New details are emerging concerning a suspect arrested Friday in connection with the quadruple murders of four University of Idaho students.
Bryan Kohberger, 28, was arrested early Friday morning in Pennsylvania He’s been charged with first-degree murder and felony burglary and is expected to be extradited to Idaho to face charges. He’s currently being housed at the Monroe County Prison in Pennsylvania.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police also seized a white Hyundai Elantra in connection to the case. The vehicle was found at the home of Kohberger’s parents in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, where he was arrested.
“We have an individual in custody who committed these horrible crimes, and I do believe our community is safe,” Moscow Police Chief James Fry said in the news conference.
But police answered few questions about what led up to Kohberger’s arrest, citing Idaho law that sealed the arrest affidavit until he is “physically back in Latah County” officially charged, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said at the same new conference.
“At that time we expect it will be unsealed,” he said.
How long that takes depends on Kohberger himself and whether he decides to waive extradition or fight it.
Criminal Justice Major
Online records indicate Kohberger is not a student at the University of Idaho but does attend college as a criminal justice graduate student at Washington State University. The campus is around 10 miles away from the University of Idaho campus.
Kohnerger was also a psychology student at DeSales University in Pennsylvania, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in that discipline. He also earned a master’s in criminology from the same school, where jee reportedly participated as a student investigator in a survey regarding crimes and how people felt and thought after committing them.
“Aggressive” Personality
A high school friend of Kohnerger said the suspect was a down-to-earth and overweight in high school, but his senior year developed an “aggressive” personality after picking up boxing and becoming rail thin.
“He always wanted to fight somebody, he was bullying people. We started cutting him off from our friend group because he was 100 percent a different person,” Nick Mcloughlin told the Daily Beast .
Targeted Attack
Police believe the suspect carried out a targeted attack on November 13, when Ethan Chapin, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were found dead inside a residence off of King Road, near the University of Idaho.
It’s unclear, however, who the intended target was or if the target was even one of the victims.
Investigators say they believe the murders were carried out using a fixed blade knife, and Fry said at the news conference that a weapon has still not been located.
Kohbereger’s Silent Stare, DNA found at Crime Scene
DNA found at the King Street residence was matched to Kohberger, according to what sources told WPVI while NewNation’s Brian Entin reports that Kohberger remained silent and had a ‘quiet, blank stare‘ while police arrested him.
Until the latest development, no suspects had been named or apprehended. At this time, Kohberger is the only person arrested in the case.
Because of Idaho state law, prosecutor Thompson stressed that the most accurate information about the case will be court records. Kohberger’s next court date is on Tuesday in Pennsylvania, he said.
Anyone with information on the case should send a to the tip line at 208-883-7180, email to tipline@ci.moscow.id.us, or upload digital media at fbi.gov/moscowidaho.
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[Feature Photo: Police Handout]
