Info sought on U of I murder suspect

December 30, 2022

Moscow Police Chief James Fry, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, Idaho State Police Colonel Kedrick Wills and University of Idaho President C. Scott Green held a press conference on the arrest today of 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger this morning on a fugitive from justice warrant in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and is being held without bond awaiting extradition to Idaho. A court hearing is scheduled in Monroe County on Tuesday.

The Idaho warrant charges Kohberger, a Pennsylvania native and a graduate student at Washington State University in Pullman who pursuing his Ph.D in criminal justice and criminology with one count of burglary and four counts of first degree murder for the November 13 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogan, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.

Until returned to Idaho and arraigned, the court file on the case has been sealed so little information is available.

The arrest in the murders of four bright, promising, and extraordinarily loved students at the University of Idaho is extremely welcome news," Idaho Governor Brag Little said in a release issued this afternoon. "It is an important step in bringing peace to a community, state, and nation gripped by this horrifying tragedy.

"This crime has consumed so many hearts and minds for weeks, and we are thankful for the unrelenting hard work of the Moscow Police Department, Idaho State Police, the FBI, and other law enforcement partners that helped in the investigation.

"We remain deeply supportive of the communities of Moscow and the University of Idaho and will continue do everything we can to ensure the safety of students and the public.

"We pray for comfort and healing for the many people hurting from this incredible loss, most especially the families of the victims.

"Through this tragedy, we have all come to know and love Ethan, Kaylee, Maddie, and Xana, and we will never forget them."

Despite the arrest, chief Fry said the investigation is not over, but merely entering a new phase, and he thanked the public for the thousands of tips that helped lead to Kohberger's arrest, and he asked anyone with information on the suspect to contact the tip line at (208) 883-7180 or tipline@ci.moscow.id.us.