The defense of Bryan Kohberger has enlisted a former police officer who now presents a true crime podcast to demonstrate that he was driving alone on the night when four University of Idaho students were killed in their sleep.
As noted on CrimeOnline previously, the expert, Sy Ray, established ZetX Corporation in 2014, a company offering tools for analytical mapping, and then sold it to LexisNexis in 2021.
Ray currently resides on a ranch in Arizona and is the host of the Socialite Crime Club podcast.
According to his CV, Ray has 20 years of experience in law enforcement, including 13 years in criminal investigations and 8 years in SWAT/tactical operations. He mentions developing training courses and training tactical units in cellular tracking and operations.
He claims to have offered “expert testimony and court consultation” in various states, including Utah, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, New York, California, Florida, and Texas.
As per Newsweek, Ray's testimony regarding cell phone movements contributed to the conviction of Danielle Wood in 2021 for the 2018 murder of her ex-boyfriend in Montana.
It’s not certain whether Ray still utilizes the technology from his former company, despite testifying in cases involving its use. The technology, Trax, was prohibited from a Colorado courtroom last year after law enforcement and others raised concerns about its reliability, leading the judge to rule it out, as reported by the Colorado Springs Gazette.District Court Judge Juan Villaseñor's ruling specifically focused on ZetX and its Trax technology and did not encompass any other cellular tracking companies..
“In summary, Trax and its methods have consistently received strong criticism from the scientific and legal communities, and there is no evidence presented to counter this,” stated Villaseñor in his ruling.
The judge additionally remarked that Ray, who claimed Trax maps were 94 percent to 96 percent accurate, was not considered a credible witness.
“He exaggerated his qualifications, falsely portraying himself as an engineer,” the judge commented, asserting that Ray had stated he was “more of an engineer than an engineer.”
“As mentioned, his only academic degree is an associates, and there is no indication that it is related to engineering. There is also no evidence to suggest that Ray has taken any engineering courses,” outlined the judge. “Certainly, he has created a successful business and has effectively marketed Trax to numerous law enforcement agencies. However, a strong business model does not equate to an accurate error rate.”
Kohberger's appointed public defender, Anne Taylor, identified Ray as her expert witness when filing a notice to establish Kohberger's alibi for the period of November 13, 2022, when four individuals were killed.
041724 Notice Defendants Supplemental Response States AD
“Mr. Kohberger was driving during the early morning hours of November 13, 2022; a routine activity for him to hike, run, and/or stargaze,” the filing states. “He traveled across the area south of Pullman, Washington, west of Moscow, Idaho, including Wawawai Park.” by kc wildmoon on Scribd
“Mr. Kohberger plans to have Sy Ray, who is an expert in cell tower and cell phone signals, testify to demonstrate that Bryan Kohberger’s phone was located south of Pullman, Washington and west of Moscow, Idaho on November 13, 2022. The testimony aims to prove that his phone did not travel east on the Moscow-Pullman Highway in the early morning hours of November 13th, and therefore could not have been the vehicle seen on video near Floyd’s Cannabis shop.”
Investigators have stated that Kohberger’s phone was moving on the night of the murders, but stopped communicating with cell phone towers during that time, according to CrimeOnline. That would likely mean that the phone was turned off at that time.
as CrimeOnline reported [Featured image: Bryan Kohberger. (Latah County Jail via AP)]Bryan Kohberger’s defense has hired a retired police officer who now hosts a true crime podcast to “prove” he was out driving all by himself on the night four University of Idaho college students were slaughtered in their beds. As CrimeOnline previously reported, the expert, Sy Ray, founded ZetX Corporation, which provides tools for analytical …
[Featured image: Bryan Kohberger. (Latah County Jail via AP)]