National stories don’t usually end up on our doorstep, but the extradition hearing of Bryan Kohberger did.

Kohberger was arrested for the murders of four college students in Idaho, on Dec. 30 at his parents’ home in Albrightsville. News media from as close as Philadelphia to as far away as California flocked to the Monroe County Courthouse on Tuesday to find out if Kohberger would waive his rights pertaining to extradition or force the state of Idaho to come and get him.

In anticipation of the crowd, courthouse staff established a staging area for media in the circle in front of the building and had the streets nearby blocked off. News vans lined the streets close to the staging area, and local traffic had to find other routes through neighborhood streets.

A police presence was everywhere: at the barriers blocking off the streets, on the corners around the courthouse, and at the door going into the courthouse. At least one of them had a military style rifle pointed to the ground.

Kohberger arrived shortly before the afternoon hearing from the Monroe County Correctional Facility wearing a red jumpsuit and hands cuffed in front of him.

Around 2:30 p.m., the courthouse began admitting the media and civilians into the building for the hearing. They filtered in, went through the metal detector, and up to the second floor to Courtroom 1.

The old courtroom with brown carpeting and tall windows covered with wooden shutters to block out the gray rainy day has seen many hearings, but this one would be different from most.

Police officers asked the media to sit to the left, behind the defense table. Civilians were seated to the right, with tall wooden railings separating the sides.

Shortly before the hearing, Kohberger’s parents, two sisters and some other people accompanying them entered from a doorway behind the media and civilians. They took seats in the front row on the defense side. One of his sisters had wet cheeks from tears.

A wooden railing separated the prosecution and defense from the spectator seating. A burgundy velvet, theater-styled rope closed off the entrance between the two sections. Tall, burgundy velvet curtains matching the rope framed the area where the judge’s bench and witness stand is located and old paintings of past judges hung on the walls.

Several Pennsylvania State Police officers walked in and took seats on the prosecution side of the courtroom. Kohberger was led in by police officers through the door at the front of the room. He walked slowly to the defense table, turned to sit, and looked over his right shoulder at his family. He nodded to them in recognition.

The room was silent except for the occasional shuffle of feet or an officer moving around.

Judge Margherita Patti Worthington entered abruptly from behind the judge’s bench, and everyone stood.

Kohberger’s attorney Jason LaBar, a public defender, said his client was there to waive his rights pertaining to extradition. The judge addressed Kohberger directly and asked him if it was intent to sign the waiver. He nodded yes.

Worthington said she wanted to make sure he understood his rights and that he was not waiving them due to threats or coercion. She told him that there is a fugitive warrant from Idaho and the state intends to charge him with four counts of murder in the first degree and one count of burglary.

“Do you agree to return to Idaho voluntarily,” Worthington asked Kohberger.

He answered yes.

Worthington asked a series of questions and Kohberger answered yes that he understood what she was telling him. She also asked him if he has any mental health issues or is taking any medication for mental health issues that could impair his ability to make this decision. He answered no.

Worthington ended with, “Do you wish to waive your rights and return to Idaho?” Kohberger said yes. With that, he signed the waiver.

Worthington said he will be surrendered to the custody of Latah County, Idaho, within 10 days.

After signing the waiver, LaBar, Kohberger’s attorney, told the judge that his client is invoking his right to remain silent and is taking the fifth, sixth and 14th amendment rights. LaBar said the chief prosecutor in Idaho is aware of this. Another public defender in Idaho will be assigned to Kohberger.