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The Idaho student murders shocked the United States after four University of Idaho students were found stabbed to death inside a rental home in Moscow, Idaho, in 2022. Investigators later arrested Bryan Kohberger following a massive nationwide investigation involving DNA, surveillance footage, and cellphone data.
On November 13, 2022, University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were found murdered inside an off-campus rental house in Moscow, Idaho. The victims had been stabbed multiple times during the early morning hours while two surviving roommates remained inside the home unharmed. The murders generated intense national and international media coverage due to the brutality of the attack, the absence of an immediate suspect, and growing public fear within the college community. Weeks later, investigators identified Bryan Kohberger, a criminology PhD student studying in nearby Washington State, as the primary suspect.
The crime scene was a three-story rental property near the University of Idaho campus. Investigators discovered all four victims inside bedrooms within the residence, with evidence indicating a violent knife attack carried out while most victims were asleep or vulnerable. Police recovered forensic evidence including a knife sheath containing DNA believed to belong to Bryan Kohberger. Surveillance footage, witness accounts, and digital evidence also became critical components of the investigation. The home itself later became one of the most publicly discussed crime scenes in recent American history.
The investigation involved local police, the FBI, and multiple law enforcement agencies. Detectives analyzed surveillance footage, cellphone records, vehicle movements, and forensic evidence over several weeks. Authorities identified a white Hyundai Elantra seen near the crime scene around the time of the murders, eventually tracing it to Bryan Kohberger. DNA recovered from a knife sheath found at the scene was linked to Kohberger through genealogical and forensic testing. Investigators also examined cellphone data allegedly placing him near the victims’ residence on multiple occasions prior to the killings. Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania in December 2022 after cross-country surveillance and evidence collection.
Bryan Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the killings of the four students. The case proceeded through the court system with prosecutors seeking severe penalties.
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The Idaho student murders shocked the United States after four University of Idaho students were found stabbed to death inside a rental home in Moscow, Idaho, in 2022. Investigators later arrested Bryan Kohberger following a massive nationwide investigation involving DNA, surveillance footage, and cellphone data.
The family of murdered student Kaylee Goncalves says they may have uncovered a connection between the suspect, their daughter, and Madison "Maddie" Mogen. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. Watch more full episodes of "48 Hours" on Pluto TV. Case update: On July 23, 2025, Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to four life sentences without the possibility of parole after he pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students in 2022. #48hours #mystery #crime True crime. Real justice. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives. Subscribe to the “48 Hours" YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@48hours Watch full episodes of “48 Hours”: https://www.cbs.com/shows/48_hours/ Listen to the "48 Hours" podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/48-Hours Listen to the "My Life of Crime with Erin Moriarty" podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/CBSNewsMLOC Follow “48 Hours” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/48hoursCBS/ Like "48 Hours" on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1KkQuRn Follow "48 Hours" on Twitter: https://twitter.com/48hours Subscribe to our newsletter: http://cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T Download the CBS News app: http://cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8 Try Paramount+ free: https://bit.ly/2OiW1kZ For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com
Kaylee Goncalves' family says they may have uncovered a connection between the Idaho student murders suspect, their daughter, and Madison "Maddie" Mogen. #48hours #crime #mysterycrime As we await the upcoming trial of Bryan Kohberger, who has been charged with the fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students and could face the death penalty if convicted, watch "The Night of the Idaho Student Murders" and then catch up with "48 Hours" correspondents Anne-Marie Green and Peter Van Sant and producer Liza Finley on "Post Mortem" as they take you inside their latest reporting on the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. You’ll also hear about "48 Hours"’ first national television interview with Xana Kernodle’s family, along with theories from the families about what may have happened the night of the murders. 00:01 The Night of the Idaho Student Murders 42:00 Listen to a post-mortem on the episode Listen to "Post Mortem" wherever you get your podcasts: https://link.chtbl.com/Z7Gat5hP?sid=YT True crime. Real justice. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives. Subscribe to the "48 Hours" YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/48hours Watch full episodes of "48 Hours": https://cbsnews.com/48-hours/full-episodes/ Listen to the "48 Hours" podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/48-Hours Listen to the "My Life of Crime with Erin Moriarty" podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/CBSNewsMLOC Follow "48 Hours" on Instagram: https://instagram.com/48hoursCBS/ Like "48 Hours" on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/48hours Follow "48 Hours" on Twitter: https://twitter.com/48hours Subscribe to our newsletter: https://cbsnews.com/newsletter/ Download the CBS News app: https://cbsnews.com/mobile/ Try Paramount+ free: https://paramountplus.com/?ftag=PPM-05-10aeh8h For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com
Four students — Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves — were murdered and their loved ones came together to memorialize them: "All these kids were going to make your community better." #idaho # #48hours #crime Crime. Social justice. Impact. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives. Subscribe to the “48 Hours" YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/1DvRWbT Watch full episodes of “48 Hours”: http://bit.ly/1fop6N1 Follow “48 Hours” on Instagram: http://bit.ly/1OLG2B9 Like "48 Hours" on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1KkQuRn Follow "48 Hours" on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1MOCAXf Subscribe to our newsletter: http://cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T Download the CBS News app: http://cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8 Try Paramount+ free: https://bit.ly/2OiW1kZ For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com
