Idaho Student Murders: Bryan Kohberger Case Timeline
- Cassian Creed
- Jul 24
- 10 min read
Kohberger Case Timeline of the Idaho Student Murders and Investigation
Before the Murders:
2011 (age 16): Bryan Kohberger writes on an online forum, "I feel like an organic sack of meat with no self worth." Around this time, he develops visual snow and experiences an "absence of emotion."
Middle School (Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania): Bryan Kohberger is reportedly rejected by Kim Kenely, a future high-school cheerleader, and relentlessly pursues her. He is also reportedly bullied by popular girls in school.
High School: Bryan Kohberger loses about 100 pounds. Former classmates describe him as becoming "aggressive" and "mean-spirited." He reportedly begins taking heroin to dull the pain, later going to rehab and getting sober. He is described as not understanding or accepting a girl saying no to his romantic interest.
Seven years before January 2025 (circa 2018): Bryan Kohberger goes on a Tinder date with Hayley Willette. Willette reports that Kohberger made her uncomfortable by trying to touch her and later messaged her saying she had "good birthing hips."
2020: Bryan Kohberger receives a bachelor's degree from DeSales University. His name is later removed from the 2020 Dean's List page on DeSales' website.
March 2022: Bryan Kohberger allegedly purchases a Ka-Bar knife, a sheath, and a sharpener on Amazon.
Seven months prior to January 2023 (circa June 2022): Bryan Kohberger, using the name "@Criminology_Student," posts a survey on Reddit to subreddits like r/ExCons and r/Prisons, asking for participants to describe their emotions and psychological traits when committing a crime.
August 21, 2022: Bryan Kohberger is stopped by the Latah County Sheriff's department and provides his phone number to the deputy.
October 14, 2022: Bryan Kohberger is pulled over by Washington State University campus police for allegedly running a red light, but is let go with a warning.
Approximately two weeks before November 13, 2022: Bryan Kohberger repeatedly messages one of the female victims on Instagram, but she does not respond.
November 2, 2022 (Eleven days before the murders): Bryan Kohberger has a meeting with Washington State University faculty members regarding an investigation into his professionalism and "conduct around women" as a teaching assistant. Female students had reported feeling uncomfortable, including one instance where he allegedly followed a female student to her car.
Kohberger Case Timeline-The Murders and Immediate Aftermath:
November 12, 2022 (Evening):Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen are at the Corner Club bar between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.
Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle attend a Sigma Chi party between 8 to 9 p.m.
The two surviving roommates are out separately in the Moscow community.
November 13, 2022 (Early Morning):Around 1:40 a.m.: Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen are seen on video at the "Grub Truck" food vendor and use a private party for a ride home, arriving at their 1122 King Road residence around 1:56 a.m.
Around 1:45 a.m.: Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle are believed to have returned to the 1122 King Road residence.
By 1 a.m.: The two surviving roommates return home.
Between 4:00 a.m. and 4:25 a.m.: The homicides are believed to have occurred. Four University of Idaho students – Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, and Xana Kernodle – are stabbed to death in their off-campus home. Some victims have defensive wounds, and there is no sign of sexual assault. A Ka-Bar knife sheath with a U.S. Marine Corps logo is found under Madison Mogen's body, containing unknown male DNA on the snap.
2:47 a.m. - 4:48 a.m.: Bryan Kohberger's phone stops reporting a signal, then turns back on, suggesting it may have been in an area without cell coverage or turned off during the time of the murders.
Just after the murders: An eyewitness inside the home reportedly sees a masked man.
November 13, 2022 (Morning):11:58 a.m.: A 911 call is made from one of the surviving roommates' cell phones at the residence, reporting an unconscious person. Multiple people talk with the dispatcher before police arrive.
Moscow Police Department officers arrive and find four dead students on the second and third floors. Two other roommates are unharmed and believed to have slept through the killings. A dog at the residence is unharmed.
Investigation and Arrest:
November 15, 2022: The Moscow Police Department states an "edged weapon such as a knife" was used. No murder weapon is found.
November 16, 2022: Moscow Police Chief James Fry holds a press conference, stating it was a targeted attack and no suspect has been identified.
November 17, 2022: The Latah County Coroner's Office reports victims were likely asleep when stabbed with a large knife; some had defensive wounds and were stabbed multiple times.
November 18, 2022: Police release an aerial map tracing the victims' final steps.
November 19, 2022: Investigators state they do not believe the driver who brought Goncalves and Mogen home is involved.
November 20, 2022: Detectives clear the surviving roommates and friends visiting the house.
November 22, 2022: Investigators look into information about Kaylee Goncalves having a stalker but cannot verify or identify one.
November 25, 2022: Police announce 113 pieces of physical evidence have been collected and sent to the Idaho State Police crime lab. Governor Brad Little directs up to $1 million in state emergency funds for the investigation.
November 30, 2022: The University of Idaho holds a vigil for the murdered students.
December 2022: Bryan Kohberger is fired from his teaching assistant position at Washington State University.
December 7, 2022: Police announce they are interested in speaking with the driver of a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra seen near the crime scene. The search is later expanded to 2011-2016 models.
December 15, 2022: A white Hyundai Elantra driven by Bryan Kohberger, with his father as a passenger, is stopped twice in Indiana for driving violations as they drive home to Pennsylvania for winter break.
December 18, 2022: Surveillance footage of Goncalves and Mogen hours before the killings is released, showing them discussing a man named Adam (not considered a suspect).
December 20, 2022: Investigators speak to an owner of a Hyundai Elantra in Eugene, Oregon, who is not connected to the case.
December 2022 (Weeks after the murders): Bryan Kohberger's Amazon app "click activity" allegedly shows him browsing for a replacement Ka-Bar knife.
Late December 2022: Investigators collect a DNA sample from trash outside Kohberger's family home in Pennsylvania. This DNA partially matches the unknown male DNA on the knife sheath found at the crime scene.
December 30, 2022: Bryan Kohberger is arrested in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, and charged with burglary and four counts of first-degree murder. Law enforcement states forensic analysis connected him to the crime scene. At the time of arrest, over 19,000 tips had been received, and over 300 interviews conducted.
Legal Proceedings:
January 3, 2023: Kohberger waives extradition to Idaho at a hearing in Pennsylvania.
January 4, 2023: Bryan Kohberger is brought to Idaho. A judge issues a gag order, prohibiting involved parties from speaking about the case publicly.
January 5, 2023: Court documents (affidavit) are unsealed, revealing details: a witness saw a masked figure (5'10 or taller, male, not very muscular) walking towards a sliding glass door; DNA on the knife sheath snap appears to be a strong match to DNA from Kohberger's family trash; homicides occurred between 4-4:25 a.m.; Kohberger's phone signal stops reporting between 2:47 a.m. and 4:48 a.m.; and Kohberger had applied for a Pullman Police Department internship, expressing interest in assisting rural law enforcement with technological data collection and analysis.
January 12, 2023: A preliminary hearing for Kohberger is set for June 26, but he waives his right to a speedy hearing.
May 17, 2023: A grand jury indicts Bryan Kohberger on four counts of first-degree murder and felony burglary.
May 22, 2023: At his arraignment, a judge enters a not guilty plea on Kohberger's behalf as he remains silent.
June 21, 2023: A DNA sample taken directly from Bryan Kohberger reveals a near-exact match to the DNA found on the knife sheath.
June 26, 2023: Prosecutors announce their decision to pursue the death penalty for Bryan Kohberger.
August 3, 2023: Kohberger's attorneys claim he was on a "routine drive" during the killings as part of his alibi.
August 18, 2023: Kohberger's defense questions the validity of the knife sheath DNA at a court hearing and demands more information. The judge denies a request to delay the trial.
August 23, 2023: Bryan Kohberger waives his right to a speedy trial, and his trial is postponed from October 2. His attorney announces plans to file motions to strike the death penalty and ban cameras in the courtroom.
October 10, 2024: Kohberger's trial date is delayed again, scheduled to begin August 11, 2025, and continue through November 7, 2025.
November 19, 2024: Ada County Judge Steven Hippler denies Kohberger's defense team's motions to remove the death penalty as a possible punishment.
June 27, 2025: A district court judge sets a June 2025 start date for the trial, anticipating it will last three months.
June 30, 2025: Prosecutors send a letter to victims' families stating Bryan Kohberger has accepted a plea deal to spare him the death penalty.
July 2, 2025: Bryan Kohberger formally pleads guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
July 16, 2025: Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer discusses the "Papa Rogers" online persona, which posted accurate theories about the murders before details were released, suggesting it might be Kohberger himself.
July 20, 2025: The Daily Mail releases a detailed update on the investigation, stating the crucial sighting of the white Hyundai Elantra by a university patrol officer was key to identifying Kohberger, rather than IGG or mass DMV searches.
July 23, 2025: Bryan Kohberger is formally sentenced to multiple life sentences in prison.
July 24, 2025: Discussion arises about whether Bryan Kohberger was driven by incel ideology, analyzing patterns in his behavior that mirror known incel killers.
Cast of Characters
Victims:
Madison Mogen: 21 years old, University of Idaho student, member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. Known for her active social media presence. One of the victims killed on November 13, 2022.
Kaylee Goncalves: 21 years old, University of Idaho student. Inseparable from Madison Mogen since sixth grade. One of the victims killed on November 13, 2022. Investigators looked into the possibility of her having a stalker but could not verify it.
Xana Kernodle: 20 years old, University of Idaho student, roommate of Mogen and Goncalves. One of the victims killed on November 13, 2022, alongside her boyfriend Ethan Chapin.
Ethan Chapin: 20 years old, University of Idaho student, boyfriend of Xana Kernodle. Was visiting the King Road residence when he was killed on November 13, 2022.
Accused/Convicted:
Bryan Kohberger: 28-30 years old. Former Ph.D. student in criminology at Washington State University (located 10 miles from the crime scene). Accused and later convicted of the murders of the four University of Idaho students. His past reportedly includes social isolation, rejection, alleged aggressive and mean-spirited behavior, heroin use, and misogynistic attitudes. He reportedly had an interest in serial killers and the criminal mind. He owned a white Hyundai Elantra. DNA evidence and cell phone records were key in linking him to the crime. He pleaded guilty in July 2025 to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to multiple life sentences. He is also rumored to have posted on social media under the alias "Pappa Rodger."
Surviving Roommates:
Dylan Mortensen: Roommate at the 1122 King Road house, unharmed in the attack. She reportedly saw a masked figure inside the house just after the murders.
Bethany Funke: Roommate at the 1122 King Road house, unharmed in the attack.
Law Enforcement & Legal Figures:
James Fry: Moscow Police Department Chief. Held press conferences regarding the investigation.
Cathy Mabbutt: Latah County Coroner. Confirmed the victims died from multiple stab wounds.
Ashley Jennings: Latah County Deputy Prosecutor. Filed motions regarding Kohberger's Amazon activity.
Steven Hippler: Ada County Judge (also Latah County District Judge). Presided over various hearings, including denying motions to remove the death penalty and setting trial dates. He accepted Kohberger's plea deal.
Anne Taylor: Bryan Kohberger's defense attorney.
Bill Thompson: Latah County Prosecutor. Indicated intent to seek the death penalty before the plea deal.
Brett Payne: Moscow (Idaho) Police Corporal. Authored the affidavit released in January 2023, outlining evidence against Kohberger.
Experts & Commentators:
Jennifer Coffindaffer: Former FBI agent and forensic psychiatrist. Believed the murderer was an individual with "horrible, murderous desires against these women" and "perverted thoughts and anger toward women," classifying them as "incels." Discussed the "Papa Rogers" online persona.
Edwina Elcox: Boise defense lawyer. Commented on the "catastrophic" nature of Kohberger's Amazon records for his defense.
Joseph Giacalone: Retired NYPD sergeant and cold case investigator. Emphasized the importance of electronic evidence in solving crimes.
Neama Rahmani: Former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles. Called Kohberger's Amazon history "smoking gun evidence."
Dr. Kris Mohandie: Criminal psychologist. Believed the killing was not a "one off" and the perpetrator was likely to kill again.
John Kelly: Criminal profiler. Commented on the absence of fingerprints at the scene.
Mary Ellen O’Toole: Former FBI profiler and director of George Mason University's forensic science program. Discounted a direct link between criminology studies and the crime, noting "elementary mistakes" by the alleged killer.
James Allan Fox: Professor of criminology at Northeastern University and former dean of its College of Criminal Justice. Stated that studying criminology does not make one a criminal and that the focus should be on the individual, not their studies.
Richard Rosenfeld: Professor emeritus of criminology at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. Stated studying criminology is no more likely to lead to crime than studying accounting is to lead to accounting fraud.
Michelle Bolger: Bryan Kohberger's criminology professor at DeSales University. Described him as a "brilliant student" she recommended for a Ph.D. program.
Katherine Ramsland: Expert on serial killers and professor at DeSales University. Bryan Kohberger studied under her.
Benjamin Roberts: Master’s student in criminology and criminal justice at Washington State University, who took classes with Kohberger. Reflected on the real-world impact of the cases they study.
Tony Brueski: Host of the "True Crime Today" podcast, who interviews experts about the case.
Howard Blum: Author and investigative journalist. Discussed unconfirmed reports of ID cards from the King Road house allegedly found with Kohberger.
Other Individuals Mentioned:
Kim Kenely: High-school cheerleader who reportedly broke Bryan Kohberger's heart in middle school.
Sandra Kenely: Kim Kenely's mother.
Dominique Clark: Attended elementary and high school with Bryan Kohberger.
Hayley Willette: Woman who went on a Tinder date with Bryan Kohberger seven years prior to January 2025.
Alek Minassian: 25-year-old man who, in 2018, plowed a van into pedestrians in Toronto, killing 11 people (predominantly women). He identified as an incel and wrote "The Incel Rebellion has already begun!" prior to his attack.
Elliot Rodger: Misogynistic terrorist who killed 6 people and injured 14 others in Isla Vista, California, in 2014, before taking his own life. He is considered a "hero" and "incel king" in the incel movement. Bryan Kohberger is rumored to have used the online alias "Pappa Rodger" in reference to him.
NotebookLM can be inaccurate; please double check its responses.
Comments