A Detailed Look at the University of Idaho Murders
Left to right: Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, and Xana Kernodle (Images via Instagram).
On November 13th, four college students were brutally murdered by stabbing in their off-campus home during the early hours of the morning. After a month and a half, the police have now taken a suspect into custody.
Article by Georgia Simon, Associate Reporter
MOSCOW, Idaho - On December 30th, Bryan Kohberger, 28, was arrested in Pennsylvania with ties to the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, at The University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.
The students involved in the murder:
Madison Mogen was 21 years old, from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and was a senior majoring in marketing. She was a part of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Kaylee Goncalves was 21 years old, from Rathdrum, Idaho and was a senior majoring in general studies. She was a part of the Alpha Phi sorority.
Xana Kernodle was 20 years old, from Post Falls, Idaho and was a junior majoring in marketing. She was a part of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Ethan Chapin was 20 years old, from Mount Vernon, Washington., and was a freshman majoring in recreation, sport and tourism management. He was a part of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle were all roommates while Chapin was dating Kernodle. There were two other roommates in the house and both survived, neither are considered suspects. There was also a dog, named Murphy, in the home during the crime.
The timeline of the murder is as followed:
On Saturday, November 12th, Kernodle, and her boyfriend, Chapin, went to the Sigma Chi frat house when they got back home at 1:45 in the morning. Chapin was sleeping over.
While Mogen and Goncalves, best friends, went out to a bar in downtown Moscow that same night, at a place named the Corner Club until 1:30 am. They then were seen at a local food truck titled Grub Truck before getting home at 1:45 am.
The other two roommates were home by 1 am after also being in Moscow. The police do not believe that anyone in the house at the time is a suspect.
The police believe that the killing happened between 3 and 4 am on Sunday while the two other roommates were asleep in the basement and slept through the crime. They called 911 at 11:58 am in response to someone unconscious, where the officers found the four murdered students on the second and third floors.
There was an autopsy performed on Thursday, November 17th, where their deaths were confirmed by stabbing, which happened most likely while they were asleep. There was no sign of sexual exploitation, however, some of them had signs of defense mechanisms against the killer, which caused wounds in the autopsy.
Chapin had a memorial service on Mon., Nov. 21st where he was described by his mother as “one of the most incredible people you’ll ever know.”
On Monday, November 28th, Steve Goncalves, one of the victim's fathers, explained that an earlier 911 call would not have saved their lives as they were dying fast. He also said that “nobody suffered” and “nobody felt that pain.”
"I know that there's some really good, hard-working guys and girls that are in this case that I've met,” Goncalves said. “They looked me in the eyes and they told me straight-out that they're working and they're doing everything in their power.”
There was a candlelight ceremony at the University on Wednesday, November 30th, for families and classmates. Many families of the victims spoke.
"We are eternally grateful that we spent so much time with him,” Stacy Chapin, Chapin’s mother, said. “Make sure that you spend as much time as possible with those people. Because time is precious and it's something you can't get back."
Since the sixth grade, Mogen and Goncalves were best friends and according to Steve Goncalves they “died together in the same room, in the same bed.”
On December 7th, police were tracking a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra in hopes of speaking to the driver as he was seen close by to where the crime took place.
Kohberger was arrested in Chestnuthill Township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. He was arrested on a “fugitive from justice warrant” according to the Pennsylvania State Police Department. Investigators have not yet found a motive nor a murder weapon.
He has been charged with felony burglary on one count and first-degree murder on four counts.
"This is not the end of this investigation. In fact, this is a new beginning,” Bill Thompson, Latah County prosecutor, the county of the University of Idaho, said.
Although a suspect is in custody, authorities are encouraging the public to send in any information to the tip line at 208-883-7180, tipline@ci.moscow.id.us, or for any images to fbi.gov/moscowidaho.