by Ju Hyun Son (Jacy)
On Dec. 30, 2022, Bryan Christopher Kohberger, a 28-year-old white male, was arrested as a suspect in the recent murders of four University of Idaho students: Kaylee Goncalves (21), Madison Mogen (21), Xana Kernodle (20), and Ethan Chapin (20).
According to the affidavit released by the District of Latah County, Kohberger left his DNA on a button snap of the sheath that was found at the crime scene.
Kohberger’s cell phone data was also traced near the crime scene and security footage confirmed that Kohberger’s car was in the area of the crime before it occurred. Kohberger’s car also matched a description of the vehicle that Moscow PD asked the public to identify in relation to the crime.
On Nov. 13, one of the surviving roommates, referred to as “D.M.,” in the affidavit was awoken by a noise around 4:00 a.m. According to the document, D.M. assumed Goncalves was playing with her dog in one of the rooms upstairs.
Soon after, D.M. also heard one of the victims say a phrase along the lines of, “there’s someone here.” D.M. checked outside the room but nothing was found, according to the document.
The second time the roommate heard a noise, D.M. heard Kernodle crying and a male voice responding with a phrase that sounded like, “it’s ok, I’m going to help you.”
In addition, a loud thud and a dog barking was captured on se curity footage which was located less than fifty feet from the west of Kernodle’s room. The third time D.M. heard a noise, they opened their door.
When the door opened, the roommate saw a lean male, approximately 5 ‘10’ ‘ or taller. D.M. described the man had bushy eyebrows but his mouth and nose were covered. The man walked past the roommate and out the sliding glass door. After the close encounter, D.M. locked the door to their room.
Police estimate that the murders happened between 4:00 a.m. and 4:25 a.m. Police also found a latent shoe print containing a diamond pattern that was printed by the ISP Forensic Team.
According to Kohberger’s phone records, on Nov. 13 he traveled from Pullman, WA to Lewiston, ID. At approximately 12:36 p.m. Kohberger’s phone utilized cellular resources that would provide coverage to Kate’s Cup of Joe in Clarkston, WA.
Court records show that at approximately 12:45 p.m. Kohberger’s phone then utilized cellular data in the area of the Albertsons grocery store in Clarkston, WA.
Surveillance footage obtained from the Albertsons showed Kohberger exiting the white Elantra at approximately 12:49 p.m. Interior surveillance cameras showed Kohberger walking through the store, purchasing unknown items at the checkout, and leaving at approximately 1:04 p.m.
On Nov. 18, 2022, according to WA state licensing, Kohberger registered the 2015 white Elantra in Washington. Prior to this time, the 2015 white Elantra was registered in Pennsylvania.
Cell phone data shows that Kohberger had driven around the King Road neighborhood 12 times over the five months before the killings. After Dec. 13, Kohberger drove to Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, where his parents reside.
Kohberger was enrolled as a Ph.D. Student in Criminology at Washington State University at the time of the slayings, and the university has confirmed that he is no longer enrolled. His undergraduate degree emphasized psychology and cloud-based forensics.
Kohberger appeared at his first Idaho court hearing on Jan. 5. His next hearing was held on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 10:00 a.m. During the first hearing, he was denied a bail bond.
Any form of contact between Kohberger and the victims’ families is not allowed, Judge Megan Marshall said. During the hearing on Jan. 12, Kohberger’s defense team requested to delay his preliminary hearing until June 26, and the court agreed.