In the quiet college town of Moscow, Idaho, a case that gripped the nation continues to unfold with harrowing details. On November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students met a tragic end. Bryan Kohberger, a 30-year-old criminology PhD student, stands accused of their brutal murders, facing capital murder charges. As the legal proceedings progress, a chilling portrait of the alleged perpetrator is emerging through internet searches, cell data, and photographs.
The victims—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—had returned from a night out to their off-campus rental home, not knowing it would be their last time. Prosecutors allege that Kohberger, who was studying at nearby Washington State University, entered their residence after they had gone to bed and unleashed a fatal knife attack.
Investigators grappling to understand Kohberger's selection of his victims have unearthed disturbing findings. According to Dateline, Kohberger saved many photos of female students from both universities. Eerily, the images, often showing the students in bathing suits, seemed to be sourced from social media accounts linked to a pool party the victims' friends attended. Moreover, Kohberger's cellphone was reportedly detected near the victims' home multiple times over four months.
The internet footprint Kohberger left behind further paints a troubling picture. His searches included phrases like "drugged" and "sleeping" within pornographic contexts, "Sociopathic Traits in College Students," and post-traffic stop searches like "Can psychopaths behave pro-socially." This online behavior coincides with his struggles as a teaching assistant at WSU.
The night of the murders, a white Hyundai Elantra, matching Kohberger's, was captured on security footage near the victims’ home, circling the neighborhood before the students were killed. The timeline suggests the killings happened between 4:07 and 4:20 a.m. Dylan Mortensen, a surviving roommate, reported hearing a man's voice and seeing a masked figure leaving the scene.
In the days after the murders, Kohberger's digital trail continued with searches about serial killer Ted Bundy and media content related to the crimes. A selfie showing a thumbs-up gesture and another wearing a black hoodie, echoing Bundy’s attire from one of the videos Kohberger viewed, were also discovered.
Despite the mounting evidence, Kohberger maintains his innocence, pleading not guilty. His defense points to his habit of nighttime drives and a recent autism diagnosis in an attempt to mitigate the possibility of the death penalty, but to no avail. If convicted, he could face death by firing squad, an option under Idaho's execution laws.
With a trial set for August, the case against Kohberger is a complex amalgamation of digital forensics, DNA evidence, and behavioral analysis. It raises grave concerns about the potential for technology and social media to play roles in criminal planning and obsession.