Idaho Student Murders
In the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students—Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle—were fatally stabbed in an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho. On December 30, 2022, authorities arrested 28-year-old Bryan Christopher Kohberger in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. At the time of the murders, Kohberger was a PhD student completing his first semester at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, located less than eight miles (13 km) west of Moscow.
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Case overview
In the predawn hours of November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death in their off-campus house at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho. The victims were Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. Two other roommates in the house were unharmed. The murders were discovered late morning when a roommate called 911. AP News
A six-week investigation traced the perpetrator through surveillance footage of a white Hyundai Elantra near the scene. Genetic genealogy analysis of DNA recovered from a knife sheath found near one victim produced a profile linked to Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, a criminology doctoral student at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, approximately ten miles away. His vehicle also matched surveillance records. Idaho AG Press Release
Kohberger was arrested December 30, 2022, at his parents' home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, where he had traveled for the holidays. The arrest followed brief FBI and Pennsylvania State Police surveillance. He was extradited to Idaho in January 2023, waived a preliminary hearing, and pleaded not guilty at his April 2023 arraignment. AP News
On July 2, 2025 — weeks before trial was set to begin — Kohberger pleaded guilty to all five charges in exchange for the prosecution withdrawing the death penalty. Washington Post On July 23, 2025, Judge Steven Hippler sentenced Kohberger to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole — one for each murder victim — plus 10 years for felony burglary. CNN
The case drew national attention for the brutality of the attack and the investigators' use of forensic genealogy — tracing crime-scene DNA to a suspect through distant relatives in commercial ancestry databases — the same technique used to identify the Golden State Killer. BBC News
Arrest and Initial Proceedings (2022–2023)
Bryan Kohberger, a criminology PhD student at Washington State University, was arrested on December 30, 2022, after genetic genealogy analysis linked him to DNA found on a knife sheath at the crime scene. AP News He was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. Kohberger was extradited from Pennsylvania in January 2023 and pleaded not guilty at his April 2023 arraignment in Latah County District Court.
Pre-Trial Proceedings (2023–2025)
The case was assigned to Judge Steven Hippler. Pre-trial hearings addressed the admissibility of genetic genealogy evidence, cell phone location data, and testimony from the surviving roommate. A gag order was imposed. In September 2024, the court granted a change of venue to Ada County (Boise). ABC News Prosecutors formally sought the death penalty.
Guilty Plea (July 2, 2025)
On July 2, 2025 — weeks before trial was set to begin — Kohberger pleaded guilty to all five charges: four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors withdrew the death penalty. Kohberger admitted to the killings and forfeited his right to appeal or seek post-conviction relief. Washington Post
Sentencing (July 23, 2025)
Judge Hippler sentenced Bryan Kohberger to four consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole — one for each murder victim — and an additional 10 years for felony burglary. He was also ordered to pay ,000 in fines and ,000 in restitution to victim families. Kohberger declined to speak at sentencing. CNN
Current Status
Kohberger is serving four consecutive life sentences at an Idaho state correctional facility. Per the plea agreement, he has no right to appeal. No appellate proceedings are pending.
July 23, 2025
Kohberger Sentenced to Four Consecutive Life Terms
Judge Steven Hippler sentenced Kohberger to four consecutive life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional ten years for felony burglary. Kohberger was also ordered to pay $250,000 in fines and $20,000 in restitution to the victims' families. His motive for the killings was never publicly established.
Source →June 30, 2025
Kohberger Agrees to Plead Guilty to Avoid Death Penalty
On June 30, 2025, it was announced that Kohberger had agreed to plead guilty to all counts in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. As part of the deal, Kohberger accepted four consecutive life sentences and waived all rights to future appeals, guaranteeing he will remain in prison for life.
Source →May 14, 2025
Kohberger Pleads Guilty
Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, receiving four consecutive life sentences without parole.
Source →September 9, 2024
Judge Grants Change of Venue to Boise
Judge Steven Hippler granted the defense motion for a change of venue, moving the trial from Moscow to Boise due to pretrial publicity concerns. Kohberger was transferred to Ada County jail on September 15, 2024. Judge Hippler tentatively set jury selection to begin August 4, 2025, with trial starting August 18.
Source →January 1, 2024
Judge Grants Defense Access to Genealogical DNA Evidence
In January 2024, the judge granted the defense access under seal to the results of the investigative genetic genealogy testing that first linked Kohberger to the crime scene via the touch DNA sample on the knife sheath. The ruling was significant as it gave the defense the ability to challenge a novel investigative technique central to the prosecution.
Source →June 26, 2023
Prosecutors Formally Seek Death Penalty
The Latah County Prosecutor's office formally announced it was seeking the death penalty against Kohberger, citing the aggravating circumstances of the four first-degree murder charges. Kohberger was denied bond and remained held at the Latah County jail.
Source →May 22, 2023
Probable Cause Affidavit Released
A detailed affidavit outlined how cell phone data, security footage, and DNA identified Kohberger.
Source →May 17, 2023
Grand Jury Indicts Kohberger on All Five Counts
The Latah County District Court announced that a grand jury indicted Kohberger on five charges: four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. The indictment replaced an earlier preliminary hearing that had been scheduled for June 26. Prosecutors subsequently announced they would seek the death penalty.
Source →December 30, 2022
Bryan Kohberger Arrested
Kohberger was arrested at his parents' home in Pennsylvania. DNA from a knife sheath left at the scene linked him to the murders.
Source →December 19, 2022
FBI Links Kohberger to Scene via Genealogical DNA
After Othram identified a close DNA relative, the FBI used genealogical DNA databases GEDmatch and MyHeritage to identify Bryan Kohberger as a suspect. Investigators began surveillance of Kohberger at his parents' Pennsylvania home, observing him wearing surgical gloves to dispose of trash. On December 19, Kohberger was also terminated from his WSU teaching assistant role.
Source →December 15, 2022
Police Seek White Hyundai Elantra on Surveillance
Moscow Police announced they were searching records of approximately 22,000 fifth-generation Hyundai Elantras (model years 2011–2013) after surveillance cameras captured a white or light-colored Elantra making multiple passes near the King Road residence between 3:29 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. on the night of the murders.
Source →
Ethan Chapin
University of Idaho student; one of four victims
Ethan Chapin was a vibrant 20-year-old student at the University of Idaho, known for his joyful spirit and love for life. He was deeply cherished by his family and friends, and was the beloved boyfriend of Xana Kernodle.
Anne Taylor
Anne Taylor is a seasoned defense attorney known for her role as lead counsel in the high-profile University of Idaho murder case. As an Idaho public defender, she represented Bryan Kohberger through pretrial proceedings until his guilty plea in 2025.
Bryan Kohberger
PhD student charged with 4 counts 1st-degree murder; trial set for 2025
PhD criminology student at Washington State University arrested December 30, 2022 for the murders of four University of Idaho students. He pled guilty in June 2025 to all four counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
Xana Kernodle
University of Idaho student; one of four victims
Xana Kernodle was a vibrant 20-year-old student at the University of Idaho, known for her lively spirit and close friendships. She was deeply cherished by her family and friends.
Madison Mogen
University of Idaho student; one of four victims
Madison Mogen was a vibrant 21-year-old University of Idaho student known for her warmth and close friendship with Kaylee Goncalves. She was cherished by her friends and family for her lively spirit and dedication to her studies.
Kaylee Goncalves
University of Idaho student; one of four victims
Kaylee Goncalves was a vibrant 21-year-old University of Idaho student from Rathdrum, Idaho, known for her lively spirit and close-knit friendships.
Cell phone and turned-off phone data
Kohberger's phone was turned off on multiple prior visits near the house. On the night of the murders, data showed movement consistent with traveling from WSU to Moscow and back.
apnews.comGenealogy DNA match through father
DNA from the knife sheath was run through public genealogy databases, which pointed to Kohberger's father. This led investigators to Bryan Kohberger as a suspect.
apnews.comGuilty plea — May 2025
Kohberger pleaded guilty to all four murders in May 2025. He was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without possibility of parole.
washingtonpost.comKohberger's white Hyundai Elantra
Surveillance footage captured a white Hyundai Elantra near the victims' house multiple times before the night of the murders. Kohberger owned a white Hyundai Elantra.
Moscow Police Department, via ABC News (Aug 2025)Ka-Bar knife sheath with DNA
A Ka-Bar knife sheath found at the crime scene contained DNA that matched Bryan Kohberger. This was the linchpin of the prosecution's case linking Kohberger to the murders.
AP Photo/Matt Rourke — Monroe County Courthouse, Jan 3 2023Eyewitness — surviving roommate
A surviving roommate reported seeing a masked figure in the house shortly after the murders. She had limited recall of the encounter, which became a point of contention.
apnews.com
Others
3Probable Cause Affidavit — Kohberger Arrest
Probable cause affidavit filed at time of arrest detailing DNA evidence from a knife sheath and cell phone location data.
Bryan Kohberger — Arrest Warrant & Affidavit (Unsealed, Dec 2022)
Unsealed court document filed in connection with the arrest of Bryan Kohberger for the murders of four University of Idaho students.
Bryan Kohberger — Moscow PD Probable Cause Affidavit
Moscow Police Department probable cause affidavit supporting the arrest of Bryan Kohberger for the Idaho student murders.