The sister of a woman in an unsolved Pennsylvania case breaks her silence on Bryan Kohrberger

The sister of a missing Pennsylvania woman says Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger likely had nothing to do with her sister’s disappearance, despite testimony from his parents.

Dana Smithers, 45, went missing on May 28, 2022. Her remains were discovered on April 27 this year in a wooded area in Stroudsburg — about 30 miles from Kohberger’s family home in Albrightsville.

A bombastic development occurred this week when Kohberger’s parents were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury examining their case.

Smithers’ family called police after being alerted by online detectives to the “possibility” that Kohberger was in the area at the time of her disappearance.

In an interview, however, Smithers’ sister Stacey Anne told NewsNation “There was evidence he was not in the area where her sister was last seen” and therefore could not be linked to her disappearance.

The sister of a missing Pennsylvania woman, Dana Smithers (pictured right), says Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger (pictured left), despite testimony from his parents, likely had nothing to do with her sister’s disappearance

“She’s confident that people will continue to look into Dana’s case to find out what happened,” she told Brian Entin.

It remains unclear why Kohrberger’s parents were subpoenaed by the grand jury.

Smithers’ note confirms what the Stroud Area Police Department said Thursday: “The SARPD has no evidence to suggest that the disappearance of Dana Smithers is in any way connected to Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger.”

Stacey Anne posted on her Facebook page, “Finding Dana,” on Jan. 2, thanking those who “recently raised the possibility that the suspect in the horrific Idaho murders may have been in our area at the time of my sister’s time could.’ Dana’s disappearance.’

She added, “I have forwarded all of your suggestions to local law enforcement.” Please pray for all involved.’

CNN initially reported the news, citing a source who said the accused killer’s mother had already testified before the grand jury, while his father will appear as a witness Thursday.

The information can then be shared with Idaho prosecutors.

The Stroud Area Regional Police Department said, “I am aware of the many news articles currently being reported in which various media outlets have reported links between the SARPD’s missing persons investigation into Dana Smithers and Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger.”

A source told news nation that Kohberger’s alibi proves that he was unlikely to have had a hand in Smithers’ disappearance.

On the day she went missing, Smithers, her youngest daughter, 7, and the daughter’s father had gone to a festival in Stroudsburg.

Smithers no longer had a relationship with his father, but according to friends, they had a good relationship.

The trio appeared to be in good spirits before returning to Smither’s home.

That night, Smithers went to the home of her friend and neighbor Tara Cioni, who later said she thought something was troubling her.

Smithers – who had a history of substance abuse – smoked, which she only did when she was “nervous” or nervous, Cioni said.

The mother-of-three was last seen in Cioni’s ring camera footage around 11 p.m.

Days later, she was reported missing and her family said she never kept her youngest daughter away for so long.

Her cell phone, wallet and daily medication were later found at her home.

Her cause of death is still unknown.

Kohberger, 28, was charged with the murder of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, on November 13 last year.

His father, Michael, is expected to testify in court Thursday, while his mother, Maryann, has already testified.

Maddie Mogen (above), Kaylee Goncalves (left), Xana Kernodle (right) and Ethan Chapin (center) – all University of Idaho students – were stabbed to death on November 13 in the quiet college town of Moscow

The transcripts of the closed session can be transmitted to Idaho, where her son is due to be tried on October 2nd.

The suspect appeared in an Idaho courtroom on Monday. He refused to enter a plea for four counts of first-degree murder.

Kohberger was expected to plead not guilty, but chose to use Idaho’s “silent” plea, meaning he didn’t plead in any way but can still be tried.

The Washington State University graduate student has been behind bars since December 30, when police searched his parents’ home in Pennsylvania.

On January 4, he was transferred to Latah County Jail, where he has remained ever since.

The criminology student is believed to have planned the murders of the four Idaho students with an affidavit as the probable cause, noting that he repeatedly visited the area around their home prior to the murders.

His DNA was found on a KA-BAR knife sheath found next to the bodies of Kaylee and Madison.

Goncalves and Mogen were found dead in bed side by side, while Chapin and Kernodle were found on the floor below and Kernodle was found slumped on the floor of her bedroom.

According to the document, survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke heard some of what happened, with Mortensen telling police officers she heard Goncalves say, “Someone’s here,” around 4 a.m.

Police stormed the home of Kohberger’s family on the Indian Mountain Lake Estates in Chestnuthill Township of Albrightsville just before 1:30 a.m. on December 30

Ten minutes later, she heard a thump and crying from Kernodle’s room and a male voice saying, “It’s okay, I’ll help you.”

Minutes later, Mortensen said she opened her bedroom door and saw a tall man with bushy eyebrows exit through the sliding glass doors at the back of the house.

She described how she was “frozen in shock” when the suspect approached her. Mortensen said she locked herself in her room after he left.

The affidavit also shows that Kohberger’s white Hyundai Elantra was caught on camera near the scene of the crime before speeding away from the home toward Pullman around 4:20 a.m.

Police quickly connected the vehicle to Kohberger and noted the similarity between his appearance and Mortensen’s description of the intruder at the rental home.