Bryan Kohberger, the suspect charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one felony count of burglary in relation to the November 13, 2022, murders of four University of Idaho students, has undergone a series of legal proceedings since his arrest. This timeline outlines the key events in his case.
- November 13, 2022: Four University of Idaho students, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, are brutally murdered in their off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho.
- January 3, 2023: Bryan Kohberger is arrested on four counts of first-degree murder and one felony count of burglary. He is appointed a public defender and detained without bond at the Monroe County Correctional Facility in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
- January 4, 2023: Kohberger agrees to extradition and is flown to Pullman, Washington. From there, he is driven to the Latah County jail in Moscow, Idaho, where he is held without bail.
- January 5, 2023: Kohberger makes his first appearance in the Latah County Courthouse and is formally charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
- January 12, 2023: Kohberger makes his second appearance for a status conference in the same courtroom at the Latah County Courthouse.
- May 17, 2023: The Latah County District Court announces that Kohberger has been indicted by a grand jury on five charges, including four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. A preliminary probable cause hearing scheduled for June 26 is canceled following the indictment.
- May 2023: Kohberger refuses to enter a plea during his arraignment. His attorney states that he is “standing silent” on the charges. The judge enters a ‘not guilty’ plea on his behalf.
- June 26, 2023: The Latah County Prosecutor’s office announces its intention to seek the death penalty for Kohberger, citing statutory aggravating circumstances related to the first-degree murder charges. Kohberger remains incarcerated in the Latah County Jail and maintains his ‘not guilty’ plea to all charges.
The families of the victims have been eagerly awaiting answers since Kohberger’s arrest in January 2023. A gag order was imposed, limiting the flow of information to the victims’ families. Recently, Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial to provide his defense team with more time to prepare for the case. This decision has been regarded as strategic, given the substantial volume of evidence, much of which remains confidential.
In a surprising development, an online newsletter, Air Mail, has reported new details about the night of the murders. According to the publication, the grand jury heard that two roommates who survived the attack were allegedly awake during the killings and communicated via text messages as the assailant moved through the house. Additionally, the report alludes to the existence of another secret witness.
While initial law enforcement statements suggested that the roommates had slept through the tragedy, an affidavit later revealed that one of the women was awakened by sounds resembling Kaylee Goncalves playing with her dog. She heard a voice, which she believed to be Goncalves, uttering, “there’s someone here,” followed by crying. The witness opened her door to observe a masked individual passing by, leaving her “frozen … in shock.” Surprisingly, no one contacted 911 until the following day. Air Mail claims that a witness is available to provide an account of the sequence of events, but the FBI is safeguarding their identity.
The circumstances of that tragic night remain veiled in uncertainty, prompting speculation about the actual events. Nevertheless, experts predict that it will be a substantial wait, with Bryan Kohberger not expected to face a jury until next year.
