Bryan Kohberger may have been inside his victims’ home before the night of their murders.
During their probe into the homicides of Kaylee Goncalves (aged 21), Madison Mogen (also 21), Xana Kernodle (20), and Ethan Chapin (20), Idaho authorities surmised that Kohberger had likely been monitoring or keeping close tabs on the area where the victims resided.
In fact, the lead prosecutor, Bill Thompson, stated on a July 30 episode of the podcast “48 Hours” that cell phone experts involved in the case claimed the criminology student had visited the area more than 20 times during night and early morning hours, which didn’t seem to have any legitimate purpose.
According to Thompson’s account, “We are convinced that those journeys were used by Mr. Kohberger for observing, scrutinizing, or following Ms. X.
Furthermore, during the proceedings, it was suggested that Kohberger, who admitted to the fatal stabbings as part of a plea bargain and is now serving a life sentence since July 23rd, might have entered the residence before November 13th, 2022.
Thompson added, ‘It’s plausible, although the investigators didn’t find any concrete proof. However, I believe it’s a reasonable assumption.’
As for why he believed Kohberger had visited the scene beforehand?
“The layout of the house is unique,” Thompson explained. “It’s a little bit confusing.”
Additionally, it wasn’t just one act of preparation the prosecutor claimed Kohberger might have undertaken prior to his alleged crimes. Thompson also pointed out information shared with law enforcement about Murphy, Gonclaves’ dog, which had been acting strangely in the weeks preceding the murders – specifically, it started wandering away from home and venturing into the woods.
During conversations with officials, some friends mentioned hearing sounds akin to someone walking in a forest, causing Thompson to speculate that Kohberger might have been surreptitiously befriending the dog as a means to access the house silently, avoiding any potential barking.
Thompson mentioned instances where the roommates felt they might have noticed someone lurking behind the house when the dog went outside, or suspected they were being trailed,” is one way to paraphrase it. The new sentence still conveys the original meaning in a natural and easy-to-read manner.
Regardless of some lingering uncertainty about the case, the prosecutor remains optimistic about the final verdict.
Thompson stated emphatically that there was no doubt about the conviction of the killer. Our goal was to ensure he stays in prison until his death, with no chances for appeals. This gives us and the families a sense of finality, closure for our community.
Keep reading for more on the Idaho murders case.
The following individuals – Kaylee Goncalves (age 21), Madison Mogen (also 21), Xana Kernodle (aged 20), and Ethan Chapin (who was 20 years old) – were students at the University of Idaho, residing in an apartment off campus.
On November 12, 2022, Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin, who were roommates, had different locations earlier that evening: Goncalves and Mogen were at a sports bar nearby, while Kernodle and Chapin attended the latter’s fraternity party. By 2 a.m. on November 13, all four of them returned to their three-story rental house.
As a passionate devotee, I’m proudly sharing that Goncalves, an esteemed senior majoring in general studies at the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, was set to graduate in December. Before embarking on an exciting journey to Austin, Texas, for a marketing job, as my trusted friend Jordyn Quesnell shared with The New York Times, this extraordinary individual has captured my admiration and anticipation.
Mogen, a marketing student, has been close friends with Goncalves since the 6th grade. It was revealed by family acquaintance Jessie Frost to The Idaho Statesman that she intends to relocate to Boise following graduation.
At that point, Kernodle was a junior studying marketing, as the university stated. She and Chapin, who specialized in recreation, sport, and tourism management, had been dating since the spring, according to their neighbor Ellie McKnight, as reported by NBC News.
Two residents, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, were at home when the murders occurred. Text messages released on March 6, 2025, reveal that Mortensen and Funke attempted to reach their fellow roommates following an incident on November 13, after Mortensen spotted a masked individual moving around in the house, as suggested by documents acquired by TopMob News.
“No one is answering,” Mortensen texted Funke at 4:22 a.m. “I’m rlly confused rn.”
She persistently contacted her roommates, encouraging them to reply. At 4:32 a.m., she messaged Goncalves saying, “Please respond,” and later on at 10:23 a.m., she inquired, “Are you awake?
11:58 a.m. saw a 911 call being made, as reported by TopMob News after receiving additional information, following the discovery of Kernodle in an unresponsive state. In the transcript, a woman identified as A1 explained the ongoing situation to the operator.
She stated over the phone, “One of our roommates is still unconscious from being intoxicated last night, and she won’t wake up. Also, they spotted a stranger in our home last night.
Bryan Kohberger, who currently faces charges for four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, was a Ph.D. student at Washington State University. Over a month after the bodies of Gonclaves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin were found, on December 30, Kohberger was apprehended in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. He was transported to Idaho on January 4, 2023.
It was through DNA evidence found on a knife sheath at the crime scene that authorities linked him to the murders, as reported by NBC News in their June 2023 court documents.
When the DNA didn’t correspond with anyone in the FBI database, authorities decided to search public ancestry websites to generate a pool of possible suspects, as stated in the documents. Upon discovering that Kohberger had visited his parents’ residence in Monroe County, local officials then examined their trash and found DNA links between it and the one discovered on the sheath.
Currently, no clear reason behind the attack has been disclosed, and a court order is in place restricting those connected to the case from discussing it openly. Nonetheless, some information about their initial defenses has become available through the released documents.
Lawyers for Kohberger presented a motion, as reported by TopMob News, to exclude the death penalty option. This is because, if found guilty on all charges, Kohberger could have faced capital punishment. However, it was stated that Kohberger has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The argument is that executing someone with ASD would be a breach of the Eighth Amendment’s ban on “inhumane and unusual punishment.
In simpler terms, the defense contends that Kohbereger exhibits inflexible thought patterns, repeatedly focuses on certain subjects, handles data fragmentedly, has difficulty anticipating events, and lacks self-awareness about his actions and feelings.
The statement notes that due to Asperger’s Syndrome, Mr. Kohberger struggles to conform to typical social norms. This raises significant concerns that he may face the death penalty not based on his wrongdoing, but because of his disability.
At his initial court appearance on May 2023, the judge entered a ‘not guilty’ plea for Kohberger regarding the first-degree murder charges as he remained silent during the arraignment. His trial was initially scheduled for October 2, 2023, but Kohberger voluntarily gave up his right to a swift trial in August 2023.
The starting date for his trial, initially planned over 300 miles away in Ada County while the homicides occurred in Latah County, has been fixed for August 11, 2025.
As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but reflect on the pivotal decision made by Judge John Judge back in September 2024. In a move that shook the very core of Latah County, he granted the transfer request from Kohberger’s defense, citing “presumed prejudice” as the primary reason for moving the trial away from our beloved community. It was a momentous decision that echoed through the county, leaving many of us questioning the course of justice in this captivating case.
In the ongoing trial, Judge Steven Hippler of Ada County refused the defense’s plea to exclude crucial DNA evidence, as well as cell phone and email records, security camera footage, previous Amazon transactions, and DNA findings from being presented.
On June 30, 2025, the trial for Kohberger’s murder case was unexpectedly halted when he opted for a plea bargain proposed by the prosecution. By accepting this agreement, Kohberger consented to confess his guilt on four counts of murder and one count of burglary, surrendered his right to file an appeal, and requested a less stringent prison term.
On July 2, 2025, he admitted his guilt in court, responding “yes” when the judge inquired whether he had intentionally, illegally, purposefully, and with prior planning, caused harm to all four victims, demonstrating a malicious intent.
On March 2025, a selfie taken by Kohberger the day after the murders was presented. In this picture, he stands in front of a shower with a thumbs up gesture, which aligns with the description given by a witness referred to as “D.M.” in court documents. This witness had noted that the suspect might have bushy eyebrows.
In an interview with Fox and Friends, Steve Goncalves, who is Kaylee’s father, later referred to the picture as a “trophy.
According to Gonclaves, he’s aware of the sequence of events. It seems he arrived at the crime scene shortly after returning, and it was then that he noticed no one had dialed 911 for help.
In his own words, “For him, that’s a small memento indicating, ‘I managed to slip through unnoticed.’
2025 Dateline documentary on the murders featured a former classmate of Kohberger’s who spoke about an “unusual” message she got from him following their encounter at a party.
Holly clarified that she felt somewhat compelled to talk to him since he appeared a bit uneasy, which is typical for someone new to a gathering like a party, possibly struggling to socialize and make connections.
The following day, Holly said she received a text from him, which she described as overly formal.
Hey there, I believe we discussed hiking trips yesterday,” Bryan’s message from July 10, 2022 at 1:19 p.m., stated according to Dateline. “I really love that pastime, so do keep me posted. Cheers!
In a recent exploration of my digital footprints, as I delve into the world of lifestyle and personal growth, I discovered an intriguing trail in a documentary titled “Dateline.” This path led me to my browsing history, which surprisingly contained queries about none other than Ted Bundy, the hauntingly captivating subject of many true crime narratives. Additionally, there was a curious search for Britney Spears’ hit song “Criminal,” its lyrics resonating in a way that left me pondering their deeper meaning. Last but not least, I stumbled upon references to the chilling University of Idaho Murders. This intriguing mix of topics, from crime and music to academia, paints an eclectic picture of my recent digital wanderings.
At a court hearing on July 2, 2025, Kohberger admitted his guilt for the murders of Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin, as well as one charge of burglary, after previously accepting a plea deal that would prevent him from receiving the death penalty. This was in Idaho.
When Judge Hippler asked Kohberger whether he intentionally, illegally, purposefully, and with prior planning and malicious intent killed each victim, he responded affirmatively to every query.
According to Hippler’s report, by accepting the plea deal, Kohberger relinquished his option to challenge the verdict or request a less strict prison term.
Despite both the Goncalves and Kernodle families expressing their disapproval of the plea deal, which removed the possibility of the death penalty, Thomas Kohberger was formally sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison on July 23, 2025.
Judge Hippler handed down four consecutive life sentences to Kohberger for each first-degree murder charge, with no chance of parole, along with a $50,000 fine and $5,000 civil penalty for each family of the victims. Additionally, he was given 10 years in prison and fined $50,000 on the burglary charge.
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2025-08-05 02:48