Murder: True Crime Stories – SOLVED: The Idaho College Murders 2

Podcast: Murder: True Crime Stories
Host: Carter Roy
Episode Date: January 8, 2026
Length: Approximately 43 minutes

Episode Overview

In the second installment covering the 2022 Idaho college murders, host Carter Roy takes listeners through the remarkable investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of Bryan Kohberger for the brutal deaths of four University of Idaho students: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Zanna Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The episode dissects the painstaking police work, the swell of public speculation, and the lingering wounds in the Moscow, Idaho community. Even as the case is legally closed, Roy highlights how deep questions about motive, evidence, and healing remain.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Crime Scene and Early Investigation

[05:29]

• The murders occurred at an off-campus house at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, in the early hours of November 13, 2022.
• Victims: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Zanna Kernodle (all residents), and Ethan Chapin (Zanna’s boyfriend, staying over).
• Two roommates, Bethany Funk and Dylan Mortensen, survived. Dylan witnessed the intruder as he left.
• Key evidence:
  • White Hyundai Elantra seen on surveillance, possibly casing the house.
  • Knife sheath with a trace of DNA left at the scene; no match in existing databases.
  • Shoe print matching a Vans-type sole found near Dylan’s bedroom.
• Autopsies confirmed multiple stab wounds, some with defensive injuries (indicating some victims were awake), but no evidence of sexual assault.

The Public’s Obsession & Online Theories

[09:55]

• Intense scrutiny online, with several innocent individuals coming under suspicion due to viral content (e.g., “grub truck guy” from a food truck video).
• Public frustration grew with the pace of investigation and lack of information, leading police to publicly clear multiple people, including the surviving roommates.

Suspect Emerges: Bryan Kohberger

[11:40]

• Breakthrough: A white Hyundai Elantra registered to Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old PhD criminology student from Washington State University, 10 miles away.
• Kohberger altered his vehicle’s plates days after the murders, triggering further suspicion.
• Description matched eyewitness (Dylan’s) account: athletic build, bushy eyebrows.

[12:54]

• Cell phone data began to mount against Kohberger, revealing repeated visits near the victim’s home over several months, hinting at stalking or premeditation.

Building the Case: Forensics, Surveillance, and Arrest

[17:10]

• Authorities obtained a search warrant for Kohberger’s phone records: on the night of the murders, his phone was offline during the time of the crime and pinged again near the house just after the murders.
• FBI surveilled Kohberger in Pennsylvania over Christmas, ultimately confirming via DNA genealogy (using a Q-tip discarded by his father) that the knife sheath DNA was a familial match.
• SWAT arrested Kohberger at his family home, finding him awake at 3 am, meticulously separating his trash while wearing latex gloves.

Memorable Detail:

“He started speaking to them as if they were guest lecturers at one of his classes… even suggested they get a coffee after all of this. He was stunningly calm… and didn’t seem to have any remorse or any emotion, really.”
— Carter Roy [19:43]

• Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and extradited back to Idaho.

Who Was Bryan Kohberger?

[21:40]

• Kohberger’s turbulent background: social isolation, struggle with visual snow (a rare neurological condition), heroin addiction in high school, and chronic detachment from reality.
• Academic ascension: excelled in criminology, focusing on violent offenders; posted Reddit surveys to ex-inmates asking about their thought process leading up to crimes, which retrospectively appeared more sinister.
• After moving to Pullman for his PhD at Washington State University, he taught classes and remained an outsider, with classmates noting his fascination with forensic evidence and unusual emotional detachment.

Quote:

“He didn’t go to parties or socialize. He seemed mechanical, like he was observing people rather than engaging with them.”
— Carter Roy [22:57]

The Aftermath: Legal Proceedings and Community Response

[30:54]

• High-profile case led to a venue change for trial—shifted from Latah County to Boise.
• Multiple legal maneuvers: Kohberger’s defense appealed to his autism diagnosis (for death penalty exemption) and challenged DNA genealogy evidence—both rejected.
• Just before trial, Kohberger pleaded guilty in exchange for prosecutors dropping the death penalty.

[34:03]

• During the plea, he quietly admitted to each murder:
  “He was asked the same question. Did you murder this person? Each time, Kohberger replied, yes, he was guilty. His voice never changed, and his face remained expressionless.”

• Three weeks later, families delivered powerful victim impact statements at sentencing.

• Kohberger declined to speak.

Notable Quotes from Victims’ Families

[36:19]

• Olivia, Kaylee’s sister:

  “My sister Kaylee and her best friend Maddie were not yours to take. They were not yours to study, to stalk, or to silence. They’re everything you could never be. Loved, accepted, vibrant, accomplished, brave, and powerful.”

• Zanna’s aunt:

  “She told Kohberger that she could no longer live with the hate she felt for him, and so she forgave him. She said that if he ever wanted to tell her what had happened that night, why he’d done what he did, she would listen.”

• Dylan Mortensen (survivor):

  “What he did shattered me in places I didn’t know could break.” [36:52]
  (Described lasting trauma, panic attacks, inability to trust.)

[38:12]

• Kohberger sentenced to four consecutive life sentences plus 10 years.

Unanswered Questions and Lingering Theories

[39:41]

• Key mysteries remain:
  • The murder weapon was never found.
  • Kohberger never revealed his motive.
  • Debate continues over whether one student was a specific target.
• Theories swirl:
  • Kohberger’s interest in violent offenders, particularly the “incel” movement and cases like Elliot Rodger’s.
  • Suspicions online about Kohberger possibly posting in Facebook groups as “Papa Rogers,” hinting he may have followed the case closely.
  • Authorities could not concretely link Kohberger to online activity, though many believe he “inserted himself” into the investigation.

Quote:

“Even with a conviction, there’s something unsatisfying about this case. Kohberger never gave a confession or any kind of explanation. And for the families, friends, and even the online sleuths, that missing piece is incredibly hard to reconcile.”
— Carter Roy [40:08]

Healing, Memory, and Community

[28:16]

• The house at 1122 King Road was demolished over some families’ objections; the university president asserted it was necessary for community healing.
• Many, especially the victims’ families, felt removing the house threatened evidence and erased the memory prematurely.

Final Reflection:

“When you strip away all the theories, all the fear and anger, what’s left are four names, four faces, and a town that will never forget.”
— Carter Roy [41:53]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the breakthrough:
  “It confirmed, through the same kind of genetic genealogy that helped catch the Golden State Killer, that the DNA on the sheath belonged to Bryan Kohberger.”
  — Carter Roy [18:40]
• On the house’s demolition:
  “It was a bold move to prioritize collective healing over the victim’s family’s wishes. And despite their protests, the plan went forward…. to some, it was a symbol of healing, but for others, it felt like erasing the truth before justice had even been served.”
  — Carter Roy [28:16]
• On the unsatisfying end:
  “We want answers. We believe that if we can make sense of crimes like this, we can protect ourselves from the same fate. If we know someone’s motives, we can be on the lookout. But in the end, Coburger isn’t the one we should remember. It’s the lives he took.”
  — Carter Roy [41:12]

Important Segment Timestamps

• The Crime Scene and Early Investigation: [05:29] – [12:54]
• Public Suspicions and Police Clearing Misinformation: [09:55] – [12:54]
• Suspect Identified and Cell Phone Forensics: [11:40] – [17:10]
• The Arrest and Background of Bryan Kohberger: [17:10] – [24:45]
• Aftermath and Victim Impact Statements: [34:03] – [38:12]
• Ongoing Theories and Community Response: [39:41] – [41:53]
• Closing Reflections: [41:53] – [43:07]

Summary

This episode presents a thorough account of a modern true crime investigation, from crime scene forensics and the pitfalls of public speculation to high-tech DNA matching and the slow churn of justice. It explores the psychological background of the convicted killer and the pain of the surviving families, set against a backdrop of a community grappling for closure. With no confession or motive provided, the story’s end is bittersweet, focusing ultimately on honoring the memory of the victims rather than the notoriety of their killer.