(NewsNation) — The brutal 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Moscow, Idaho, in a case that has commanded the attention of the country years later.

Bryan Kohberger is accused of murdering Kaylee Goncalves, 22; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. The students were found with fatal stab wounds in an off-campus rental home in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022.

A little over a month after the killings, Kohberger was arrested at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania on Dec. 30 and extradited to Idaho. He now faces four charges of first-degree murder and one charge of burglary.

Kohberger has since pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

University of Idaho students attend party, hang out at sports bar

Nov. 12, 2022: Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, who were dating, attended a party at the Sigma Chi fraternity house around 8 p.m. About two hours later, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves hung out at the Corner Club, a local sports bar in Moscow, for a few hours.

University of Idaho students stabbed

Nov. 13, 2022: Video shows Mogen and Goncalves ordering food at about 1:40 a.m. from Grub Truck, a local vendor. They can be seen chatting with each other and other people near the truck while waiting for their food. They then used a “private party” to catch a ride home.

At approximately 1:45 a.m., Chapin, Kernodle, Mogen and Goncalves arrive back at their off-campus rental home on King Road. The three women lived at the house with two other roommates. Chapin, Kernodle’s boyfriend, was staying the night there.

Investigators believe the four students, thought to be sleeping at the time, were fatally stabbed between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. According to the coroner, there was no sign of sexual assault.

Just before noon, the two surviving roommates woke up and found one of the victims on the second floor unresponsive. Other friends were called over to the house. At 11:58 a.m., someone called 911 on one of the surviving roommates’ phones about an “unconscious individual.”

Responding officers discovered a bloody scene and the four students dead.

University of Idaho stabbing victims identified

Nov. 14, 2022: Police identified the students killed as Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle and Chapin.

The University of Idaho released the following information about the victims:

• Chapin was a freshman from Mount Vernon, Washington. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity majoring in recreation, sport and tourism management.
• Kernodle was a junior from Post Falls, Idaho. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority majoring in marketing in the College of Business and Economics.
• Goncalves was a senior from Rathdrum, Idaho. She was a member of Alpha Phi sorority majoring in general studies in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences.
• Mogen was a senior from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority majoring in marketing in the College of Business and Economics.

Weapon revealed in University of Idaho killings

Nov. 15, 2022: Moscow police announced the killer used a knife or another “edged weapon” in the attack. Days later, investigators officially named the cause of death “homicide — murder.”

Nov. 22, 2022: The University of Idaho said students could choose between in-person or remote learning through the end of the semester. Twenty-five to 40% of students decided not to return to campus, according to reports. Idaho student Megan Stanley told NewsNation: “There’s so much tension, there’s so much fear. With a couple of weeks left in the semester and finals approaching, the campus should be full of students and really lively. And I feel like I’m only seeing a handful of students walking around.”

Manhunt for Idaho college killer begins; Bryan Kohberger gets pulled over

Dec. 7, 2022: The Moscow Police Department asked the public for help in finding a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra that was spotted near the murder scene. Investigators believed the occupant or occupants of the car may have “critical information to share.”

Dec. 15, 2022: Bryan Kohberger was pulled over twice within a nine-minute timespan on I-70 in Indiana. He wasn’t given a ticket for either traffic stop and was let go by authorities. Indiana State Police later released body camera footage of Kohberger’s second stop in a white Hyundai Elantra.

Dec. 28, 2022: With no suspect in custody weeks after the Idaho murders, the small college town of Moscow remained on edge. Moscow police said only limited information about the investigation could be shared.

“It’s still very sad, scary, still locking our doors, which is new, never did before,” Moscow resident Hans Winckler told NewsNation.

Bryan Kohberger arrested in connection to killings

Dec. 30, 2022: Authorities in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, arrested Kohberger, then 28, of Pullman, Washington, in connection with the Idaho college killings. Kohberger, a Ph.D. criminology student at Washington State University, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary.

Sources confirmed to NewsNation’s Brian Entin that Kohberger was on suicide watch in the Pennsylvania jail where he was being held. At one point, Kohberger, who had a “blank stare,” asked officers whether anyone else was arrested.

Jan. 3, 2023: Latah County Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall issued a sweeping gag order related to the case. The order prohibited attorneys, investigators and law enforcement personnel from talking with media outlets or issuing statements unless they were directly quoting a court document.

Jan. 4, 2023: Kohberger was extradited to Idaho to face charges. He was taken to Latah County Jail in Moscow, less than two miles from the site where the killings took place. Kohberger was formally charged in connection with the students’ deaths and denied bail during his first court appearance.

DNA led to Bryan Kohberger’s arrest: Affidavit

Jan. 5, 2023: The affidavit detailing allegations against Kohberger was unsealed. Court records showed that investigators identified Kohberger as the suspect through a combination of DNA evidence at the scene, cellphone records and the suspect’s white Hyundai Elantra.

Authorities said they found a “tan leather knife sheath” with “a single source of male DNA left” on it. They compared the DNA sample to DNA belonging to Kohberger’s father from trash at the Kohberger family residence in Pennsylvania to show a familial link.

Jan. 11, 2023: University of Idaho students return to campus for the first day of class after winter break. The dean of students told NewsNation that most students who feared coming back to campus after the killings were feeling safe enough to return.

Bryan Kohberger indicted by grand jury

May 17, 2023: A grand jury indicted Kohberger on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in connection to the killings — the same charges prosecutors announced in December.

May 22, 2023: Kohberger declined to enter a plea in court, instead electing to stand silent at his arraignment. That move led the judge to enter not-guilty pleas for the murder and burglary charges against Kohberger.

June 23, 2023: An Idaho judge denied a request from multiple news outlets to lift the gag order, but he did narrow its restrictions. Judge said it was well advised to keep attorneys involved in the case from making statements about it, but he called the original gag order that included barring law enforcement and others related to the case from talking with the press “overbroad and vague in some areas.”

Prosecutors seek death penalty for Bryan Kohberger

June 26, 2023: Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty against Kohberger. In a court notice, the state said it found several aggravating factors in the stabbing deaths, which is a requirement under Idaho law in the pursuit of the death penalty.

If Kohberger is found guilty, jurors may have to consider that a punishment of the death penalty could mean a possibility it would be carried out by firing squad following the passage of an Idaho bill.

Motion to dismiss Bryan Kohberger case

July 25, 2023: Kohberger’s attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the grand jury indictment against their client, arguing the grand jury was misled about the standard of proof or what the state needs to convince jurors of to secure an indictment.

Aug. 2, 2023: In a court filing, a defense attorney said Kohberger has “long had a habit of going for drives alone” and was doing just that at the time of the killings. “He was out, driving during the late night and early morning hours of November 12-13,” attorney Anne Taylor wrote. She later added, “Mr. Kohberger was out driving alone.”

According to the affidavit, cellphone records placed Kohberger near the crime scene at least a dozen times before the killings and back around the King Road house again from 9:12 a.m. to 9:21 a.m. on Nov. 13. There were also windows of time when his phone was believed to be out of service.

Aug. 23, 2023: Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial.

Sept. 7, 2023: University of Idaho officials again decided to hold off on the destruction of the King Road house where the killings took place. This is the second time the university delayed the tear-down. A new demolition date was not released, but the university committed to waiting to destroy the house until at least mid-December. Goncalves’ parents fought to pause the demolition, insisting it would be “good for the case.”

Bryan Kohberger trial delayed

Oct. 2, 2023: Kohberger’s trial was originally scheduled to begin in Moscow, but his move to waive his right to a speedy trial pushed back the trial date.

Oct. 26, 2023: Kohberger’s request to dismiss the indictment connected to the killings was denied, meaning the indictment against the suspected killer remained.

The judge also decided to keep cameras in the courtroom, saying he would “take more control” of them.

Oct. 31, 2023: In a news release, the University of Idaho said Kohberger’s trial was delayed “indefinitely.” With the extension, the FBI returned to the King Road house to gather measurements and images as part of the quadruple homicide investigation.

University of Idaho killings: One year later

Nov. 13, 2023: Thousands of people gathered at the University of Idaho to hold a vigil for the slain college students one year after their deaths.

Dec. 1, 2023: A critical DNA deadline was set for Dec. 1. A judge ordered prosecutors to turn over DNA evidence in the case by the date. Investigators used genetic genealogy, which looks at public DNA sites to build a family tree to narrow down a suspect, to identify Kohberger.

Dec. 15, 2023: Judge ruled the grand jury indictment was conducted properly and will stand. Kohberger’s attorneys previously filed motions asking the judge to throw out the indictment.

Prosecutors against Kohberger asked for his trial to be scheduled for the summer of 2024. Their goal was to have the trial’s time frame avoid the academic calendar for the university and surrounding high schools.

Idaho house destroyed

Dec. 28, 2023: The University of Idaho demolished the home where four of its students were fatally stabbed. Neither the defense nor the prosecution contested the demolition, but at least two of the victims’ families argued the demolition should be postponed until after Kohberger’s trial.

Jan. 3, 2024: NewsNation learned exclusively that after the Idaho house was demolished, the remaining pieces of the home were taken to a solid processing facility and buried deep underground due to concern that some people may try to take souvenirs from the scene.

Bryan Kohberger’s courtroom battle

Jan. 12, 2024: Kohberger’s lawyers asked the court to unseal a motion to dismiss the case. The defense argued the public has a right to be informed on the motion and pleadings, despite the gag order that is in place in the case.

Jan. 26, 2024: Kohberger made a second attempt at getting charges against him thrown out, claiming there was improper conduct during the grand jury proceedings. The motion was later denied.

Kohberger’s defense team also pushed back against the possibility of a summer trial, citing the overwhelming volume of evidence, including 51 terabytes of data, to be examined.

Jan. 31, 2024: Kohberger’s defense filed a “change of venue” motion. Instead of asking to move the trial out of Latah County, the defense asked to bring in jurors from outside the county, pointing to “extensive, inflammatory pretrial publicity” that may influence a local jury.

Bryan Kohberger in court, attorneys ask for venue change

Feb. 28, 2024: The 29-year-old appeared in court to discuss the timeline for the killings on trial. His attorneys pushed for a venue change and discussed the investigative genetic genealogy evidence in the case.

March 1, 2024: The victims’ families shared anger over continued uncertainty in the trial, saying they want justice for their loved ones.

April 5, 2024: Attorneys argued over questions in a phone survey intended to gauge how much locals know about the criminal case against Kohberger.

April 10, 2024: Lawyers returned to court after prosecutors argued the survey violated the standing gag order. Judge said the survey questions were too specific and jeopardized Kohberger’s right to a fair trial if the trial remained in Latah County.

Kohberger’s public defender, Anne Taylor, indicated that she conducted the survey as part of an effort to get the trial moved from the county, given the media attention the case has created.

Bryan Kohberger’s new alibi

April 18, 2024: Kohberger submitted a new alibi, claiming he was out driving the night four Idaho students were murdered.

In the alibi, Kohberger’s legal team claimed he likes to go out for hikes and late-night drives and that he was out watching “the moon and the stars” the night of the murders. They disputed that Kohberger was near the victims’ house when police believed the crime happened and said he was driving in the area of Pullman, Washington, several miles west of the college in Moscow, Idaho.

April 23, 2024: Judge ruled Kohberger’s team could resume phone surveys of potential jurors.

Defense questions evidence in Bryan Kohberger case

May 3, 2024: Kohberger’s defense claimed evidence is being withheld by the prosecution.

May 23, 2024: In a pretrial hearing, a Moscow police detective admitted that, just the day before, he came upon cellphone data that had not previously been discovered and written into a formal police report. There was no word on what that data revealed or whether it was relevant to establishing Kohberger’s whereabouts.

June 27, 2024: It was announced that Kohberger’s trial is expected to start in June 2025.

University of Idaho unveils healing garden

Aug. 23, 2024: The University of Idaho unveiled a campus healing garden in memory of the four students. The Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial was designed, vetted and built by students in the College of Art and Architecture Design-Build Program with guidance from faculty and alumni.

Aug. 30, 2024: Kohberger’s team renewed push for a change in venue, asking the court to move his upcoming murder trial to Boise. Victims’ families protested moving the trial out of Moscow.

Judge grants venue change in Bryan Kohberger case

Sept. 6, 2024: Kohberger’s attorneys filed challenges to the state’s capital punishment plan. In 13 filings, they argued that “Idaho has no viable method for killing” in a death penalty case, adding that the state’s death penalty plan violates the U.S. Constitution.

Sept. 16, 2024: Judge granted a venue change for Kohberger, saying the massive publicity of the case would make it difficult for his lawyers to find impartial jurors in Latah County and would also likely cause hardship on the local courthouse staff. 

Sept. 19, 2024: The court announced Kohberger’s trial will be livestreamed. No outside filming, however, will be permitted in the courtroom or in court-controlled floors and areas of the Ada County Courthouse.

Sept. 26, 2024: Judge Steven Hippler allowed Kohberger to wear civilian clothes for the next hearing only and that future decisions about his attire would be made prior to each hearing, based on security concerns.

Bryan Kohberger trial postponed again

Oct. 9, 2024: The Idaho judge hearing the multiple murder case against Bryan Kohberger postponed the trial from June to August of 2025.

Oct. 17, 2024: As the second anniversary of the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho college students neared, their families asked for help to afford travel costs to attend the trial in Boise. Two families set up fundraising pages to fund their travels.

Nov. 7, 2024: In a Boise courtroom, Kohberger’s attorneys claimed the state lacks the means to carry out humane executions, arguing he could face death by firing squad.

University of Idaho killings: Two years later

Nov. 13, 2024: Wednesday marked the two-year anniversary since the four students were stabbed to death inside their off-campus housing. At this point, the trial had not started, with an expected start date of Aug. 11, 2025.

Nov. 16, 2024: New benches, including a “Bestie Bench,” were put up in honor of the four students killed. They overlook Lake Coeur d’Alene, where the four spent much of their time, according to the Idaho Statesman.

Nov. 17, 2024: Kohberger’s attorneys filed multiple motions to suppress key evidence in the case, including DNA samples and digital records. They allege police officers deliberately withheld or misrepresented vital information when obtaining search warrants.

Bryan Kohberger can face death penalty

Nov. 20, 2024: Ada County Judge Steven Hippler ruled that Kohberger could face the death penalty if convicted, despite his defense team’s efforts to remove that option.

Jan. 10, 2025: Kohberger’s lawyers said prosecutors should be sanctioned over their failure to hand over required expert witness disclosures. They claimed this put Kohberger in a position where he will be “greatly prejudged” during his trial. His team wanted the judge to exclude some of the state’s expert witnesses from testifying as a sanction.

Bryan Kohberger in court, attorneys challenge DNA evidence

Jan. 24, 2025: Kohber’s defense team argued again that search warrants obtained in the case were tainted by police misconduct. They claimed there was no warrant for several phases of the search. If successful, the move could disrupt the prosecution’s case ahead of the August trial.

Prosecutors want to limit Bryan Kohberger’s alibi evidence

Feb. 25, 2025: Prosecutors said Kohberger should not be able to have an alibi defense unless he takes the stand during his trial. Prosecutor Bill Thompson also asked a district judge to limit evidence on any psychiatric evaluations Kohberger might have undergone and any arguments about an alternate perpetrator.

March 4, 2025: A judge warns attorneys to stop filing so many sealed documents in the Kohberger case. “This runs counter to the public’s First Amendment rights to know what is going on in its courts,” said Hippler, according to the Associated Press.

March 5, 2025: Kohberger’s defense team could ask a judge to take the death penalty off the table due to an autism spectrum disorder, according to a sealed court filing. The document is labeled a “Motion to Strike the Death Penalty Re: Autism Spectrum Disorder.”

It is not clear if Kohberger has autism or if this is a diagnosis that his attorneys are seeking.

More Bryan Kohberger documents released

March 7, 2025: More trial documents were released in the Kohberger case, including text messages between the surviving roommates during the attack and 911 call transcripts.

Steve Goncalves, whose daughter was one of four people killed, told NewsNation senior correspondent Brian Entin that he found out about the news along with the rest of the world.

“We didn’t hear a word,” Goncalves said during an appearance on “Banfield.” “My wife has said from the very beginning that hopefully the 911 never came out, and if it did come out, at least she would be prepared.”

Attorney Shanon Gray told Entin, ‘I’m just pissed. You know, common decency… Victim advocates should contact me and the victims’ families to let them know about some of the stuff that’s coming down so they’re not just surprised by it.”

Bryan Kohberger in court, August trial to be livestreamed

May 15, 2025: In a final pretrial, a judge decided that the trial for Kohberger will be livestreamed. The judge said the jury selection won’t be included in the live stream, but the public can watch from a room that will be inside the courtroom.

The jury will not initially be sequestered, but the court will have a plan in place in case it becomes necessary due to media coverage. The trial is set to take place in Boise, Idaho, after it was moved from Latah County, which is where the murders took place.

Each side has also presented proposed jury questions, but those documents have not been unsealed.