Idaho murders: What we know about the suspect

The suspect, Bryan Kohberger, 28, was arrested in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains in the early hours of Dec. 30, according to police.

The 28-year-old accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death was studying criminal justice at the time of the murders.

More than six weeks after the gruesome slaying shocked the college town of Moscow, Idaho, the suspect, Bryan Kohberger, was arrested in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains in the early hours of Dec. 30. Kohberger was a Ph.D. graduate student at Washington State University, located about 10 miles away from the University of Idaho.

PHOTO: Bryan Kohberger is shown in this undated photo.
Bryan Kohberger is shown in this undated photo.
Washington State University

MORE: Idaho college murders: Timeline of events

The victims were roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, as well as Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin. Two other roommates -- who police said are not suspects -- survived and likely slept through the murders, according to officials. The students were fatally stabbed in the early hours of Nov. 13 at an off-campus house in Moscow.

Kohberger finished his first semester in Washington State's criminal justice program last month, the university said.

PHOTO: This photo provided by Monroe County (Pa.) Correctional Facility shows Bryan Kohberger.
This photo provided by Monroe County (Pa.) Correctional Facility shows Bryan Kohberger. Arrest paperwork filed by Pennsylvania State Police in Monroe County Court, on Dec. 30, 2022, said Kohberger, 28, was being held for extradition in a criminal homicide investigation in the killings of four University of Idaho students, based on an active arrest warrant for first degree murder issued by the Moscow Police Department and Latah County Prosecutor's Office.
Monroe County (Pa.) Correctional Facility via AP

MORE: Idaho murders: Suspect set to appear in court as he faces charges

Search warrants have been executed at Kohberger’s apartment and office on the WSU campus, the university said.

Kohberger received a bachelor’s degree from DeSales University in Pennsylvania in 2020 and completed graduate studies there in June 2022, according to DeSales.

After Kohberger's semester at Washington State ended this December, he and his father drove cross-country together, arriving at the family's Pennsylvania home on Dec. 13, exactly one month after the murders, Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar told ABC News.

PHOTO: A private security firm took over the duty of protecting the crime scene at a home in the 1100 block of King Road in Moscow.
A private security firm took over the duty of protecting the crime scene at a home in the 1100 block of King Road in Moscow.
Idaho Statesman/TNS via Getty Images, FILE

They drove the pre-planned road trip in the white Hyundai Elantra which authorities said they were looking for in connection to the murders, according to LaBar.

The father and son were pulled over twice in Indiana, once for speeding and once for tailgating, LaBar said.

MORE: Idaho murders: Suspect was identified through DNA using genealogy databases

Although police have not disclosed what led them to the suspect, law enforcement sources told ABC News that authorities in Idaho identified Kohberger as a suspect through public DNA genealogy databases.

The FBI was surveying the house in Pennsylvania for four days prior to the arrest, sources said.

PHOTO: Security and police stand guard at the entrance of a private community after Pennsylvania State Police arrested Bryan Kohberger, a suspect wanted in the killings of four University of Idaho students, in Albrightsville, Pa., Dec. 30, 2022.
Security and police stand guard at the entrance of a private community after Pennsylvania State Police arrested Bryan Kohberger, a suspect wanted in the killings of four University of Idaho students, in Albrightsville, Pa., Dec. 30, 2022.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

Police have also not released a motive. The probable cause affidavit, which details the reasons for his arrest, is sealed and will not be released until he returns to Idaho, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said.

Kohberger was arrested for four counts of first-degree murder and burglary, Thompson said. He's scheduled to appear in court in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

Kohberger's attorney said in a statement that the Ph.D. student will not fight extradition to Idaho.

PHOTO: FILE - Four University of Idaho students were found dead, Nov. 13, 2022.
Four University of Idaho students were found dead, Nov. 13, 2022.
Idaho Statesman/TNS via Getty Images, FILE

"Mr. Kohberger is eager to be exonerated of these charges," LaBar said.

Kohberger's family said in a statement, "We care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them. We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother. We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions."

ABC News' Kayna Whitworth and Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Judge severs Trump's Georgia election interference case, and 16 others, from trial starting in October

Daniel Penny pleads not guilty in subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely; bail set at $100K

Family of Colorado man killed by police during mental health crisis gets $19 million settlement