Idaho murders: the gruesome crime that gripped America and the key questions that remain
Quick Summary
- Four Idaho students were murdered in an off-campus house
- The crime has been described as brutal and violent
- After weeks of little information and apparently no leads, police made a surprise arrest
- Bryan Kohberger, 28 – a student of a nearby university in a neighbouring state, has been arrested
- Once Kohberger is extradited back to Idaho the affidavit is expected to be unsealed and we find out why he is the suspect police have identified
- Bryan Kohberger could be back in Idaho as early as tonight as it’s understood he plans to waive his extradition hearing, wanting to return as quickly as possible
- It is understood he maintains his innocence and wants to clear his name
What are the Idaho murders?
Over the past six weeks, America along with the world has been gripped by the gruesome and violent crime in the small college town of Moscow, Idaho.
Four University of Idaho students were found stabbed to death in an off-campus house. Three of the victims – Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, lived in the house. The fourth victim – Ethan Chapin, 20 was dating Xana and had been staying at the house on the night of the murders.
Two other housemates slept through the murders and are not considered suspects.
After weeks of few updates and thriving online conspiracies, police announced an arrest – a student of a nearby university.
The Idaho student murders – what we know so far
As the weeks have gone on, bits of information have surfaced. Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves had attended a bar and were seen on a Livestream at a food truck, whilst Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin had attended a college party.
The two unharmed housemates had also been out that night. They had returned home around 1, whilst the other four remaining housemates are said to have returned around 45 minutes later.
The two unharmed housemates lived on the ground floor, which had a door, and a sliding door which was easily accessed from the side led into the second floor where the kitchen was, it’s also the floor Xana and Ethan were on, and Madison and Kaylee were on the top floor.
Investigators initially said they believed the attack had been targetted but then backtracked saying they were unsure if it was the house or the students targetted.
A 911 call was made for an unconscious person the next day at almost midday. The 911 call is said to have been made by one of the surviving housemates’ phones and was passed around through several friends who spoke to the operator.
Police Chief James Fry said the 911 call may be made public in the coming weeks.
It remains unknown why the two surviving roommates called friends first or why the call was made for an unconscious person.
The coroner said the scene was bloody and the victims were stabbed to death.
Kaylee Goncalves’ father said his daughter’s injuries were “significantly more brutal“
The arrest of Bryan Kohberger
For weeks it seemed like this case could become America’s next big old case.
The police in Idaho faced massive criticism and questions on whether they could handle such a big case.
Police had said they were working through “more than 9,025 emailed tips, 4,575 phone tips,” and “6,050 digital media submissions,” and that they had conducted “over 300 interviews.”
Amid all the conspiracies that popped up and much frustration, police announced they had arrested Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28.
The shock arrest of Bryan Kohberger came six weeks after the horrendous crime. He is a graduate student at Washington State University, close to the state line between Washington and Idaho.
It has been reported that Mr Kohberger will waive his extradition hearing in Pennsylvania to speed up his return to Idaho.
It is understood that more details will be released once Mr Kohberger is back in Idaho.
Kohberger was detained by police in Pennsylvania – believed to be at his parent’s home for the Christmas break. His white Hyundai Elantra – the same make and model of car being sought by cops in connection to the killing – was towed from outside the Kohberger’s home Idaho police have confirmed.
Idaho 4: What comes next?
There are so many questions that remain unanswered – and hopefully, we’ll start to get a better understanding once Kohberger is back in Idaho.
We may find out if Brian Kohberger knew the victims – Kaylee Goncalves’ father believes there are connections between his daughter and the suspect. It has also been reported that Gonclaves had spoken of a stalker in the months before her death.
The release of the 911 call may shed more light on the two surviving housemates, and we might find out why they were spared.
Many will want answers as to if Kohberger acted alone and how he was able to carry out such a brutal act by himself.
The motive, the weapon, the timeline and possible connections to other crimes may also be revealed.
2022 University of Idaho killings
In the early hours of November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed while they slept in an off-campus three-story rented home in Moscow, Idaho.[1] On December 30, 2022, a suspect was arrested in Monroe County, Pennsylvania and charged with four counts of murder in the first degree and felony burglary.
Who is Kohberger?
Police have detained Bryan Kohberger, 28, after four University of Idaho students were brutally slain as they were sleeping. But who exactly is he? Bryan Christopher Kohberger, a US student studying criminology, is in detention after being accused of first-degree murder.
What we know about the Idaho student murders?
The slain students – Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20 – were likely asleep when they were each stabbed multiple times in the early morning hours, authorities have said. Some of the victims had defensive wounds, a coroner has said.
