Five things to know about the Moscow murder case

A heinous act of violence occurred in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, that shocked the Moscow community and the world.

Four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death in their home. More than a month after the crime, a suspect was arrested on the other side of the country. Bryan Kohberger remains in Latah County Jail and faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.

As this story continues to evolve and unfold, here are five important factors about the Moscow murders to remember.

The people

The four victims found slain in their King Road home just off the University of Idaho campus were UI students and friends Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.

Chapin, 20, was a freshman from Mount Vernon, Wash., and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity majoring in recreation, sport and tourism management. He was dating 20-year-old Xana Kerndole, a junior from Post Falls majoring in marketing in the College of Business and Economics and a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.

Madison Mogen, 21, also a Pi Beta Phi member, was a senior from Coeur d’Alene majoring in marketing, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, was a senior from Rathdrum majoring in general studies. She was a member of the Alpha Phi. Mogen and Goncalves were childhood friends.

The suspect, Kohberger, is a 29-year-old former Pullman resident and Washington State University graduate student. He studied in WSU’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. He was arrested Dec. 30 at his parents’ home in Chestnuthill Township, Pa.

Kohberger is being represented by a team of attorneys led by Kootenai County Public Defender Anne Taylor. The prosecution is being led by Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson. The case is currently being held in Latah County District Court, where District Judge John Judge presides.

Multiple police agencies played a role in the investigation of this case, including the Moscow Police Department, the Latah County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, WSU Police, Pullman Police and the FBI.

The evidence

The attorneys on both sides of this case are sorting through a mountain of evidence involved in their respective investigations of Kohberger and the murders. Some of this evidence is already known. The rest will be revealed during the trial.

The probable cause affidavit that was released shortly after Kohberger’s arrest highlights evidence that led to Kohberger becoming the prime suspect.

The affidavit states that cellular data from Kohberger’s phone allegedly shows he was in the coverage area of King Road at least 12 times prior to the Nov. 13 murders. All of those occasions, other than one, allegedly occurred in the late evening and early morning hours.

Police believe the murders occurred between 4-4:25 a.m. Nov. 13. According to the affidavit, two surviving roommates were home during the attacks. One of them even witnessed the killer and gave police a physical description.

Based on surveillance footage, police sought a white Hyundai Elantra that was allegedly in the King Road neighborhood around the time of the murders. A white Hyundai Elantra registered to Kohberger was seized at his parents’ home during the arrest.

Police also seized knives, a gun, a cellphone and black masks following a search of the suspect’s vehicle and parents’ home in Pennsylvania.

While investigating the crime scene at the King Road home, police found a knife sheath that had “Ka-Bar,” “USMC,” and the United States Marine Corps eagle globe and anchor insignia stamped on its outside.

The Idaho State Lab later found a single source of male DNA on the button snap of the knife sheath. Police believe this is Kohberger’s DNA after comparing it to DNA evidence police obtained from the trash at Kohberger’s parents’ house two days before he was arrested.

The route

According to police, cellular data and surveillance footage allowed them to detail the alleged route Kohberger took in his vehicle Nov. 13.

Cell data allegedly shows him in Moscow near the King Road residence on at least 12 occasions between June 2022 and Nov. 13. Almost all of those occasions occurred in the late evening and early morning hours.

The affidavit says a white sedan was in the King Road neighborhood between 3:29 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. Nov. 13. Then it left the area and made its way to the WSU campus in Pullman.

This data didn’t show his cellphone being used near the King Road residence between 3-5 a.m. Nov. 13, but the affidavit stated criminals can leave their phone at another location or turn their phone off prior to committing a crime.

The cellphone shows it returning to Moscow between 9-9:21 a.m., before heading back to Pullman. He then allegedly drove his white Hyundai Elantra to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley later that day. Cell data and surveillance footage of a white Elantra around 12:30 p.m. show that he was allegedly near Kate’s Cup of Joe and Chef’s Store on Port Drive in Clarkston

Video from the Clarkston Albertson’s at 12:49 p.m. allegedly shows Kohberger and his Elantra at the store.

Interior surveillance cameras show the suspect walking through the store, purchasing unknown items at the checkout and leaving at approximately 1:04 p.m.

His phone then stops reporting to a network between 5:36-8:30 p.m.

Kohberger in court

Kohberger arrived in Moscow on Jan. 4, 2023, and was promptly booked into Latah County Jail. Thus began a long and ongoing court case.

Kohberger was indicted by a grand jury in May 2023 during a private hearing. His attorneys later unsuccessfully challenged this indictment based on grounds of improper jury instructions, burden of proof and inadmissible evidence.

Following this indictment, Judge entered a not guilty plea on Kohberger’s behalf when the defendant chose to stand silent rather than enter a plea himself.

Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, which vacated a scheduled October 2023 trial. When asked to present an alibi defense, Kohberger in August 2023 indicated he went on a late drive alone around the time of the Nov. 13 quadruple murders in Moscow, but did not go to the King Road crime scene.

With a new trial on the horizon, he will have a chance to present new information about an alibi.

The prosecution and defense continue to debate what evidence can and should be disclosed. In the meantime, investigators gathered the final evidence they needed from the King Road house in fall 2023, including photographs, measurements and video footage. The home was demolished in December 2023, a year after Kohberger’s arrest.

The UI, which took ownership of the home, said the demolition was meant to serve as a healing step for the community. The Goncalves family, however, protested the demolition and expressed concern the home could still provide valuable evidence.

Trial

As of the publication of this article, no trial date has been set.

Both Thompson and Taylor are aiming for a 2025 trial, but they disagree on the date. Thompson is angling for a March 2025 date, while Taylor said she needs more time to sort through the massive amount of evidence in the case. She asked to delay it until June 2025.

The location of the trial also remains up for debate. Taylor argued that the “inflammatory pretrial publicity,” the small size of the community and the severity of Kohberger’s charges would make it impossible to find a fair and impartial pool of jurors for a Latah County trial.

Thompson has argued that it is too early to decide on a venue. In a court filing, he wrote that there needs to be affidavits showing there is prejudice in the community, and testimonies showing jurors have formed an opinion on the defendant based on adverse pretrial publicity.

Thompson argued in front of Judge that changing the trial venue is not necessary because of the widespread attention this case has received outside of Moscow. He said it will be difficult to find a county where people are unfamiliar with Kohberger. Thompson pointed out that simply being aware of the publicity surrounding the case doesn’t disqualify a juror.

Both parties plan to debate the venue issue further in an upcoming hearing.