The parents of the suspect in the killing of four University of Idaho students are set to testify over the disappearance of a 45-year-old woman.
Dana Smithers went missing in May last year. She lived in Monroe County, the same as Bryan Kohberger, 28, who is accused of the murder of four students in a college home in Moscow, Idaho.
Her remains were found in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania last month, but a source close to the case told Eyewitness News WBRE/WYOU has Kohberger has a solid alibi and is not believed to be linked to the death, but this has not yet been confirmed.
It is unclear why Kohberger's parents have been called.
The area in Stroudsburg where Dana's remains were found in is around 30 miles from the Kohberger residence in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania.
Man who 'killed 4 students' was 'creepy' regular at brewery and 'harassed women'
Dana Smithers disappeared in the same county where Kohberger lived (Dana Smithers/Facebook)The county coroner has not yet confirmed her cause of death.
Kohberger remained silent when asked to give a plea and not-guilty pleas to the five counts against him were entered on his behalf.
He is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
The accused is charged with killing 21-year-olds Kaylee Goncalves and Maddie Mogen and couple Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, both 20.
Kohberger's trial is set to begin in October (Getty Images)Kohberger appeared for his arraignment in court on Monday this week and prosecutors now have 60 days to decide whether to pursue the death penalty.
He remains in Latah County Jail and the trial is due to begin on October 2.
At the beginning of this year, Kohberger's parents released a statement that said they "care deeply" for the families of the slain students.
They said: "First and foremost, we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children.
"There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them.
Kohberger has been charged with four counts of murder (Getty Images)"We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother."
Husband and wife enjoy Xmas dinner days before she's charged with his murder
The statement continued: "We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions.
"We respect privacy in this matter as our family and the families suffering loss can move forward through the legal process."
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