Murder Spree at Idaho College: Chronological Account of Occurrences
In a shocking turn of events, Bryan Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students on July 2, 2025. Kohberger will spend the rest of his life behind bars, having been sentenced to four consecutive life sentences on July 23, 2025.
The tragic incident occurred on the night of November 13, 2022, when four students, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle, were stabbed to death in an off-campus house on 1122 King Road.
On the fateful night, roommates Goncalves and Mogen went out in Moscow, while Ethan Chapin attended a formal and later went to his Sigma Chi fraternity house. Two other roommates also went out. Just before 4:30 a.m., the two surviving roommates were texting back and forth, growing frightened as their calls and texts to the four victims went unanswered.
Kohberger, who claimed he was driving alone on the night of the murders, according to a court filing submitted on Aug. 2, 2023, entered the house through the kitchen sliding door, went to the third floor, and fatally stabbed Mogen and Goncalves. He then killed Kernodle and Chapin.
The police announced on Dec. 7, 2022, that they were looking to speak with the driver of a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra that was seen near the victims' house early on Nov. 13. A Washington State University police officer found Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra on Nov. 29, 2022. Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania on Dec. 30, 2022.
DNA from trash recovered from Kohberger's parents' house in Pennsylvania matched the father of the male who left DNA on the knife sheath dropped by one of the victim's bodies. However, the motive for the murders remains unknown.
The trial was initially set for June 2025 but was pushed back to August 2025 on Oct. 9, 2024. In a surprising turn, the trial was moved from Latah County to the capital city of Boise, agreeing with the defense who argued that Latah County was tainted by pretrial publicity on Sept. 12, 2024.
The University of Idaho resumed classes on Jan. 11, 2023, for the first time since Kohberger's arrest. The scene of the crime, 1122 King Road, was demolished on Dec. 28, 2023.
At 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, Kernodle received a DoorDash order. It is unclear whether Kohberger was in a different city than Moscow on November 13, 2022.
Kohberger did not respond during his arraignment on May 22, 2023, allowing a not guilty plea to be entered on his behalf. On June 30, 2025, Kohberger agreed to plead guilty to all charges.
The tragic event has left a lasting impact on the community, with the victims' families and friends seeking justice and closure. The guilty plea brings a sense of resolution, but the loss will forever be felt.
