Everything We Know About the Idaho College Murders: Updates, News, Suspects

How Did the University of Idaho Victims Know Each Other?

Mogen, Kernodle and Goncalves were roommates and lived in the house where the bodies were found. While Chapin did not live in the home, he was dating Kernodle at the time of the tragedy. All three women were members of sororities, while Chapin was in a fraternity.

How Did the University of Idaho Murder Victims Die?

The four victims were stabbed multiple times with a large fix-blade knife, and were found on the second and third floors of the home by police. The coroner said the victims were likely asleep at the time of the attack, though one had defensive wounds and may have tried to fight off the killer. Police said there was no evidence of sexual assault.

John Miller, CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst, assessed that the attacker was likely an “organized offender” who prepared ahead of time for the murders in question. Leaving behind the knife at the scene, however, enabled law enforcement to tie the heinous crimes to the suspect now in custody.

Who Were The Suspects In the University of Idaho Murders?

When Mogen and Goncalves stopped at the food truck, their visit was captured on video. Based on the footage, officials questioned a man in a white hoodie who was also at the food truck as well as the person who drove the women home following their night out. After questioning took place, police said they did not believe either person was involved in the murders.

In addition to Mogen, Kernodle and Goncalves, two other people lived in the house. Both people were out on Saturday night and returned home by 1 a.m. on November 13, 2022. Neither person was injured, and police stated that they did not suspect the surviving roommates of being involved.

Meanwhile, investigators “looked extensively” into reports that Goncalves had a stalker, though pursuits have been inconclusive. “They have pursued hundreds of pieces of information related to this topic and have not been able to verify or identify a stalker,” officials said on November 22, 2022.

On December 7, Moscow police said in a statement that they were looking for information about a white Hyundai Elantra that was near the house around the time the murders took place. Police believe the car’s occupants may have “critical information.” Also in the statement, officials said they were processing DNA information found at the crime scene.

In the affidavit later released after Kohberger was taken into custody, it was revealed that the Hyundai Elantra was registered to him and his license information reflected the description given by the surviving roommate.

Was the Bartender a Suspect In the University of Idaho Murders?

In a surveillance video that was released by Fox News Digital on December 17, 2022, Goncalves and Mogen were captured talking about a man named “Adam” while walking in downtown Moscow just hours before the murders.

However, Goncalves’ father, Steve Goncalves, said that Adam was not a suspect.

“We asked and did the obvious due diligence, and we looked into that, and it was pretty clear that this individual was not a part of the investigation as far as a suspect,” he said on the December 17 episode of Lawrence Jones Cross Country.

According to TMZ, Adam has since been identified as a bartender that works in the area.

Was Kaylee Goncalves’ Ex-Boyfriend a Suspect?

Jack DuCoeur was once considered a person of interest in the murders, as he and Kaylee had dated for five years and broke up just three weeks before the incident. However, his aunt revealed he was “devastated” that people think he’s a suspect as he mourns the loss of Kaylee.

“He’s not only lost the love of his life, and what we all thought and he probably thought as well, would be his future wife — you know, get married and have kids and all of that,” but also, “half of America” thinks he could “be responsible” for the murders,” Jack’s aunt Brooke Miller told Page Six on December 24, 2022.

“Obviously he was sad, but they were still friends,” Miller said, revealing Kaylee “was planning on moving away,” and their split was “amiable.”

Jack was considered a person of interest in the murders initially, since Kaylee and her roommate Madison had tried to call DuCoeur a total of 10 times in the hours before they were murdered along with their other roommate, Xana Kernoodle, and Kernoodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin — but Jack didn’t answer.

Moscow, Idaho, authorities “cleared” Jack after looking into the phone calls and declared that he was no longer considered a suspect on November 23, 2022.

Unfortunately, many internet sleuths believe that Jack was involved in the murders and have posted several theories on social media about why they think he is the killer. Jack’s aunt slammed the speculation.

“They’re just the most ridiculous conspiracies,” Miller said. “We all know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there’s no way that Jack would ever do anything like that to anybody.”

Kaylee’s mother, father and sister have also publicly shown support for Jack since her death.

Is The Suspect in Custody?

Police and FBI arrested a 28-year-old man in the early morning hours of December 30, 2022, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, law enforcement sources confirmed to Fox News Digital.

The suspect, later identified as Bryan Christopher Kohberger, is a graduate student at a neighboring university.

Has the Suspect’s Family Spoken About the Arrest?

“First and foremost, we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children,” Kohberger’s lawyer, Jason A. LaBar, said in a statement on January 2, 2023, on behalf of the suspect’s father, Michael Kohberger, mother, Marianne Kohberger, and sister, Amanda, according to People.

They continued, “There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them. We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother.”

“We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions,” they noted in the statement. “We respect privacy in this matter as our family and the families suffering loss can move forward through the legal process.”

What Have Court Documents Revealed?

The suspect in the Idaho college murders made his first appearance in court on January 5, 2023. While members of the victims’ families were reportedly in attendance, a no-contact order was requested by the prosecutor and upheld by a judge, according to court documents obtained by In Touch.

Kohberger’s DNA was confirmed to have been found on a knife sheath which led to a DNA match with his father, according to the probable cause affidavit. He remains in custody and is being held without bail.

One of the surviving roommates, identified as D.M. in the documentation, recounted the night in question and shared that she saw a man in a mask and all-black attire in the home. After she “heard crying,” D.M. heard the man say, “It’s OK, I’m going to help you.”

“D.M. described the figure as 5’ 10” or taller, male, not very muscular, but athletically built with bushy eyebrows,” the affidavit included. “The male walked past D.M. as she stood in a ‘frozen shock phase.’ The male walked towards the back sliding glass door. D.M. locked herself in her room after seeing the male.”

The affidavit also revealed that the Washington State University student applied for an internship with the Pullman Police Department in the fall of 2022.

“Kohberger wrote in his essay he had interest in assisting rural law enforcement agencies with how to better collect and analyze technological data in public safety operations,” the document states.

Did Bryan Kohberger Know the Idaho Victims?

Phone records indicate that he was near the victims’ residence “at least 12 times” between June 2022 and November 2022, according to the probable cause affidavit.

“All of these occasions, except for one, occurred in the late evening and early morning hours of their respective days,” the affidavit revealed.

Commenting on the perceived stalking that took place prior to the murders, Alivea Goncalves, victim Kaylee Goncalves’ older sister, told NewsNation that the family had “no idea” that Kohberger was frequently in the area.

“We had no idea. She had no idea. I had no idea that true evil was genuinely watching them,” Alivea, 26, said on January 9, 2023. Learning of the suspect’s presence near the home has been “the hardest part of this,” Alivea continued, “to sit back and look at the totality of it.”
“When my sister was FaceTiming me about a new egg bites recipe, [Kohberger] was planning his next visit to the home,” Alivea said of Kaylee, who was just 21 years old. “That’s really difficult, it’s really difficult, not to wish that you had done more and wish that you had known more.”
Kohberger also took steps to cover up any evidence of the murders. A law enforcement source told CNN on January 6, 2023, that the graduate student extensively cleaned the inside and outside of his vehicle in the aftermath and was seen wearing surgical gloves on more than one occasion.
On January 17, 2023, People reported that Kohberger sent a series of Instagram messages to one of the female victims two weeks before she was killed.

“He slid into one of the girls’ DMs several times, but she didn’t respond,” a source told the outlet. “Basically, it was just him saying, ‘Hey, how are you?’ But he did it again and again.”

Two days later, the outlet confirmed that a since-deleted Instagram profile which reportedly belonged to the suspect, followed all three of the female victims.

In addition to frequenting the area of the women’s home, Kohberger also dined at the Moscow, Idaho, restaurant where both Madison and Xana were employed. A former employee told People that while his visits were without incident, he was a memorable customer due to his strict vegan order. It’s unclear whether either of the victims waited on Kohberger during these visits. 

The outlet later reported that witnesses recalled seeing Kohberger inside the university’s student union prior to the murders.

“It was really early in the semester,” one student told People in February 2023. “He was at the food court drinking water. He sat by himself.”

“He was the type to stare,” she added. “He wouldn’t look away if you caught him staring. Like he wanted you to notice that he was looking at you. He didn’t smile, didn’t nod, didn’t say anything. Just stared.”

The female student added that his “eye contact was making [her] uncomfortable.”

“It was so weird that we ended up leaving and eating outside, because we wanted to get away from him,” she said.

What Have the Victims’ Families Said?

Following Kohberger’s first court appearance on January 5, 2023, Kaylee Goncalves’ father, Steve Goncalves, revealed the suspect “picked the wrong family” to target.

“We’re not scared of a conflict. We’re not running. We’re coming at him, and the defendant has his hands full,” Goncalves told CNN Newsroom with Jim Sciutto and Erica Hill on January 6.

Goncalves claimed the murder suspect “hunted” the victims, but nobody understands why he was “stalking” them.

He added, “It’s very hard to take and I’ve said this before I thought maybe I should have put her in some gun safety courses or done something, but she had her phone right next to her and she couldn’t call 911.”

While talking about being in the same courtroom as Kohberger, Goncalves claimed the suspect “didn’t give [Goncalves] the opportunity” to “look him in the eye.

“He’s scared to look at me in the eyes and start to understand what’s about to happen to him,” the Goncalves told the publication.

Is the Case Going to Trial?

Bryan appeared in court on January 12 where he waived his right to a speedy trial. He is currently being held without bail and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 26.

Did the Victims Have a Run In With Police?

According to body cam footage released on January 11, police responded to a noise complaint at the victims’ house just three months before the murders. Kaylee was seen outside the home speaking with the responding officer who could be heard letting her off with a warning. 

What Was Found at Bryan Kohberger’s Home?

According to a search warrant obtained by In Touch on January 18, 2023, Idaho authorities noted they found a “possible animal hair strand” in the suspect’s home, which police believe could belong to victim Goncalves’ dog, Murphy. The dog was left unharmed at the murder scene.

Police also seized other items from Kohberger’s home, including a pillow with a “reddish/brown stain” and an item with a “collection of dark red” color, according to the documents. Authorities also discovered several “possible” strands of what appeared to be human hair.

Two months after Kohberger’s arrest, Michael Mancuso, the First Assistant District Attorney in Monroe County, revealed that the suspect was found wearing latex gloves and filling Ziploc bags with trash at the time of his arrest. 

“Mr. Kohberger was found awake in the kitchen area dressed in shorts and a shirt wearing latex medical type gloves and apparently was taking his personal trash and putting it into a separate Ziploc baggies,” Mancuso told BRC13 in March 2023.

What’s Going to Happen to the House?

The University of Idaho announced on February 24 that the owner of the home on Kings Street gave the house to the school which plans on demolishing the structure.

“This is a healing step and removes the physical structure where the crime that shook our community was committed,” the university president, Scott Green, said in a statement. “Sometimes it is hard to see beyond this tragedy. But the selfless acts, the deep engagement and loving support of our entire Vandal Family reminds me that there is so much good in the world. We will never forget Xana, Ethan, Madison and Kaylee, and I will do everything in my power to protect their dignity and respect their memory. Together we will rebuild and continue to support each other.”

In addition to the demolition of the home, the school plans on creating a memorial and healing garden on campus. 

What Happened at Kohberger’s Former Job? 

In March 2023, People reported that before Kohberger was fired from his teaching job at Washington State University, he was also a problematic employee at a “fish cutter” job in Pennsylvania while he was still in high school.

“He never warmed up and got friendly,” Kohberger’s alleged former boss, Charles Conklin, told the publication. “Most kids that work here, we consider like family. … He was withdrawn and didn’t show improvement.”

What Did Kohberger Keep From Victims?

According to the New York Post, Kohberger is suspected to have kept an unspecified ID belonging to one of the four victims. The ID was located in the glove compartment of his car, per the outlet.

Can the Surviving Roommate Clear Kohberger’s Name?

Kohberger’s defense team stated that Bethany Funke, the surviving roommate of Goncalves, Mogen and Kernodle, has “information material to the charges against Mr. Kohberger,” that are “exculpatory” to the suspect and can therefore clear his name, E! News reported in April 2023.

“Ms. Funke’s information is unique to her experiences and cannot be provided by another witness,” the investigator said, according to the outlet. “It is necessary to subpoena this witness because the witness’ testimony is material and necessary to this case.”

However, Funke’s attorney argued in a separate filing that the investigator’s claims have no merit to request a subpoena for the June 28, 2023, preliminary hearing.

“These statements are conclusory,” Funke’s attorney noted. “There is no further information of detail pertaining to substance of the testimony, its materiality or the alleged exculpatory information of Ms. Funke or why it would be entertained at a preliminary hearing.”

Funke’s attorney’s motion additionally pointed out that there is no need to summon a Nevada witness for an Idaho court hearing.

Was Bryan Kohberger Indicted by a Grand Jury?

On May 16, multiple outlets reported that Kohberger had been indicted by an Idaho grand jury. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 22 and is expected to enter a plea, according to NBC News.

The indictment allows prosecutors to bypass the previously scheduled preliminary hearing for June 26. It also eliminates the potential cross-examination of the victims’ two surviving roommates.

In light of the decision to enlist a grand jury, the state can now avoid the week-long preliminary hearing that would have required evidence to be presented before a judge. It also would have permitted the defense counsel to cross-examine witnesses.

Did Bryan Kohberger Plead Not Guilty to the Charges?

Judge John Judge read Kohberger’s rights and each of the murder and burglary charges he has been accused of during an arraignment held in a Latah County Court on May 22. Kohberger was asked if he understood the charges and he confirmed that he did.

When asked to enter his pleas on the counts of murder and burglary, Kohberger remained silent. “Your honor, we are standing silent,” his attorney said before the judge entered not guilty pleas for him.

Will Bryan Kohberger Face the Death Penalty?

Prosecutors will pursue the death penalty for Kohberger in the Idaho college murders case.

“The State gives this notice based on the fact that it has not identified or been provided with any mitigating circumstances sufficient to prohibit the triers of fact from considering all penalties authorized by the Idaho legislature including the possibility of a capital sentence,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing on June 26, according to CBS News. “Consequently, considering all evidence currently known to the State, the State is compelled to file this notice of intent to seek the death penalty.”

Additionally, the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office stated that officials have reserved the right to amend or withdraw the notice in the case.

When Does Bryan Kohberger’s Trial Start?

During a June 27, 2024, scheduling hearing, Judge John Judge ordered the trial to start on June 2, 2025.

“We’re getting to a point of diminishing returns,” he said.