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Idaho College Murders: Shocking Confession Revealed

BBG News

Over three years since the brutal stabbings of four University of Idaho students in an off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho, during the early hours of November 13, 2022, Bryan Kohberger, a 30-year-old ex-criminology student, admitted to the murders on July 2 and agreed to a plea deal that spared him from capital punishment.

Kohberger, a Washington State University graduate student, confessed that he was accountable for the killings of Madison Mogen (age 21), Kaylee Goncalves (age 21), Xana Kernodle (age 20), and fraternity member Ethan Chapin (age 20). These individuals were sorority sisters and a fraternity brother, respectively. The murders occurred near the University of Idaho.

Initially scheduled for a trial in August, Kohberger instead accepted a plea bargain that will result in him serving four life sentences consecutively in prison. His official sentencing by the judge is set for July 23.

The families of the victims have shown a range of responses. On one hand, Leander James, representing Mogen’s family, expressed full support for the plea agreement outside the courthouse. However, Steve Goncalves, father of Kaylee, conveyed his discontent to NewsNation, stating, “This is not justice at all. This goes against our wishes. There was no widespread consensus that this outcome was acceptable.

In the court proceedings, the relatives were yearning for some understanding as to why these college students became the focus of a terrible crime. The reason behind Kohberger’s actions remains undisclosed. A docu-series titled One Night in Idaho: The College Murders, available on Prime Video starting July 11, delves into the key moments that ultimately resulted in his apprehension and explores various speculations concerning his motive. Additionally, it seeks to portray the victims as more than just case files, by including testimonies from their loved ones who share insights into their unique personalities.

Here’s what to know about One Night in Idaho: The College Murders.

How Bryan Kohberger was caught

According to Matthew Galkin, the co-director, there’s quite a bit of evidence implicating him.

The car belonging to Kohberger, a white Hyundai Elantra which he owned, was captured on surveillance cameras at the off-campus residence of the victims.

The DNA discovered on a knife sheath from the crime scene was linked back to Bryan’s father initially, and subsequently, it was determined that the DNA belonged to Bryan himself.

Based on cell phone data, it appeared that Bryan was present near the crime scene location prior to the murder incidents. Remarkably, his phone was switched off just before the killings occurred and resumed function immediately afterwards.

After a cross-country journey with his father, the focus of the FBI was squarely on him, leading to his arrest in Pennsylvania on December 30, 2022, approximately a month following the murders.

Theories about Bryan Kohberger’s motive

Numerous individuals choose to study criminology to familiarize themselves with the intricacies of the criminal justice system. It’s hypothesized within this field that Kohberger might have pursued studies in criminology as a means to gain knowledge necessary for perpetrating a crime.

In his college years, particularly during his undergraduate criminology courses at DeSales University, it was noted that he was consistently inquisitive about the motivations behind killers and their emotions towards the crimes they had committed. Peers remember him more for his attendance at classes than for socializing on campus, as he seemed to spend most of his time there solely attending lectures before quickly leaving.

This story set in Idaho, titled “One Night in Idaho,” involves administrators of a Facebook group that gathered information about the case. They noticed an individual using the username Papa Rodger, who frequently posted about the crime, even asking questions concerning the murderer’s grip on the knife. Interestingly, this user also mentioned a knife sheath before the specific sheath discussed in the case. Remarkably, the profile picture of this user bore a striking resemblance to Kohberger in reality. Noteworthy is that after Kohberger was apprehended, the user ceased posting any further content.

The show delves into whether or not Kohberger was associated with the “incel” (short for individuals who are involuntarily celibate) community, a group of men who resent women for not wanting to be intimate with them. Notably, the administrators of his Facebook group mention that his name is similar to that of a hero in the incel community, Elliot Rodger, a 22-year-old who tragically killed seven people, including both men and women, near the University of California, Santa Barbara, during a 2014 rampage aimed at a sorority house. It’s also worth mentioning that Kohberger’s classmates from DeSales University claim in the documentary that they studied Rodger’s case, and that Kohberger was particularly interested in it.

In her conversation with TIME, Liz Garbus, a co-director of “One Night in Idaho“, suggests that it appears as though girls were the likely targets of Bryan’s anger.

What to know about the victims

The series illustrates that the four deceased individuals enjoyed their college years immensely, as they were constantly surrounded by cherished companions and family members who deeply cared for them.

According to Garbus, it’s important not only to recall them as victims, but also to remember them as individuals. He shares that we should appreciate their unique traits, such as their favorite social circles, preferred music genres, and personal college memories.

Since childhood, Maddie and Kaylee have been inseparable. While Kaylee is known for her playful antics and sense of humor, Maddie tends to be more reserved.

People often said that Xana was someone who could easily connect with anyone and had an exceptional sense for music. This individual, Xana, has a significant online presence as a student, with their antics showcased throughout the series in various videos. In the show, audiences will enjoy Ethan and Xana singing country tunes reminiscent of Luke Combs’ “Beautiful Crazy.

Ethan was one of triplets, and his other two siblings enrolled at the University of Idaho as well. In a documentary, the remaining siblings share their experiences, emphasizing that even during college, they always remained close, never spending more than twelve hours separated from each other.

In the most poignant segments of the show, bereaved parents discuss their determination to carry on living after the tragic loss of their children, and their insights into what sustains them could offer comfort to individuals facing tough times in life.

Jim, Ethan’s father, shares that he keeps his son’s ashes in the basement for conversations whenever he desires. On the other hand, Stacy, Ethan’s mother, mentioned one day she made a decision to rise above and seize each day with purpose, expressing, “You have the power to awaken and live your finest life.

Karen Laramie, mother of Maddie Mogen, often ponders over “what would Maddie and Kaylee prefer to see in me. Would they want me sobbing in my pajamas, unable to get out of bed, or would they rather see me discussing them and their fantastic qualities? That’s a tough decision. You don’t truly understand your strength until you have no choice but to be strong.

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2025-07-11 21:15

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