As BBC's new documentary The Idaho Murders: Trial by TikTok airs, the Mirror takes a look at everything we know about the harrowing quadruple murder in the small town of Moscow
The tragic murder of four Idaho students captured the attention of armchair detectives worldwide.
In November 2022, four college students at the University of Idaho were stabbed to death in the small town of Moscow, and amateur TikTok detectives took it upon themselves to uncover the case. The victims were Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21.
For six weeks following the quadruple murder, local police said they had no suspects, motive or weapon and found no signs of forced entry into the house. Over a year later, as the case continues, the BBC's Zara McDermott follows the social media frenzy that ensued in The Idaho Murders: Trial by TikTok.
Student victims
Six students were in the young women's rented campus home on King Road in Moscow on the night of the murders and only two survived. Kaylee, Madison, Xana and Ethan (Xana's boyfriend) were stabbed to death, and their other roommates, Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortenson were left unharmed.
It is believed the four friends were stabbed between 3am and 4am. According to the Moscow Police Department, the students were likely asleep when the attack happened and some of the victims had defensive wounds as they tried to fend off the attack. A 911 call was made at 11.58am on one of the roommates' phones.
A coroner confirmed the students were killed with a 'large knife' and stabbed in the chest and upper body. There were no signs of sexual assault and no signs of forced entry. Police said nothing was taken from the victims or the home.
Kaylee and Madison, both 21, were university seniors and expected to graduate this year. Kaylee's father Mr Goncalves told at the vigil, weeks after the murder, how the "absolutely beautiful" pair first met in sixth grade and became inseparable.
He said at the time: "They just found each other and every day they did homework together, they came to our house together, they shared everything. Then they started looking at colleges, they came here together. They eventually get into the same apartment together. And in the end, they died together, in the same room, in the same bed."
Ethan and Xana, both 20, were juniors at the college and started dating months before their deaths. Ethan's parents, Jim and Stacy Chapin, said the murders threw the family into the "depths of hell". They have since created a foundation in Ethan's honour from their grief, Ethan's Smile.
Main suspect
Criminology student Bryan Kohberger, 28, is accused of stabbing the four students to death on November 13, 2022.. He was arrested in December 2022 and charged in May with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. He is due to stand trial on June 26.
Prosecutors argue Kohberger broke into the house in the early hours of the morning, after a figure clad in black was spotted by the two survivors of the attack who were in the house at the time. DNA on a knife sheath recovered from the scene was a near-perfect match to his.
He has pleaded not guilty and could face the death penalty if he's convicted. No murder weapon has been found and it is not publicly known if Kohberger personally knew one or more of the victims. The motive is also unknown.
According to sources within the prison, Kohberger has "found religion" in jail and is reportedly obsessed with following his own case from behind bars and regularly watches news coverage of his case on TV. He also rarely interacts with other prisoners and has a "cold demeanor", it is claimed.
Demolished house
The house where the students were horrifically massacred was demolished in December 2023 by bulldozers, despite pushes from victims' family members to stop that from happening. Videos shared online showed the house being torn down by trucks.
The student rental home was set to be torn down earlier in the year, but this was delayed after the family and prosecutors argued it was a key piece of evidence in the case. The University of Idaho then confirmed the demolition "as an attempt to decrease further impact on the students who live in that area".
The university's president, Scott Green, said it was a "grim reminder" of the "heinous act" which took place in the house. "While we appreciate the emotional connection some family members of the victims may have to this house, it is time for its removal and to allow the collective healing of our community to continue," he said.
The families of Xana and Kaylee argued that the surviving roommates could hear noises like a dog barking from the third floor, screaming and other sounds that could be tested if the house were still up and everything inside as it was that fateful night.
They also questioned whether or not suspect Kohberger could see inside and targeted specific individuals, or if the house itself was the target, but said they won't be able to find that out or test that theory. Mogen's father sided with the university and stated that he supported the demolition.
Lead prosecutor Bill Thompson said the house didn't serve another purpose and that it was so different now than it was at the time of the murders that having the jury come out and view it wouldn't be authorised let alone worth anything.
- The Idaho Murders: Trial by TikTok airs on BBC1 at 11.10pm tonight.
