Four University of Idaho students were killed in an ambush attack in November 2022. Suspected killer Bryan Kohberger, a Ph.D. student in criminology at Washington State University, is being held without bail on murder and burglary charges. A former roommate of two of the victims spoke out in a local news interview, advocating for campus safety for undergrads across the country. The ambush occurred at 1122 King Road, steps away from the Moscow, Idaho campus, claiming the lives of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
The former roommate, Ashlin Couch, shared her experiences living in the off-campus party house with the victims before the slayings took place. She expressed concern for her own safety, knowing that the attack could have happened while she was living there. The University of Idaho sent out an alert to the campus community the morning of the murders, leaving Couch shaken and wary of walking to her car in the dark for months afterward. The landlord of the house where the ambush occurred donated the property to the university after the murders, and it was subsequently demolished.
The defense in the case is seeking additional evidence through discovery, including full surveillance video that allegedly places Kohberger’s car near the crime scene. Lead defense attorney Anne Taylor has accused prosecutors of withholding audio from the surveillance video that was turned over to the defense team. Kohberger provided an alibi claiming he was driving on mountain roads at the time of the murders, but police allege they found his DNA on a knife sheath under one of the victim’s bodies and tracked his movements through phone pings and surveillance video of his car.
Prosecutors and the defense are expected to discuss evidence leading up to the trial, some of which may not be admissible in court. Latah County District Judge John Judge ordered a closed-door hearing on May 14 to prevent potential prejudice to the jury pool. Kohberger entered not guilty pleas to four counts of first-degree murder and a burglary charge at his arraignment in May 2023. He could face the death penalty if convicted. The case has raised questions about campus safety and the need for increased security measures to protect students living off-campus.
