The Idaho student murder shocked the nation on November 13, 2022. Four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—were stabbed to death in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. The brutal crime, the town’s first homicide in years, gripped the community and led to the arrest of Bryan Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student, on December 30, 2022.
The case, with its intricate investigation that included DNA, cellphone data, and a surviving roommate’s account, is still a staple of true crime fascination. Dateline NBC presented a two-hour special, The House on King Road, on May 9, 2025, at 9/8c, featuring Keith Morrison as host.
The episode includes exclusive interviews with victim families, including Steven Goncalves, police, and prosecutors, as well as court files and previously unreleased footage. Premiered before Kohberger’s August 2025 trial, the special delves into the murders, the manhunt, and remaining questions surrounding the motive, providing an in-depth look at this horrific case.
Complete Timeline of the Idaho Student Murder Case
November 12, 2022: Victims’ Last Activities
On November 12, 2022, at night, the four victims spent a typical Saturday evening in Moscow. Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, friends, were at the Corner Club bar until approximately 1:30 a.m., then stopped by the Grub Truck food truck, arriving home at 1122 King Road at 1:45 a.m.
Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin attended a Sigma Chi fraternity party, arriving back around 1:45 a.m. The remaining roommates, Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen, who survived went home at 1 a.m. after the night out, setting the stage for the horrific incident
November 13, 2022: The Murders and Discovery
Between 3:30 a.m. and 4:25 a.m. on November 13, 2022, the four students were stabbed to death in two upstairs bedrooms at 1122 King Road. A large, fixed-blade knife was used, with victims showing defensive wounds. Dylan Mortensen around 4 a.m.
witnessed a male masked with bushy eyebrows leave the house but didn’t alert police at the time. A call to 911 at 11:58 a.m. indicated an unconscious person, and the police found the bodies. Homicide by stabbing was confirmed by the coroner, adding there was excessive blood at the scene.
November 14–30, 2022: Initial Investigation
From November 14 to 30, 2022, Moscow Police, with FBI and Idaho State Police support, processed the crime scene, collecting over 1,000 tips. A Ka-Bar knife sheath under Madison Mogen’s body contained male DNA. On November 17, police sought a white 2011–2013 Hyundai Elantra seen near the crime scene. Autopsies confirmed multiple stab wounds and no sexual assault. The investigation faced public pressure due to the lack of a suspect, with police emphasizing the attack was targeted, reducing community fear.
December 7–30, 2022: Breakthrough and Arrest
On December 7, 2022, police identified a white Hyundai Elantra at Washington State University, registered to Bryan Kohberger. Genetic genealogy linked DNA from the knife sheath to Kohberger, confirmed by DNA from his family’s trash in Pennsylvania.
Cellphone data showed his phone near the crime scene 12 times before the murders. On December 30, Kohberger was arrested at his parents’ home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary, marking a turning point in the case.
January 5, 2023: Probable Cause Affidavit Released
BREAKING: The DNA of the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students was found on a knife sheath at the crime scene, an investigator said in court documents unsealed Thursday. https://t.co/SEDuwH1A5r
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 5, 2023
On January 5, 2023, a probable cause affidavit outlined the evidence against Kohberger: DNA on the knife sheath, cellphone pings along King Road at 4:48 a.m. on November 13, and his Hyundai Elantra on security footage. Dylan Mortensen’s account of a masked man with bushy eyebrows was included.
The affidavit showed Kohberger had his phone turned off during the time of the murder (2:47 a.m.–4:35 a.m.), indicating intent to evade tracking. The affidavit sealed the case, even with defense assertions of poor evidence.
May 22–June 26, 2023: Indictment and Death Penalty
On May 22, 2023, a grand jury indicted Kohberger on four murder counts and burglary, bypassing a preliminary hearing. He pleaded not guilty. On June 26, prosecutors announced their intent to seek the death penalty, citing the crime’s extreme nature and multiple victims.
The decision heightened the case’s stakes, with the defense arguing Kohberger’s autism diagnosis should preclude capital punishment. These early legal steps set the stage for a high-profile trial, drawing intense media scrutiny.
September 13, 2023–October 2023: Evidence and Venue Changes
On September 13, 2023, Kohberger’s defense challenged the genetic genealogy DNA evidence, but Judge John C. Judge upheld its admissibility. In October 2023, the trial was moved from Latah County to Ada County, Boise, due to defense concerns about an impartial jury in Moscow’s small community. The venue change aimed to ensure a fair trial, given the case’s widespread publicity. These rulings shaped the legal framework, balancing evidence integrity with procedural fairness.
March–April 2025: Pretrial Developments
In March and April 2025, pretrial hearings addressed key evidence: a selfie Kohberger took hours after the killings, his Amazon purchase of a Ka-Bar knife in April 2022, and a college paper on crime scenes. On April 19, Judge Steven Hippler ruled Dylan Mortensen’s bushy eyebrows testimony admissible. On April 25, he denied a defense motion to remove the death penalty, despite Kohberger’s autism diagnosis. A 3D-printed house model was approved to illustrate the crime scene’s layout.
May 2025: Awaiting Trial
BREAKING: Prosecutors say they are seeking the death penalty for Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death last year. https://t.co/btf5I7KcpH
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 26, 2023
As of May 2025, Bryan Kohberger is still being held without bail in Ada County, waiting for trial on August 11, 2025. Dateline’s special broadcast on May 16, 2025, will offer fresh information, such as family interviews and police insights. The trial, which is expected to last three months, will depend on DNA, cell phone records, and Mortensen’s testimony. The defense’s alternative evidence, such as blood from an unknown male, will seek to raise doubt. The case remains fascinating, with lingering questions about Kohberger’s motive.
Read More: Where is Marty Grismer Now? NBC’s Dateline Explores Marty’s Case
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Hilfa, Senior Writer at Hilvaro, excels in pop culture journalism. She crafts engaging content on movies, TV, & trends, fueled by her love for storytelling & entertainment.
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