Moscow murder suspect arrested

COEUR d’ALENE — Police arrested a Washington State University graduate student early Friday in connection with the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students.

Bryan C. Kohberger, 28, of Pullman, Wash., was arrested in Albrightsville, Pa. and charged with four counts of first degree murder. He is also charged with felony burglary due to allegedly breaking into the students’ home “with the intent to commit the crime of murder.”

Kohberger, who studied criminal justice and criminology at WSU, is being held without bond in Pennsylvania and will also be held without bond when he returns to Idaho. He appeared before a Pennsylvania judge on Friday and has been appointed a public defender.

The affidavit of probable cause, which is a summary of the evidence and circumstances leading to an arrest, will remain sealed until after Kohberger returns to Latah County. An extradition hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Kohberger allegedly murdered four students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin — in a rental home near the U of I campus in the early morning hours of Nov. 13.

Goncalves, Mogen and Kernodle were from Kootenai County and graduated from local schools, while Chapin was from Conway, Wash.

The four were close friends. The three young women lived together in the rental home with two other roommates. Kernodle and Chapin were dating; he was visiting the house on the night of the murders.

Moscow Police Chief James Fry said in a news conference Friday that law enforcement has received more than 19,000 tips and conducted more than 300 interviews so far.

In early December, after weeks of little visible progress, police asked the public for help finding the occupant of a white Hyundai Elantra spotted near the murder scene.

More tips poured in — and Fry confirmed Friday that police have located “an Elantra,” though he did not disclose where or if it belongs to Kohberger. Investigators have yet to recover the murder weapon, authorities said.

“The work is not done,” Fry said. “This has just started.”

Many details remain unknown at this stage, including whether Kohberger knew the victims or returned to the area after Nov. 13. But Fry said he believes the community is safe after Kohberger’s arrest.

“We have an individual in custody who committed these horrible crimes,” he said.

In a statement issued Friday, Ethan Chapin’s family expressed relief after the arrest and gratitude to the law enforcement agencies who investigated the murders.

“However, it doesn’t alter the outcome or alleviate the pain,” the family said. “We miss Ethan and our family is forever changed.”

University of Idaho President Scott Green thanked police during Friday’s news conference, as well as state-level leaders who provided resources to help investigate the case and secure the campus.

He also acknowledged the global interest generated by the case and the outpouring of support received by both the U of I community and the wider Moscow community.

“Kindness is contagious and provided a light that reclaimed ground lost to evil and darkness,” Green said.