MOSCOW, Idaho, Dec. 30, 2022 (Gephardt Daily) — A 28-year-old graduate student at Washington State University has been arrested in the Nov. 13 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students.
Bryan Christopher Kohberger, of Pullman, Washington, was arrested Thursday night in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, with assistance from Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI, Moscow Police Chief James Fry announced at a news conference Friday.
Kohberger is being held without bail in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, while he awaits extradition to Idaho on four counts of first-degree murder, as well as felony burglary, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said.
Law enforcement officials did not release any additional details about his arrest, citing Idaho state law prohibiting their release until Kohberger has his initial court appearance in Idaho.
“These murders have shaken our community, and no arrest will ever bring back these young students,” Fry said. “However, we do believe justice will be found through the criminal process.”
Police say Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington; Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Idaho, were sleeping when they were stabbed to death at the rental home at 1122 King Road near campus.
“These tragic murders took four young, vibrant lives from our community,” said Col. Kendrick Wills, director of the Idaho State Police. “Nothing we do can bring them back. The only thing that we can do in law enforcement to honor their memories that we know of is to bring this to a successful conclusion.”
Police have received more than 19,000 tips and conducted more than 300 interviews since the students’ deaths, Fry said.
University of Idaho President Scott Green called news of the arrest a “relief to our university, our community and our extended Vandal family.”
“While we cannot bring back Maddie, Kaylee, Xana and Ethan, we can thoughtfully and purposefully carry their legacy forward in the work that we do,” Green said. “Our students come first and that was proven each and every day of this investigation.
“We are committed to safely delivering the college-town atmosphere, campus experience and high-touch quality education for which the University of Idaho is known. With time we will heal. We will move forward together, and we will remain Vandal strong.”
