Idaho Murder Investigation: Detectives Reveal Insights on Targets, Motive, and Interrogation of Kohberger

IDAHO — For the first time since Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the chilling murders of four University of Idaho students, the lead investigators and prosecutors have offered a detailed account of the case that shocked the nation.

Speaking exclusively with ABC News, Idaho State Police Lt. Darren Gilbertson and Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson shared critical insights into the investigation, the possible motives, and their chilling face-to-face interaction with the now-convicted killer.

A Scene of Horror at 1122 King Road

On the morning of November 13, 2022, authorities discovered a brutal crime scene at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho. Inside the off-campus residence, four students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin — had been stabbed to death in the early hours of the morning.

Lt. Gilbertson, who walked through the scene shortly after the murders, described the house’s common areas on the second floor as deceptively normal. “It looked like what you would expect a house full of college kids to look like,” he said.

But upstairs and in the bedrooms, the horror unfolded.

In Xana Kernodle’s room, her body lay on the floor, and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, was found dead on the bed. His blood had seeped through the structure, visible from the outside of the house.

On the third floor, Goncalves and Mogen were found together in Mogen’s bed. Goncalves’ injuries were described as “unique” and showing a “horizontal pattern” — though investigators remain uncertain about what caused them.

Police also discovered a knife sheath left behind — a key piece of evidence that would ultimately lead to Kohberger.

The Hunt for a Suspect

The investigation initially yielded few leads. But in December 2022, forensic analysis of the DNA found on the knife sheath pointed authorities to Bryan Kohberger, a Ph.D. criminology student at Washington State University, just across the state border in Pullman.

Once Kohberger’s identity was uncovered, investigators conducted an extensive probe into his life — his digital footprint, financial activity, and physical movements.

“We figured out everything about him: his life, his behaviors, his routines,” said Gilbertson. According to court records, Kohberger’s phone had been near the victims’ house at least 12 times prior to the murders, dating as far back as August 2022. Most of those visits were in the late night or early morning hours.

However, after the murders, “every bit of that changed,” Gilbertson said. “His phone never comes to Moscow again.” Except for one chilling anomaly: Kohberger’s phone pinged near the home between 9:12 a.m. and 9:21 a.m. the morning after the murders.

“My hunch is that it was curiosity,” Gilbertson said. “He had to be wondering, ‘Why is nothing happening?’”

The Interrogation

When Kohberger traveled back to Pennsylvania for winter break, police tracked him closely. He was observed wearing gloves in public, even at a pharmacy. On December 30, 2022, police arrested him outside his family home.

Gilbertson participated in the initial interrogation. “We started with just very general questions about Pullman, about WSU … he spoke at length,” he recalled. However, when the officers mentioned Moscow, the atmosphere changed.

“As soon as we mentioned that, then he stopped,” Gilbertson said. “He said, ‘I don’t want to talk anymore.’ He denied knowing anything about Moscow and immediately requested an attorney.”

Who Was the Target?

Despite intense investigation, a clear motive remains elusive.

“He’s the only one that has the ‘why,’” Gilbertson said. “And oftentimes that ‘why’ may only make sense to him.”

Prosecutor Thompson added that Kohberger attempted to delete digital evidence from his devices, suggesting an attempt to “sanitize” his trail. No concrete link between Kohberger and the victims has been established, though Thompson believes either Kaylee Goncalves or Madison Mogen was the intended target.

“It’s more likely than not he did not expect to encounter Xana and the others up and about,” he said. Kernodle had been awake around the time of the murders, likely to retrieve a food delivery.

Survivors and Miraculous Escapes

Two surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, were spared during the attack. Mortensen reportedly saw a masked man inside the home holding a container-like object with both hands.

“Dylan was so vulnerable,” Thompson said. “That young woman had an angel watching over her.”

The Courtroom Outcome

On July 2, 2025, weeks before the trial was set to begin, Kohberger pleaded guilty to all charges. As part of the plea deal, the death penalty was taken off the table, sparking mixed reactions from victims’ families.

“I respect and recognize that not everybody agrees with the decision we made,” Thompson said. “But we had something that a trial would have never given us — his sworn acknowledgment that the charges are true.”

Kohberger was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without parole for the murders and the maximum 10 years for burglary.

“This murderer is now in the custody of the Department of Correction,” Thompson said. “That door is closed behind him and it’s not gonna open again till he’s dead.”

No Full Confession — and No Murder Weapon

Critics questioned why Kohberger’s plea deal didn’t include a confession or the murder weapon’s location.

“There was no legal way we could have compelled those,” said Thompson. “And quite frankly, there is nothing he could have said that I think would have been credible. He’s manipulative.”

Closure, But Not the End

As Moscow and the University of Idaho community try to heal, law enforcement officials remain mindful of the emotional toll the tragedy has left.

“This case is never going to be over and done with,” Thompson said. “The court case will, but for everybody who’s been affected by it — no.”

Though the final chapter has been written in court, the memory of Kaylee, Madison, Xana, and Ethan will continue to resonate through a community forever changed.