Investigators arrested a man in connection to the quadruple homicide investigation out of Moscow, Idaho, where four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death in the early morning hours of November 13.
Moscow Police hosted a press conference Friday afternoon where they identified 28-year-old Bryan Christopher Kohberger as a suspect who faces four first-degree murder charges for the deaths of Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves. He will also be charged with felony burglary.
More than six weeks after the crime, authorities arrested Kohberger in Pennsylvania on an active arrest warrant for murder in the first degree, issued through the Moscow Police Department and Latah County Prosecutor's Office. Pennsylvania State Police troopers made the arrest.
Moscow Police Chief James Fry says investigators did locate a Hyundai Elantra, but did not elaborate. Investigators continue searching for the murder weapon.
Bryan Kohberger's criminal complaint shows he was arrested in Pennsylvania on an active arrest warrant for murder in the first degree, issued through the Moscow Police Department and Latah County Prosecutor's Office. He awaits extradition to Idaho.#MoscowHomicides @IdahoNews6 pic.twitter.com/ecsbAivFkQ
— Karen Lehr (@KarenLehr) December 30, 2022
Kohberger was booked at the Monroe County Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania early Friday morning and awaits extradition to Idaho. Extradition paperwork was filed Friday and he will be back in court Tuesday afternoon in Pennsylvania.
Authorities said Friday Kohberger could waive his extradition, voluntarily return to Idaho, or authorities will take action to get Kohberger back to the Gem State but "that could take time". They asked the public for patience as the criminal justice process continues.
Chief James Fry would not share any information about a motive in the murders, as the investigation continues.
Idaho News 6 found records for Washington State University show Kohberger was pursuing a Ph.D. in Criminology. WSU is just over the border in Pullman, Washington, about a ten-minute drive from the University of Idaho.
A Reddit user who identified himself as Bryan Kohberger shared a request seven months ago asking people to participate in a research project "that seeks to understand how emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime."
NEW: In a Reddit post published 7 months ago asked for participation in a study attached with Kohberger's name that asked questions about how a crime was committed, how victims were targeted, and how someone would leave a crime scene. @IdahoNews6 pic.twitter.com/YWHrvFHpLV
— Jake Garcia (@JakeGarciaTV) December 30, 2022
A link to an online survey asks participants to detail their thoughts and feelings throughout the commission of a recent crime.
Questions in Kohberger's research survey via DeSales University included:
- How did you travel to and enter the location where the crime occurred?
- After arriving, what steps did you take prior to locating the victim or target? Please detail your thoughts and feelings.
- Why did you choose that victim or target over others?
- Before making your move, how did you approach the victim or target? Please detail what you were thinking and feeling.
- What was the first move you made in order to accomplish your goal? Please detail any thoughts and feelings at this point.
- Before leaving, is there anything else you did?
- How did you leave the scene?
- After committing the crime, what were you thinking and feeling?
DeSales University released a statement Friday writing, "On Friday, December 30, DeSales University learned of the arrest of Bryan Kohberger in connection with the murder of four University of Idaho students. Kohberger received a bachelor’s degree in 2020 and completed his graduate studies in June 2022. As a Catholic, Salesian community, we are devastated by this senseless tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families during this difficult time."
DeSales University is located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, not far from where Kohberger was taken into custody.
We also know Idaho court records show Kohberger was in Latah County, Idaho, in August. He received a seatbelt infraction on August 21, and later paid a 10-dollar fine in September. The online records do not indicate what kind of car Kohberger was driving at the time. We have requested those documents and will update this article when we learn more.
As we previously reported, police have been asking the public for weeks about any information related to a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra they believe was in the immediate area of the crime scene at the time of the murders. We learned Friday that investigators found "an Elantra" during the investigation into Kohberger but they did not share many details.
Police were also present at Kohberger's Pullman, Washington apartment Friday.
