Bryan Kohberger Case

Bryan Kohberger Case Detailed Timeline

Pre-November 2022:

• Prior to Nov 13, 2022 (12 occasions): Bryan Kohberger's cell phone is detected in the vicinity of the victims' Moscow, Idaho residence.

• Prior to Nov 13, 2022: Bryan Kohberger is pulled over in his white Hyundai Elantra during traffic stops, providing his phone number to law enforcement. This information is later used to identify his phone service provider and address.

• June 2022: Bryan Kohberger moves to Pullman, Washington, to begin his Ph.D. program in criminology at Washington State University. He takes photos of his Elantra and new apartment complex upon arrival (June 30).

• Summer 2022 (Pool Party): Kohberger attends a pool party where witnesses describe awkward social interactions, including persistent questions to a DJ and uncomfortable attention towards multiple women. His phone pings near the victims' residence (1122 King Road) after the party.

• August 16, 2022: Kohberger searches for "Ted Bundy" online. Madison Mogen posts an Instagram photo with her roommates, which Kohberger may have viewed.

• August 21, 2022, 11:40 PM: Kohberger is ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt near King Road.

• August 26, 2022: Kohberger searches "When can a cop detain you?"

• Late August 2022: Kohberger begins searching for pornography using terms like "forced," "passed out," "drugged," and "sleeping."

• September 2022: A female colleague, Na Young Co, reports a potential break-in at her apartment; Kohberger helps install a security system. Kohberger struggles as a teaching assistant, with complaints about sexism and belittling a female professor.

• September 30, 2022: Kohberger searches "sociopathic traits in college students."

• October 2022: Kohberger continues browsing Instagram photos of Washington State University and University of Idaho women, including friends of the victims.

• October 14, 2022: Kohberger is pulled over for running a red light on the WSU campus.

• October 19, 2022: Kohberger searches "Can psychopaths behave pro-socially?"

• November 2, 2022: A female WSU student reports Kohberger to faculty for confrontational behavior and following her to her vehicle.

• November 7, 2022: Kohberger's phone pings near King Road for the alleged 23rd time in four months.

• November 10, 2022: Kohberger stops using his debit card and begins anti-forensic actions on his work computer.

• November 11, 2022: Kohberger clears his school computer.

November 13, 2022 – The Murders and Immediate Aftermath:

• November 13, 2022, 2:54 AM: Kohberger's phone is turned off.

• November 13, 2022, 3:26 AM - 4:07 AM: Surveillance video shows a vehicle (later identified as Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra) circling King Road six times.

• November 13, 2022, 4:00 AM: Xana Kernodle receives a DoorDash delivery.

• November 13, 2022, Shortly after 4:00 AM: Bryan Kohberger enters the victims' off-campus home through a sliding door to the kitchen. He proceeds to the third floor.

• November 13, 2022 (time unspecified, after 4:00 AM): Kohberger kills Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves on the third floor. He leaves a Ka-Bar knife sheath next to Mogen’s body.

• November 13, 2022 (time unspecified, after Mogen and Goncalves): As Kohberger is leaving, he encounters Xana Kernodle on the floor below and kills her. He then kills Ethan Chapin, who was sleeping in Kernodle’s bedroom.

• November 13, 2022 (before 4:19 AM): One of the surviving roommates sees an intruder (Kohberger) dressed in black, wearing a balaclava, with "bushy eyebrows," holding some sort of "container" as he exits the house through a sliding glass door.

• November 13, 2022, 4:17 AM: A neighbor's security camera near the house picks up "distorted audio of what sounded like voices or a whimper followed by a loud thud."

• November 13, 2022, 4:20 AM: The vehicle believed to be Kohberger's is seen on a neighbor's surveillance camera speeding away, almost losing control.

• November 13, 2022, 4:48 AM: Kohberger's cell phone reactivates after being off.

• November 13, 2022, 4:48 AM - 5:39 AM: Kohberger's phone pings south of Moscow, then Johnson and Pullman. Prosecutors believe he drove backroads to his apartment to avoid surveillance cameras.

• November 13, 2022, 5:26 AM: Kohberger is confirmed to be back in Pullman.

• November 13, 2022, 6:17 AM: Kohberger calls his father for 36 minutes. He makes three calls to family that morning, the longest lasting 54 minutes.

• November 13, 2022, 9:12 AM: Kohberger's phone briefly pings back in Moscow for 9 minutes.

• November 13, 2022, 10:31 AM: Kohberger takes a "thumbs up" selfie in a bathroom mirror.

Post-Murders Investigation and Arrest:

• November 15, 2022: Kohberger searches "University of Idaho murders."

• November 18, 2022: Kohberger views "Ted Bundy: The Perfect Killing Machine." He replaces his Pennsylvania Elantra license plates with Washington plates and photographs the change.

• November 22, 2022: DNA from the Ka-Bar knife sheath is sent for testing. Kohberger searches for a Ka-Bar knife sheath on Amazon but does not complete the purchase.

• November 27, 2022: Kohberger takes more selfies. He searches his own name and tracks over 60 news items about the murders.

• November 28, 2022: Kohberger watches a Dr. Grande episode "Echoes of Ted Bundy" featuring Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves in the thumbnail.

• November 30, 2022: Kohberger searches his own name again.

• December 6, 2022: Kohberger searches Amazon for utility/Ka-Bar knives and sheaths.

• December 15, 2022: Kohberger watches a video with the quote "Something is wrong with me."

• December 17, 2022: Kohberger arrives in Pennsylvania with his father for the holidays.

• December 19, 2022: Bryan Kohberger is identified as a suspect through investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) after law enforcement combines DNA from the knife sheath with publicly available genetic data.

• December 21, 2022: Kohberger takes two more selfies.

• December 23, 2022: Law enforcement applies for a search warrant for Kohberger's AT&T records, requesting timing advance records, but is outside the 7-day window for AT&T to retain them.

• December 27, 2022: DNA from trash (a Q-tip) collected from Kohberger's parents' home is compared to the sheath. The Q-tip contains DNA from the father of the person whose DNA was on the knife sheath. Kohberger watches "Ted Bundy: The Essence of a Psychopath" and takes selfies apparently mimicking Bundy's appearance.

• December 29, 2022, 11:53 PM: Kohberger listens to a cover of Britney Spears' song "Criminal."

• December 30, 2022, 1:14 AM: Bryan Kohberger is arrested at his parents' home in eastern Pennsylvania, approximately six weeks after the murders.

2023:

• May 22, 2023: Kohberger is arraigned in Idaho. He "stands silent," and the court enters a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

• July 13, 2023: Commentary is published noting the upcoming trial in August 2025 and discussing the impact of "internet sleuths" on the case.

• September 13, 2023: Bryan Kohberger appears in Latah County District Court for a hearing.

• Fall 2023: A group goes to the victim's house to construct a model before it is torn down.

2024:

• April 9, 2024: A motions hearing for Bryan Kohberger begins in Idaho, addressing numerous pre-trial motions from both the state and defense. Topics include neuropsychological/psychiatric evidence, alternative perpetrator evidence, alibi, demonstrative exhibits (3D models), IGG data, death penalty comments, immediate family in the courtroom, AT&T timing advance records, text messages, surviving roommate testimony, self-authentication of records, and the 911 call. Judge Steven Hippler presides, making some rulings and taking others under advisement for written orders.

• April 16, 2024: Defense counsel files supplemental expert disclosures.

• April 25, 2024: An article highlights the role of electronic evidence, including video recordings, records databases, and cellular records, in linking Kohberger to the murders.

2025:

• January 21, 2025: The US Supreme Court decides Andrew versus White, a case cited by the defense regarding the death penalty.

• March 2025: Kohberger's autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis is disclosed in court documents as part of his defense against the death penalty.

• March 4, 2025: A new law review article by Jenna Hayes, "Autism Culpability and Sentencing," is published.

• April 2025: A judge rules that prosecutors can still pursue the death penalty against Kohberger despite his autism diagnosis.

• April 17-18, 2025: RAIS Conference Proceedings include a paper on "The Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications in Forensics," which discusses the use of AI in crime scene reconstruction, digital forensics, DNA analysis, and more, including 3D modeling.

• May 9, 2025: Dateline NBC airs "The Terrible Night on King Road," revealing new evidence about Kohberger's fascination with Ted Bundy, disturbing search history, and a "thumbs up" selfie taken after the murders.

• July 2, 2025: Bryan Kohberger, 30, pleads guilty to killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, agreeing to four consecutive life terms for the murders and 10 years for a burglary charge, waiving his right to appeal. He is held in Ada County jail.

• July 3, 2025: The lead prosecutor, Bill Thompson, provides an evidentiary summary of the case during Kohberger's plea hearing, including details about the knife sheath DNA, the "container" seen by a surviving roommate, and the DoorDash order.

• July 14, 2025, 4:00 PM EDT: An article is updated detailing the evidence linking Kohberger to the murders.

• July 15, 2025: News reports confirm Kohberger's guilty plea and the details of the plea agreement.

• July 17, 2025: Judge Steven Hippler is set to hear arguments from multiple media outlets requesting termination of the non-dissemination order and unsealing of court documents.

• July 23, 2025: Kohberger's sentencing hearing is scheduled, where prosecutors recommend four fixed life sentences, having agreed not to seek the death penalty.

Cast of Characters:

Victims:

• Ethan Chapin: 20 years old, University of Idaho student, murdered on November 13, 2022. His family supported the plea deal.

• Kaylee Goncalves: 21 years old, University of Idaho student, murdered on November 13, 2022. Her father, Steve Goncalves, publicly opposed the plea deal, while her sister, Aubrie Goncalves, also expressed strong disapproval.

• Xana Kernodle: 20 years old, University of Idaho student, murdered on November 13, 2022. She had received a DoorDash order shortly before she was killed.

• Madison Mogen: 21 years old, University of Idaho student, murdered on November 13, 2022. Her family, including her father Ben Mogen, supported the plea deal.

Key Individuals/Suspect:

• Bryan Christopher Kohberger: 30 years old, criminology graduate student at Washington State University, accused of and pleaded guilty to the murders of the four University of Idaho students. Arrested on December 30, 2022, and agreed to a plea deal of four consecutive life sentences to avoid the death penalty. Known for his fascination with Ted Bundy, unusual social interactions, and a recently disclosed autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.

Surviving Roommates/Witnesses:

• DM (Dylan Mortensen): One of the two surviving roommates who was asleep during the murders. She awoke and saw the perpetrator leaving the house with a "container" and described him as wearing black clothing and a balaclava, with "bushy eyebrows." Her testimony was crucial to the prosecution's case.

• BF (Bethany Funke): The other surviving roommate, who was also asleep during the murders. She was involved in the 911 call reporting the events.

Legal Professionals & Officials:

• Bill Thompson: Latah County Prosecutor and lead prosecutor in the case against Bryan Kohberger. He presented the key evidence during Kohberger's plea hearing and offered the plea deal.

• Anne Taylor: Bryan Kohberger's lead defense attorney. She consistently advocated for his rights and challenged the prosecution's evidence and methods.

• Elisa Massoth: A defense attorney on Bryan Kohberger's legal team.

• M. Barlo: A defense attorney recently added to Bryan Kohberger's legal team.

• Mr. Nye: A lawyer present at the motions hearing.

• Ashley Jennings: Senior Deputy Prosecutor for Latah County, part of the prosecution team.

• Judge Steven Hippler: The judge presiding over the Bryan Kohberger case, known for his thoroughness and detailed approach to legal proceedings.

Investigators & Experts:

• Detective Mauy: A detective involved in the investigation, who interviewed surviving roommate DM and questioned her about the perpetrator's appearance.

• Special Agent Nick Balance: An FBI expert who analyzed cell phone data, including drive testing and scanner data, relevant to Kohberger's movements.

• Anthony Immel: A vehicle identification specialist whose expert opinion helped identify the suspect vehicle (white Hyundai Elantra) from surveillance footage.

• Steven Gordon: AT&T Director of Compliance, who provided an affidavit regarding AT&T's data retention policies, specifically the 7-day window for timing advance records.

• Mr. Ray: A defense expert whose affidavit discussed AT&T timing advance records, causing contention during a motions hearing.

• Shane Cox: The state's Amazon expert, who testified about Kohberger's Amazon purchase history, including a Ka-Bar knife and related items.

• Michael Douglas: Listed as having information about Amazon records, but his testimony was discussed as potentially being purely factual rather than expert opinion.

• Dr. Orur, Dr. Ryan, Dr. Lewine: Experts related to Bryan Kohberger's neurological/biological conditions and autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, whose reports were intended to be used in mitigation.

• Riley Nolan: A forensic scientist at the Idaho State Police Lab specializing in biology and DNA, who analyzed the DNA on the knife sheath and whose opinion on direct contact was debated.

• Dr. John Eden: Expert whose affidavit discussed the unreliability of tests that might label someone as a psychopath or sociopath, used by the defense to prevent such terms from being used in court.

• Dr. Ammani L. Al-ali: Social scientist who consulted on the change of venue motion, discussing how bias is formed and remembered.

Other Notable Individuals:

• Ted Bundy: Infamous serial killer with whom Bryan Kohberger showed a deep fascination, researching and viewing videos about him before and after the murders.

• Rebecca Scofield: University of Idaho history professor falsely accused of masterminding the murders by an "internet psychic sleuth," leading to a defamation lawsuit.

• Na Young Co: Female colleague of Kohberger at WSU who reported a potential break-in and received assistance from Kohberger.

• Aubrie Goncalves: Kaylee Goncalves' 18-year-old sister, who publicly denounced the plea deal.

• Steve Goncalves: Kaylee Goncalves' father, who expressed strong dissatisfaction with the plea deal and refused to attend the hearing.