Authorities have revealed that Bryan Kohberger, the suspect charged in the quadruple homicide of four Moscow, Idaho students, was previously investigated in connection with a home invasion that occurred in a neighboring city before the murders.
Recently released body camera footage obtained by local news outlets shows police responding to an alleged home invasion that took place in October 2021 in Pullman, Washington, just over a year before the tragic stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in their off-campus residence, located approximately 10 miles away.
The footage captured a woman recounting the terrifying ordeal of encountering a masked intruder armed with a knife in her bedroom during the early hours of the morning. Despite her brave actions, the intruder managed to escape before the police arrived, leaving no trace behind.
The fatal stabbings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin occurred in November 2022 at the students' residence in Moscow, Idaho. A surviving housemate reported seeing a masked man with distinctive 'bushy eyebrows' following sounds of distress and struggle.
Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, was later apprehended at his parents' residence in Pennsylvania and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the brutal killings of the students.
Subsequently, Kohberger was identified as a person of interest in the Pullman home invasion case, which bore striking similarities to the Moscow homicides in terms of modus operandi. However, discrepancies in physical descriptions and timelines led authorities to rule out Kohberger's involvement in the Pullman incident.
As the murder trial for Kohberger is scheduled to commence in August 2025, the potential implications of the unresolved Pullman case on the defense strategy remain uncertain. Despite being held without bail and facing the possibility of the death penalty if convicted, Kohberger's connection to the unsolved Pullman case has been officially dismissed by local law enforcement.
The victim of the Pullman break-in expressed frustration over the lack of progress in resolving the case, highlighting the lingering impact of the traumatic event on her and her family. With Kohberger's upcoming court appearance on January 23, the legal proceedings surrounding the quadruple homicide continue to unfold amidst lingering questions and unresolved mysteries.
