Four University of Idaho students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin — were stabbed to death on November 13.Ted Warren/AP hide title
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Ted Warren/AP
Four University of Idaho students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin — were stabbed to death on November 13.
Ted Warren/AP
Authorities on Friday arrested Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, a suspect in the deaths of four University of Idaho students. The arrest marks a major breakthrough in a case that initially baffled investigators, who have yet to find the murder weapon.
Four students -- Ethan Chapin, Zana Knodel, Madison Morgan and Kelly Gunsall -- were killed Sunday, Nov. 13, after police responded to a report of an unconscious person Wes - Found dead in home off campus.
Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary in connection with the killing of four students.
At a news conference on Friday, authorities reiterated that they will be tight-lipped about what information they can release to the public as the investigation continues.
"This is not the end of the investigation," said Latta County District Attorney Bill Thompson, which includes the University of Idaho. "Actually, this is a new beginning. You all now know the names of the people accused of these crimes."
The incident shocked people living in Moscow, Idaho, a small university and rural town of about 25,000 people, including about 11,000 students, in the Palouse region of northern Idaho.
"I want to express my gratitude to our local community," Moscow police chief James Frye told reporters. "The people of Idaho and people across the country who provided information to help us investigate these murders have been impressive."
"Any arrest will not bring these young students back," Fry said. "However, we believe that justice will be served through the criminal process."
Police have not yet released details of a possible motive.
The stabbing also happened not long agoA gunman opens fire on University of Virginia, killing three students and injuring two others. Authorities took the shooter into custody following a campus-wide lockdown and a manhunt that lasted more than 12 hours.
Learn what we know about the University of Idaho stabbing.
All the victims knew each other
After the Moscow Police Department publicly identified the four victims, the University of Idaho released the following information about the four victims:
Ethan Chapin, a freshman from Mount Vernon, Wash., a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, majoring in entertainment, sports and tourism management.
Shana Knodel, a junior from Post Falls, Idaho and a member of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity, majoring in marketing.
madison morgan, a senior from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, majoring in marketing.
Kelly Gonsalves, a senior from Rathdrum, Idaho, majoring in general education.
An autopsy revealed that the victim was likely killed in his sleep and suffered multiple stab wounds and self-defense injuries. No signs of sexual assault. There was no sign of forced entry, and the first officers to arrive on the scene found a door open.
In addition to being involved in the university's Greek system, Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle live together with two others in a three-story building on King Road.
Kernodle works with Mogen at a Greek restaurant and dates Chapin, who comes to visit him that night.
The night before the murder, Chapin and Knodel arrived home around 1:45 a.m. After they went to the Sigma Chi fraternity house. About 10 minutes later, Mogen and Goncalves returned home after visiting a local bar and a street food vendor, police said. The two surviving roommates returned earlier, around 1am. 911 was called at 11:58 a.m. the next day. Report an unconscious person from a surviving roommate's phone.
Suspect detained without bail
Cooperating with the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police arrested Coberg in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. After Tuesday's hearing, a Monroe County judge ordered Kohberger's extradition to Idaho on first-degree murder charges. He is currently being held without bail.
The suspect is a graduate student at the University of Washington's Pullman campus, where he has a residence and office. He completed the first semester of his doctorate in the University's Criminal Justice program in Decemberhe said in a statement. WSU's Pullman campus is less than 10 miles from the University of Idaho's Moscow campus.
suspect's familyissue a statementOn Jan. 1, it stated that they were "cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies in their efforts to find the truth and advance his presumption of innocence, rather than judging unknown facts and making incorrect assumptions."
WSU said its police department assisted Idaho law enforcement officers in executing search warrants at the suspect's apartment and office Friday morning.
"On behalf of the WSU Pullman community, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all law enforcement agencies who have worked tirelessly to solve this crime," said WSU Pullman Campus Chancellor Elizabeth Chilton. "This horrific act has shocked everyone in the Palouse area."
A person of the same name also appears to have earned a master's degree in criminal justice from DeSales University in the past year, online records show.
This photo provided by the Monroe County Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania shows Bryan Kohberger.Monroe County (Pennsylvania) Correctional Center via AP hide title
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Monroe County (Pennsylvania) Correctional Center via AP
This photo provided by the Monroe County Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania shows Bryan Kohberger.
Monroe County (Pennsylvania) Correctional Center via AP
Authorities took weeks to apprehend a suspect
The stabbing death has baffled police, who have been unable to apprehend a suspect for weeks. With authorities keeping details of the investigation tight-lipped, the case has also attracted online sleuths, as a member of the stationboise state public radionotes.
"This is a complex and horrific crime that will take some time to unravel," Moscow police chief James Frye said.He told a news conference on Nov. 20, a week after the incident.
But over time, people became restless. On November 28, Idaho Governor Brad LittleAllocating $1 million in emergency funding to assist with the investigation.
Local authorities also received help from the FBI, which assigned 44 people to the case, and the Idaho State Police recruited 15 soldiers and more than 20 investigators.According to the Associated Press.
On December 7, the Moscow Police DepartmentThe public is asking for help in locating a white sedan that was previously spotted near off-campus housing.
The police department said Thursday they are still processing more than 9,025 email tips, 4,575 phone tips, 6,050 digital media submissions and 300 interviews.
"Whether you think it's important or not, your information could be one piece of the puzzle that helps solve these murders."the police department said in a Facebook post.
College campuses still in shock
The murders rocked the small University of Idaho community. Many of 9,000 students enrolled after Thanksgiving breakhe didn't go back to schoolThe university has told its professors to be flexible with students, with some opting for elective and virtual courses, or canceling classes and final exams entirely.
December students and graduatesA candlelight vigil was heldMemorial to the four victims of the University of Idaho main and satellite campuses.
"We have never lost confidence that this case will be resolved, and we thank the Moscow Police Department and our law enforcement partners for their excellent work," University of Idaho President C. Scott Green said at a news conference Friday.
FAQs
What we know about the University of Idaho stabbing? ›
In the early hours of November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed in an off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho. On December 30, 28-year-old Bryan Christopher Kohberger was arrested in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary.
What evidence was found in the Idaho stabbings? ›Police found a knife sheath left at the scene of the crime. According to the probable cause affidavit, DNA was taken from the knife sheath and sent to the Idaho State Laboratory, along with trash obtained from Kohberger's parents' house in Pennsylvania, where Kohberger was arrested.
What happened in the Idaho stabbing? ›More than six weeks after four University of Idaho students were mysteriously stabbed to death in a house near the Moscow, Idaho, campus, a suspect was identified and taken into custody. The four slain students were Ethan Chapin, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21.
What do we know about Bryan Kohberger? ›The 28-year-old was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant at his parents' home in Pennsylvania, police announced on Dec. 30, and extradited to Idaho, where he was formally charged on Jan. 5. Kohberger is facing four counts of first-degree murder and a count of felony burglary and is being held without bail.
Who is the suspect in the Idaho stabbing? ›Bryan Kohberger, the 28-year-old suspect in the stabbing murders of four Idaho college students in November last year, has been indicted by a grand jury.
How was Kaylee killed in Idaho? ›In the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022, Kaylee; her lifelong best friend and roommate Madison Mogen; a third roommate, Xana Kernodle; and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, were stabbed to death inside the girls' off-campus house. Two other roommates survived the shocking crime that garnered national intrigue.
How were the Idaho kids found? ›Before the photos of JJ Vallow were shown, Hermosillo detailed discovering the remains of 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. The remains were found by a fire pit, further away from JJ Vallow's body, which was discovered under a tree.
Where is Bryan Kohberger now? ›Kohberger has yet to enter a plea and is being held without bail in the Latah County Jail in Idaho.
Who were the roommates in the Idaho murders? ›Funke and Mortensen shared their apartment house with Maddie Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; and Xana Kernodle, 20, who were stabbed to death along with Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20.
Who are the students slain in Idaho? ›Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20, are being awarded posthumous degrees. After Mogen's parents accepted her bachelor's in marketing at the first of two commencement ceremonies, a long round of applause followed as a photo of her was shown on a screen.
What did Bryan Kohberger do for a living? ›
He was a teaching assistant at Washington State University
Joey Famularo had Kohberger as a teaching assistant in one of her classes at Washington State and previously spoke about her experiences with him on TikTok.
Kohberger was indicted last week on charges that included four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, according to the documents filed in Latah County District Court. Bryan Kohberger, right, appears at a hearing in Latah County District Court, Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho.
What was the motive for the college murders in Idaho? ›THE brutal murders of four students in Idaho may have been motivated by rage and resentment because the victims symbolized what their killer "doesn't have and can't get," a forensic psychologist believes.
What DNA was found on knife sheath? ›According to the newly unsealed court documents, traces of DNA from a lone male later determined to be Kohberger were found on the button of a leather knife sheath found in the rental home where the victims were killed.
Who were the 4 students in Idaho murders? ›Bryan Kohbgerger is accused of murdering four University of Idaho students last November in an off-campus home. Ethan Chapin was one of them. MOSCOW, Idaho -- The family of Ethan Chapin, one of the four students killed in an off-campus house at the University of Idaho last November, is speaking out for the first time.
Who killed Tonya in Moscow Idaho? ›David Meister was found guilty for the the murder of 21-year-old Tonya Hart in December of 2001.
Who are the parents of the Idaho killer? ›Born in 1994, Kohberger is the youngest child and only son of Michael Kohberger Jr., 67, and Maryann Kohberger, 62.
How were the Idaho students killed? ›Events. In the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho college students were stabbed to death in a shared rental home close to campus, in which three of them resided.
Who is the sister of the Idaho killer? ›MOSCOW, Idaho (TND) — The sister of the suspected killer in the University of Idaho murders apparently starred in a low-budget slasher film years ago. Amanda Kohberger, sister of Bryan Kohberger, starred as "Lori" in the 2011 horror film "Two Days Back."
Did they ever find Lori Daybell's kids? ›In April 2021, Vallow Daybell was charged with the murder of the two children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow, whose remains were found in 2020, buried in shallow graves on the Idaho property of Vallow Daybell's husband, Chad Daybell, Rexburg, Idaho police said.
Who found the Idaho kids? ›
13. There, members of the Moscow Police Department found four University of Idaho students dead on the second and third floors of the home. Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodle were roommates who lived in the home, while the fourth victim, Ethan Chapin, did not live there but was dating Kernodle.
Who are the parents of Brian Kohberger? ›Who Are Bryan Kohberger's Parents? Kohberger is the youngest child and only son of Michael Kohberger Jr. and Maryann Kohberger. Both Michael and Maryann worked for the Pleasant Valley School District.
Who is the killer of the Idaho murders? ›Bryan Kohberger, 28, who was a Ph.D. student in criminology at a nearby university at the time, has been in jail since December, when he was arrested in the Nov. 13 killings that sent fear through the normally peaceful college town of Moscow, Idaho.
Who was Lyda Idaho serial killer? ›Lyda Southard (October 16, 1892 – February 5, 1958), also known as Lyda Anna Mae Trueblood, was an American female suspected serial killer. It was suspected that she had killed her four husbands, a brother-in-law, and her daughter by using arsenic poisoning derived from flypaper in order to obtain life insurance money.
Who is the suspect in the 4 Idaho students? ›Bryan Kohberger, 28, was arrested late last year and charged with burglary and four counts of first-degree murder in connection with with the slayings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus.
Who is the suspect in Moscow Idaho? ›Bryan Kohberger, a PhD student at WSU, was arrested at his parents' Pennsylvania home on Dec. 30 in connection to the deadly stabbings of four University of Idaho students last month. MOSCOW, Idaho - Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger has a small but active following among sympathetic social media users.
Who was the boyfriend in the Idaho college Murders? ›In the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022, Kaylee; her lifelong best friend and roommate Madison Mogen; a third roommate, Xana Kernodle; and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, were stabbed to death inside the girls' off-campus house. Two other roommates survived the shocking crime that garnered national intrigue.
Does Bryan Kohberger have siblings? ›Bryan Kohberger's sister feared that her brother was involved in the stabbings of four University of Idaho students before police swooped on their parents' home and arrested him for murder, according to a bombshell report.
Was Bryan Kohberger in the military? ›While Bryan took law enforcement classes, he was never part of the U.S. military. Later in life, he moved away from his dreams of joining the military and established a career in the academic field instead.
Where was Bryan Kohberger born? ›Kohberger was born in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania in the United States of America. Kohberger studied psychology at Bethlehem's Northampton Community College, where he graduated with an associate's degree in the subject in 2018. Kohberger attended DeSales University after graduating from Northampton.
What floor was the Idaho college murders? ›
On the third floor, there are two bedrooms and another bathroom. According to investigators, the murders happened on the second and third floors of the home.
Who are the survivors of the Idaho murders? ›(NewsNation) — Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen were the survivors of the University of Idaho murders allegedly committed by Bryan Kohberger.
What was the motive for Alex Murdaugh murders? ›In the prosecution's telling, the motive was Murdaugh's attempt to distract and delay investigations into his growing financial problems. The means were two family-owned weapons, Waters argued. And the opportunity was Murdaugh's presence at the crime scene, as revealed in a pivotal video, minutes before the murders.
How did they know it was Bryan Kohberger DNA? ›And it worked. "Genetic genealogy was crucial in identifying the defendant in the Idaho murder case," said Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg. According to a source close to the investigation, the private lab entered the DNA into a public ancestry database, and within days, cousin matches were showing up.
What kind of knife did Bryan use? ›Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin
Bryan Kohberger bought a Ka-Bar knife and knife sheath from Amazon seven months before he allegedly stabbed four University of Idaho students to death in a brutal attack that sent shockwaves across America, it has been revealed.
The oldest DNA recovered is over 1 million years old, but the oldest hominin DNA is only ~400,000 years old.
What evidence was collected for the Moscow Idaho murders? ›Kohberger, 28, is charged with the murders of four University of Idaho students in an off-campus home, 1122 King Road, in Moscow on Nov. 13, 2022. Police say they matched Kohberger's DNA found at the scene that was discovered on a knife sheath next to the bodies of Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.
Where was the knife sheath found in Idaho murders? ›A knife sheath found in the off-campus apartment in Moscow, Idaho, where the killings took place was sent to a second lab after Idaho police couldn't find a DNA match with Kohberger.