On November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were brutally stabbed to death in an off-campus house.
The shocking crime sent waves of grief and fear through the small town of Moscow, Idaho, and quickly gained national attention.

The victims—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle—were all young adults full of promise and closely connected by friendship and shared living arrangements.

After more than two years of investigation, the accused, Bryan Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, admitted to the murders and pleaded guilty in July 2025.

This article provides a comprehensive timeline of the events surrounding the murders, the investigation, and the legal proceedings leading to Kohberger’s plea.

On the night of Saturday, November 12, 2022, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, lifelong best friends and roommates at 1122 King Road, went out in Moscow.
Ethan Chapin attended a formal event with his sister and later went to his fraternity house with his girlfriend, Xana Kernodle, who also lived at the same house.
Two other roommates who survived the attack were also out that night.

At approximately 4 a.m. on November 13, Xana Kernodle received a DoorDash food delivery.
Shortly thereafter, Bryan Kohberger entered the house through the kitchen sliding door.
He proceeded to the third floor where he fatally stabbed Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.

A security camera less than 50 feet from Xana’s room recorded the barking of Kaylee’s dog and distorted sounds resembling voices or a whimper followed by a loud thud.

Kohberger then encountered Xana Kernodle on the second floor and killed her.
Finally, he fatally stabbed Ethan Chapin, who was asleep in Xana’s room.

Meanwhile, the two surviving roommates became increasingly alarmed as their calls and texts to the four victims went unanswered.
Between 4:22 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., they exchanged texts expressing confusion and fear.
One roommate mentioned seeing someone in “like a ski mask almost,” describing a man about 5-foot-10, athletically built with bushy eyebrows.

Later that morning, the roommates called friends over, believing one of the victims might have passed out.
At 11:58 a.m., a 911 call was placed requesting assistance for an unconscious person.
Responding officers found the four victims deceased inside the house.

Authorities reviewed surveillance footage and traced a white Hyundai Elantra passing the victims’ house multiple times before the attack.
The vehicle was registered to Bryan Kohberger.
Phone records showed Kohberger’s phone was turned off from 2:47 a.m. to 4:48 a.m., consistent with an attempt to conceal his location during the murders.
His phone was near the crime scene at least 12 times in the months prior to the attack.

Kohberger lived in Pullman, Washington, where he was a doctoral student in criminology at Washington State University.
DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene and forensic analysis linked Kohberger to the murders.

On November 29, 2022, Moscow police asked the public to be on the lookout for white Hyundai Elantras.
The next day, a Washington State University police officer located a vehicle matching the description registered to Kohberger.

In mid-December, Kohberger and his father drove from Washington to Pennsylvania in the white Hyundai Elantra.
On December 15, Indiana police stopped them twice for traffic violations but released them with verbal warnings, unaware of Kohberger’s connection to the Idaho murders.

On December 27, police collected trash from Kohberger’s parents’ home in Pennsylvania.
DNA from the trash matched the DNA found on a knife sheath dropped at the crime scene.

Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania in the early hours of December 30, 2022.
He was extradited to Idaho on January 4, 2023.

The University of Idaho community and families of the victims were devastated.
On November 30, 2022, a candlelight vigil was held on campus to honor the four students.
Family members shared emotional tributes and urged others to cherish time with loved ones.

Kaylee Goncalves’ father spoke of the deep bond between Kaylee and Madison, who died together in the same room.
Ethan Chapin’s mother encouraged students and families to appreciate every moment with those they love.

Classes resumed at the University of Idaho on January 11, 2023, amid heavy security and emotional strain.
Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
These charges made him eligible for the death penalty.

During his arraignment on May 22, 2023, Kohberger chose to remain silent, and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

In August 2023, Kohberger claimed he was driving alone on the night of the murders, presenting an alibi.

The trial was initially scheduled for June 2025 but was postponed to August 2025.
A judge moved the trial from Latah County, where the murders occurred, to Boise, Idaho’s capital, citing concerns about pretrial publicity.

Defense attorneys sought to exclude DNA evidence and remove the death penalty option, but these motions were denied.

On December 28, 2023, the house at 1122 King Road, where the murders took place, was demolished.
The property owner donated the home to the university.
While some family members, including Kaylee Goncalves’ family, opposed the demolition fearing loss of evidence, the university stated the removal was necessary to allow community healing.

The demolition was completed in less than two hours at sunrise.

On June 30, 2025, just weeks before the trial was to begin, Bryan Kohberger agreed to plead guilty to all charges.
He pled guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.

In exchange, Kohberger would be spared the death penalty.
He was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences for the murders and the maximum 10-year sentence for burglary.
He also waived his right to appeal.

Prosecutors described the plea deal as a sincere attempt to seek justice for the victims’ families.

However, Kaylee Goncalves’ family publicly criticized the plea deal, accusing prosecutors of rushing and mishandling the case.
They requested additional terms including a full confession and the location of the murder weapon, which prosecutors declined to add, citing ethical considerations.

On July 2, 2025, Kohberger appeared in court for his change of plea hearing.
For the first time since his arrest, he spoke in court, admitting to killing each of the four victims.

When the judge asked if he “killed and murdered” each victim, Kohberger responded “yes” stoically.
He then pleaded guilty to each count of murder, again showing no emotion.

Defense attorneys attributed his flat affect to his diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

Families of Madison Mogen and Ethan Chapin expressed support for the plea agreement, calling it the best possible outcome.
Kaylee Goncalves’ family, however, expressed disappointment, feeling the plea offered no answers or motive.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2025.
Despite the guilty plea, many questions remain unanswered.
The motive behind the murders has never been revealed.
The murder weapon has not been recovered.

The case has left a lasting impact on the University of Idaho community and beyond.
It has sparked important discussions about safety, mental health, and the complexities of criminal justice.

The murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle remain one of the most tragic crimes in recent university history.
Bryan Kohberger’s guilty plea brings a measure of closure but leaves lingering questions about why such a horrific event occurred.

As the community mourns and begins to heal, the memories of the four students serve as a poignant reminder of the preciousness of life and the enduring need for justice.