Idaho murders: Key takeaways from news conference on suspect’s arrest in Poconos

Few new details were released during a Friday afternoon news conference about the murder of four Idaho college students and the Poconos native suspected in their deaths.

Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, of Chestnuthill was arrested Friday morning on charges he stabbed the four students to death last month. Kohberger is a graduate student at Washington State University, and is being held in Monroe County jail pending extradition to Idaho on a warrant charging first-degree murder.

During the news conference, Bill Thompson, Latah County prosecutor, said Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and with felony burglary, “for entering a residence with the intent to commit the crime of murder.”

The Idaho students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin — were stabbed to death early Nov. 13 at a rental home near campus.

During the news conference, Moscow police Chief James Fry said while some information was kept hidden until now to avoid tipping off suspects before they were arrested, there is a great deal of information that Idaho law enforcement can’t share due to state Supreme Court rules.

Bill Thompson, the Latah County prosecutor, said the Idaho Supreme Court has placed restrictions on pretrial publicity, which prevents them from going into details of the investigation or the case against Kohberger. Thompson said more information about the crime and what led to Kohberger’s arrest is sealed in a probable cause affidavit that won’t be opened until Kohberger appears in person before a court in Idaho.

“We will continue to provide as much information as we can as the process moves forward,” Fry said.

Fry thanked the community, other law enforcement agencies, people around the country and news media for assistance in bringing in information for the investigation.

“I want to express my appreciation for our local community, the people of Idaho and those throughout our nation, who provided information to help us investigate these murders, has been very impressive. We’ve received over 19,000 tips and we’ve conducted over 300 interviews,” Fry said.

However, Fry also said the investigation is far from over and Moscow Police Department is still looking for tips or information related to this crime and about Kohberger.

“Report anything you know about him to help investigators and our office and the court system understand everything there is to know about the individual, and what happened and why,” Fry said.

Kohberger is going to remain jailed in Pennsylvania without bail until some point next week. An extradition hearing for Kohberger is set for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Monroe County before Judge Margherita P. Worthington.

The hearing will determine the time and manner in which Kohberger is transported to Idaho. Thompson said Kohberger can waive extradition and return voluntarily to the state of Idaho, or initiate extradition proceedings. Thompson said it could take weeks for him to arrive in the state.

“I’m asking for your patience and understand that’s just the way the system works,” Thompson said.

Fry was able to confirm a some details. A white Hyundai Elantra seen near the Idaho students’ home around the time of the killings was key to police breaking the case open, and Fry said they had such a car. He said they are still looking for the murder weapon.

Police have said that those killed were likely asleep when they were attacked, some had defensive wounds, and each was stabbed multiple times. There was no sign of sexual assault. Police were dispatched the next morning to the scene after one of the surviving residents of the house called 911 when they found an unconscious body.

Few other details, including possible motives and the exact events of the grisly killings, are available at this time.

Fry also couldn’t answer whether there were any other suspects, and could not discuss what relationship Kohberger may have had with the slain students before the incident.

Fry acknowledged the ongoing pain the murders have inflicted on the community.

“These murders have shaken our community and no arrest will ever bring back these young students,” he said.

Moscow is a college town with roughly 25,000 residents. A significant portion of the University of Idaho’s students chose to finish the semester online rather than return in person.

Scott Green, president of the University of Idaho, said a great deal of compassion was shown, including from the office of Idaho Gov. Brad Little, which promised funds for the campus.

“We are truly thankful for the compassion and acts of kindness shown to our community,” Green said. “Kindness is contagious and it provided the light that reclaimed ground lost to evil and darkness.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.