post on the TCSO Facebook page.
Event staff had asked the individual to leave, but the trespasser “became combative with event staff,” according to the post. The trespasser had to be subdued by law enforcement after refusing to leave the venue; Deputies placed the suspect under arrest and escorted him off the property.
“If you have any footage as described, please call Sergeant John Faicco at (307) 773-4052,” TCSO said in the social media post.
For information or to contact the Sheriff’s Office, click HERE.
Curtis Jackson
DAY 3 UPDATE:
PHOENIX (KIFI) – Lori Vallow Daybell questioned the woman who met with her late husband the night before he died.
Nancy Jo Hancock testified in the Lori Vallow Daybell’s murder conspiracy trial in Phoenix on Wednesday.
Hancock said she met Charles Vallow on an LDS dating site about a week before he was killed. She said they met for the first time for dinner the night before he died. She said they discussed many topics, including meeting JJ the next day, Lori’s and Charles’s expected divorce, and briefly discussing changing his life insurance plan.
They made plans to meet on July 11, 2019, but he never answered after sending texts to him. It wasn’t until December when she learned of his death on the news.
“I was watching the TV and it was talking about a case and his picture came on the screen, and I…shocked was an understatement,” Hancock responded when asked how she learned about his death.
In Lori’s cross-examination, Lori questioned their relationship and how she met Kay Woodcock and her brother, Adam Cox.
“Can I go back and change how I met your brother? I forgot this until right now. So, on a dating app, your brother’s picture came up on my dating app. And I sent him a message and said. But he had a different name that he used, not Adam. And so, I just sent him a message and said if he was going to use someone else’s pictures, he should probably pick someone different than Adam Cox,” Hancock said. “That’s how I met him,” she said.
“That’s how you met my brother Adam?,”asked Lori.
“Correct,” said Hancock.
“Do you know what perjury is?” Lori asked.
“Absolutely, Yep,” Hancock answered as the prosecutor said, “Argumentative.” In which the judge agreed.
Prosecutors called Christina Atwood to the stand. She was a friend of Lori when they lived in Arizona.
Prosecutor Treena Kay asked Atwood about meetings she attended about dark spirits and how Charles may be possessed by one.
After a meeting on June 9, 2019 meeting, Atwood said she was uncomfortable because of a conversation with Lori and Alex Cox. Cox stated he wished he could kill Charles. Atwood said Lori mentioned she would crush some of JJ’s medicine and put it in Charles’ drink mix.
She told Lori if anything happened to Charles she would go to police. Lori said they were being silly and meant nothing by it.
Lori Vallow Daybell did not question Atwood for cross-examination.
The trial will continue on Thursday morning, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Pacific time (11:30 a.m. Mountain).
ORIGINAL STORY:
PHOENIX (KIFI) – The Lori Vallow Daybell murder conspiracy trial resumes on Wednesday.
Vallow Daybell is accused of conspiring to kill her then-husband, Charles Vallow.
It’s expected that Vallow Daybell, who is representing herself, will continue to question retired Chandler Police officer, Daniel Coons. On Tuesday, Coons described the shooting scene at Charles Vallow home.
Charles was shot by Lori Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, in July 2019. Cox said he shot Charles in self-defense when he was hit with a baseball bat.
Coons answered questions about a diagram of the scene and evidence found at the scene. Coons confirmed there was no biological material found on the baseball bat Cox claimed Charles hit him with.
Lori Vallow cross-examined Coons asking several questions about the gunshots.
You can watch the trial proceedings above.
Wednesday’s testimony is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Mountain). Per the judge’s order, the live feed must be delayed by 30 minutes.
CNN Newsource
By Lauren del Valle and Jean Casarez, CNN
(CNN) — A judge in Idaho is set to make decisions about what evidence can and cannot be submitted at the upcoming death penalty trial of Bryan Kohberger, who’s accused of murdering four University of Idaho students in November 2022.
Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. Not guilty pleas have been entered on his behalf.
In a marathon hearing Wednesday, Judge Steven Hippler heard arguments from both sides about evidence they think the jury should or should not see at Kohberger’s trial, which is set to start in August.
Issues at the heart of Wednesday’s arguments included defense theories on alternate suspects, Kohberger’s Amazon purchase history and his autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.
The judge made a few decisions during the hearing, but said he will issue final rulings on a collection of outstanding motions in written orders soon. The parties are due back in the courtroom for a pretrial hearing May 15.
Here’s what we learned from the nearly eight-hour hearing:
A tip says they have the wrong guy, defense says
Lead defense attorney Anne Taylor said at the hearing that she’s planning to call an expert witness who will say it’s likely that two people committed the crime with two weapons.
She didn’t expand on the theory but later said she’s also chasing a lead on an alternate suspect.
The lead was buried in thousands of tips collected by law enforcement that Taylor said she’s still combing through.
“We came across a tip that would appear to be an alternate suspect and we’re trying to work through that as rapidly as we can,” Taylor said. “It was quite a surprise to come up with that. There’s got to be more in there that I need to know were disclosed.”
The tip was brought up as Taylor argued that the judge should take the possibility of the death penalty off the table for Kohberger because there’s too much discovery that the defense team can’t get through before the August trial.
Kohberger’s legal team has previously said it plans to present evidence of alternate perpetrators ahead of trial. On Wednesday, Hippler said he’ll set a May deadline for the defense to present that evidence because waiting for it to come up at trial would be too late.
Prosecutors can show Amazon knife purchase at trial
State prosecutors are expected to present trial evidence that Kohberger’s DNA was recovered on a knife sheath found on the bed next to Mogen’s body at the crime scene.
Judge Hippler said Wednesday over defense objections that the government can call an expert witness to testify about Amazon data they say reveals that Kohberger bought a knife with a sheath and sharpener made by the same company as the sheath found at the crime scene. The expert can also address a product search for the same items soon after the murders.
He also said the defense can make its own assertions to the jury that the online shopping data for the account, which Kohberger shared with others, could show the items were bought by someone else.
“The defense is entitled to challenge the data in terms of does it really show who bought it, what else did they buy, in what circumstances,” Hippler said.
Jury may not hear ‘bushy eyebrows’ description
One of the surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen, who has said she saw a masked man wearing all black in the home around the time of the murders, described the intruder as having “bushy eyebrows.”
Kohberger’s defense team on Wednesday called her an unreliable eyewitness, arguing prosecutors shouldn’t be able to mention that description because Mortensen’s recollection has been inconsistent, muddied by intoxication and post-event media exposure.
Mortensen didn’t initially mention the description until law enforcement asked her if she recalled anything about the person’s eyebrows in her second police interview, defense attorney Elisa Massoth said.
Mortensen has also acknowledged to law enforcement that she had been drinking since the morning that day and has said she “felt like she was in a dream state, frozen shock, fuzzy and cloudy,” Massoth said.
Prosecutors have stressed the importance of Mortensen’s testimony as the only living person to see the intruder.
“(Mortensen) is the only living individual who saw the person responsible for these four homicides,” prosecutor Ashley Jennings said Wednesday. “Her description of the male, including any characteristics, including bushy eyebrows is relevant to the identity of the killer. It is prejudicial, but it’s not unfair.”
The judge said he’d have to think about it.
The attorneys also debated what cell phone activity from Mortensen and the other surviving roommate, Bethany Funke, in the hours around the murders should come in at trial. The defense, echoing previous court filings, said the judge should consider all the data that shows the two were on their phones for hours before they eventually called 911 just before noon November 13, 2022.
The judge did not make a ruling but said he wants to hear the expected trial testimony from Mortensen and Funke. He also acknowledged that people in their age group use social media to communicate more than older generations and that should be considered.
“My experience with that age group has shown that where you or I might phone somebody, others might check out their social media to see where they’re at or what they’re doing … and so understanding how they’re using those apps is also important,” Hippler said.
The judge also said he’ll likely allow the jury to hear most of the emotional 911 call Mortensen and Funke made with two other friends who came over to help them that morning.
Kohberger’s autism spectrum disorder might come into play
Kohberger’s defense team wants to tell the jury that he has autism spectrum disorder during opening statements in the first phase of the trial – a condition they say will explain what might be perceived as odd behavior as he sits at the defense table.
“Aside from his flat affect, piercing stare, stiffness, holding still, when emotional evidence or picture evidence comes in that a neurotypical person will react to he will not react, and that is only because he has a physical disability that prevents a neurotypical reaction. It would be unfair for him to be judged for that, given his disability,” Massoth said.
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that can affect how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
His diagnosis is expected to come into play during the penalty phase, should the jury convict him, but his lawyers say the panel needs the information to decide if he’s guilty.
Prosecutors disagreed, and though the judge said he understood the defense’s concern, he wasn’t sure how to approach the issue given legal precedent.
A jury is typically instructed only to consider evidence presented at trial and the credibility of witnesses who take the stand – which implies they shouldn’t consider anything about Kohberger’s demeanor at the defense table.
His attorneys have repeatedly said it’s unlikely that he’ll take the stand in his own defense because of his diagnosis.
The defense has also said Kohberger’s autism diagnosis should disqualify him from the death penalty. “He has no ability to understand and help us develop a case for him for mercy,” Massoth said.”
She argued that his behavior in the courtroom could get him sentenced to death.
“This is important because of the impact that jurors assign and give tremendous weight to perceived remorse or the lack thereof,” Massoth argued.
Prosecutors opposed the motion, pointing to a lack of legal precedent. Hippler said he’d take the matter under advisement and issue a written opinion.
Kohberger wants his family at trial, but they might be witnesses
Kohberger wants his parents and two sisters in the courtroom for his capital trial, but prosecutors have said they may call some of them as witnesses.
The state hasn’t said who they plan to subpoena, but if the relatives are subpoenaed, they would not be allowed to sit in the courtroom listening to trial evidence until they take the stand – something the defense has warned could prevent them from supporting Kohberger in court if they are called late in the trial.
The presence of Kohberger’s family in the courtroom could be an important signal to jurors that the suspect has a support system, Elisa Massoth said.
“From the minute this trial begins, the jury is going to study Mr. Kohberger and they are going to figure out who is in this courtroom sitting behind him to support him,” Massoth said, noting the family “has no desire to be used as witness against him.”
The judge asked prosecutors to consider “humanity” as they plan their case. He suggested any of Kohberger’s relatives could be called early in the trial – which is expected to take at least three months – so they could sit in the courtroom for the majority of the proceedings after they’ve testified.
“I can only imagine the family of Mr. Kohberger is devastated by these things,” Hippler said. “I think their ability to be here to see the trial is important.”
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Linda Larsen
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – An autistic teen with physical disabilities continues to fight for his life after being shot nine times by Pocatello Police Officers over the weekend.
Victor Perez at home: Photo courtesy of the Perez family.
According to his family, 17-year-old Victor Perez is currently in a coma and hooked up to a ventilator. They say doctors are testing his brain function, but the 17-year-old has died twice and had to be revived.
“Even if he has brain damage,” said Victor’s aunt, Ana Vazquez. “We’re not going to unplug him or anything because we love him a lot.”
Perez is receiving care at the Portneuf Medical Center, where the teen has undergone 3 surgeries, including the amputation of his left leg.
The Perez family has confirmed the teen is in critical condition.
Protect Our Youth – Change.org petition
In the wake of the shooting, videos of the incident have circulated on social media, sparking outrage and accusations of police brutality. The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force has launched an investigation of the shooting, spearheaded by the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho State Police.
After the preliminary investigation is over, evidence will be turned over to an area prosecutor, who will continue to look into the incident, according to ISP.
However, several members of the Pocatello community have expressed distrust in the investigation. Some are calling for an independent investigation to “ensure all evidence is reviewed.”
As of 4:30 PM, an online petition calling for an independent, full-scale investigation into the shooting has already gained 1,637 signatures.
“The shooting of a young boy in Pocatello, resulting in life-altering injuries, is unacceptable,” writes petition starter Alyssa Massey. “We demand that local and state officials, law enforcement leadership, and policymakers take immediate steps to investigate and address this incident…”
For more information on the petition, click HERE.
Candlelight Vigil
Members of the Pocatello community have organized a candlelight vigil to take place Saturday night outside of the Portneuf Medical Center.
Victor Perez has been resuscitated twice, according to his family: Photo courtesy of the Perez Family.
“We would like you to join us for a prayer chain for Victor and his family to show him our love and support,” writes vigil organizer Michelle Perez on Facebook. “We will also have a donation bucket that money will go to his family for anything they may need.”
The vigil organizer is not related to Victor’s family, however, Michelle Perez says she felt like she and the community had to support them.
“I decided to get involved when I saw the heartbreak in the family,” Michelle Perez told Local News 8. “I understand their pain. So I decided that I needed to do something for them.”
The vigil will take place at 6 PM on Saturday, April 12, at 777 Hospital Way, Pocatello, Idaho.
For more information about the candlelight vigil, click HERE.
Sam Ross
MCCAMMON, Idaho (KIFI)– Diamond P GrassRoots Bison Ranch, the dream project of McCammon couple Rob and Jenny Perkins, grew from humble beginnings in Utah to a popular East Idaho destination that promises to come back bigger and better after a massive house fire last month.
Rob Perkins said bison ranching was always an aspiration, and after a fateful family discussion over a decade ago, the family decided to launch into ranch life with no previous experience.
“We wanted to do something with a little bit different lifestyle, so we wanted to be active, and we wanted to get into ranching a little bit,” said Rob. “And the timing that we got into it, which was around 2013 and 2012, was a really good time to get into the bison market–bison have always interested me, they’ve been a very monumental North American animal, and so we just had a ton of respect for the animals and we did some research and decided we would just jump in.”
The Perkins started their ranching dreams with 9 baby bison on a plot of leased land in Utah, but as the animals grew, so did the family’s need to move on to bigger, greener pastures.
Rob and Jenny settled on relocating their ranch to their current McCammon location. At the time, however, the family did not have the means to move a small herd of fully-grown bison from Utah to Idaho, but help came, unexpectedly, from a friend looking for livestock to feature in a major TV series.
“They took all their cowboys and their trailers, and they loaded up all of our animals, took them up above Park City, Utah, where they filmed for about two and a half weeks and dropped them right here in the field for us,” said Jenny. “The bison that you see on Yellowstone, Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone, those are ours, and that was the blessing that got them here.”
Since then, the Diamond P GrassRoots Bison Ranch has become a popular destination offering bison meat, school tours, bison-watching wagon rides, and the ever-popular ‘Baby Days’ event.
But last month, tragedy struck the ranch when a fire devastated the family’s home. No people or animals were harmed in the fire, and the family is choosing to look on the bright side by cherishing the support they have received from people in the area.
“Just huge blessings have come out of this–the community, our friends, family, like everyone… we’ve been truly amazed,” said Jenny. “It’s overwhelming for sure,” said Rob.
The Perkins said the ranch will continue to operate as usual through the summer, and they plan to rebuild their home on the same site.
Rob and Jenny’s children have also set up a GoFundMe page to help the family collect donations for the rebuild. For more information, you can visit the Diamond P GrassRoots Bison Ranch website.
Seth Ratliff
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Local Jewish community is marking the start of one of the most important holidays in the Hebrew calendar. Saturday, April 12, visiting rabbis will lead the city of Idaho Falls and surrounding Jewish communities in the region’s Fourth Annual Passover Seder.
The seder will be led by Rabbi Sholom Smith, a visiting rabbi from Miami, and joined by Rabbi Ari Sasonkin and Rabbi Mendel Berghoff of Brooklyn.
“The trio is traveling to Idaho Falls with one mission…” write the Roving Rabbis of the Chabad Jewish Center, “…to bring the joy, meaning, and warmth of Passover to local Jews in an area without a synagogue or ongoing Jewish community programs.”
The evening will include inspirational songs, humor, insights, and stories as participants enjoy:
– Traditional handmade shmurah matzah
– Four cups of fine kosher wine
– A delicious, full-course festive meal
The event begins Saturday, April 12, at 7:45 PM at the Idaho Falls Shilo Inns. For more information or to reserve a seat, you can contact Rabbi Sholom Smith at 754-303-4578.
Ariel Jensen
UPDATE: Wed April 9 4:16PM –
REXBURG, Idaho – (KIFI) Several cases of drivers going the wrong way at the Thornton interchange off US-20 have caused the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) to look for solutions.
ITD has been looking into public feedback and are addressing the signage at the exit.
“One thing we do is pay attention to the details of what might need to happen, said Sky Buffat Public information officer for ITD. “The specific angle of the sign, some different interchange we have found that the sign needs to be angled differently because it is confusing or potentially misleading. So we will get in the details of every single spot that we have to put signs up. This one is is a fairly standard scenario that, you know, so long as you are dealing with a sober nondestructive driver, it is effective communication.”
While IDT does not have an exact number of recent wrong-way driver they are aware of at least 4 cases of wrong-way driving at the exit since last march.
They have no reports of any accidents at this time, but they want to put a stop to it before it gets out of hand. ITD is teaming up with local law enforcement, asking them to keep an eye on drivers at the exit.
“Any time a wrong-way driver enters the highway and it’s called in, it is a high priority,” said Chief Joshua Rhodes with the Rexburg Police Department. “So our officers will respond code. They will respond with lights and sirens to make sure we stop the wrong way driver.”
If you are not intoxicated and driving the wrong way, you can still receive a charge for reckless driving.
ORIGINAL:
REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is pushing drivers to know which way they are driving. The new initiative comes after several cases of impaired or distracted driving led to DUI arrests.
ITD met with the Idaho State Police and other local law enforcement this morning, April 9th, at 11:00 A.M.
The group met at the Thornton interchange off US-20 to address multiple occurrences of wrong-way driving recently.
This issue has caused a lot of public inquiry.
Local News 8 will look into how that plan to put a stop to this, updating this story throughout the day.
