MOSCOW, ID – Moscow Police Chief Jim Fry told reporters today that the 28-year-old man arrested yesterday by a SWAT team in his hometown of Albrightsville, Pennsylvania is a Washington State University grad student. Records indicate Bryan Christopher Kohberger is a Ph.D. candidate in the University’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.
Officials say he was arrested on a warrant charging him with four counts of First-Degree Murder and one count of Burglary for the alleged stabbing murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves, and Madison Mogen in the early morning hours of November 13th at their residence in the 1100 block of King Road near the University of Idaho campus where the four were students. The Burglary charge is for entering the home, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson explained.
Meanwhile, crime scene cleanup efforts which were to begin this morning at the King Road residence were ordered by the Court to be stopped. Officials did not go into detail as to why that order was made.
“There isn’t an actual court document. The request was received by us verbally,” Thompson told KOZE News.
Kohberger made an initial appearance before a Pennsylvania judge this morning; documents from the Monroe County (PA) Court of Common Pleas show the judge ordered him to be held for extradition to Idaho. An extradition hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
Thompson says his office is restricted as to how much information can be released, but a Probable Cause Affidavit has been filed in Latah County Second District Court. It is sealed until Kohberger is extradited to Idaho and is physically served with the arrest warrant as according to rules of the Idaho Supreme Court.
When Kohberger is returned to Idaho, he will have an initial appearance with a Latah County Magistrate judge.
Thompson says this arrest is not the end of the investigation – it is actually a “new beginning.”
Meanwhile, Fry says he stands behind the manner in which the murder investigation has taken place despite extensive frustration by the public over the lack of information.
Moscow Mayor Arthur Bettge released a statement this afternoon regarding the investigation.
“I understand that law enforcement’s inability to share information during the course of the investigation has been frustrating, but their primary duty was to protect the integrity of the investigation and find a resolution to the case for the victims and their families. I hope this arrest and subsequent criminal justice system process will begin to provide comfort and closure to the victim’s families, our community, and the nation,” Bettge says.
Bettge also thanked law enforcement personnel across the country who have “worked so diligently to identify and bring the perpetrator to justice.”
“Specifically, the members of the Moscow Police Department, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Idaho State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who conducted hundreds of interviews and analyzed thousands of pieces of evidence in this complex case. I also want to personally thank Governor Little and his staff across multiple state agencies for their continuous support and assistance during this difficult time,” Bettge added.
The white Hyundai Elantra which was of interest to law enforcement officers has been located, although Fry refused to say where or how it was found.
In addition to being a Ph.D. student at WSU, Kohberger is also listed as a teaching assistant. He previously graduated from Center Valley, PA’s DeSales University with degrees in psychology and criminal justice.
| From Scott Green
University of Idaho President
This crime has nevertheless left a mark on our university, our community and our people. As such, counseling services remain available to all students over the break and when classes resume Wednesday, Jan. 11. Employees needing assistance can use the free and confidential EAP resources available through your benefits or contact David Talbot, university ombuds, at ombuds@uidaho.edu for additional support. Classes in self-defense, vigilance, stalking awareness, healthy relationships and more, as well as the distribution of personal safety devices, will continue as planned. Additional security personnel have been added to the university’s security team and local law enforcement will increase patrols on campus and in nearby neighborhoods. The outpouring of support from across the state and nation helped sustain us during this most trying time. For the past several weeks, we were all Vandals, and that provided the strength that helped us navigate the international scrutiny visited on our students and employees. Kindness is contagious and provided light that reclaimed ground lost to evil and darkness. We are thankful for the compassion shown to our community. The care for each other and resilience of our students and employees has been remarkable. Our students come first, and that was proven each and every day of this investigation. We are committed to safely delivering the college town atmosphere, campus experience and high-touch, quality education for which the University of Idaho is known. While we cannot bring back Maddie, Kaylee, Xana and Ethan, we can thoughtfully and purposefully carry their legacy forward in the work we do. The next few months will be tough on their friends and families as the legal system begins the process of publicly prosecuting these crimes to bring justice. Let’s keep them in our thoughts and prayers and continue to stand #vandalstrong. |
Watch press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mSz035WHd8 |
From Governor Brad Little:
The arrest in the murders of four bright, promising, and extraordinarily loved students at the University of Idaho is extremely welcome news.
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.
