On a chilly November night in 2022, the college town of Moscow, Idaho, was rocked by a crime that would capture national attention and leave a community searching for answers. Four University of Idaho students—Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20—were found murdered in their off-campus apartment. The brutality of the attack and the subsequent investigation drew widespread scrutiny, culminating in the arrest and eventual guilty plea of Bryan Kohberger, a former criminology PhD student at neighboring Washington State University.
Nearly three years later, on September 2, 2025, Idaho State Police released a trove of evidence photos from the investigation, offering the public a stark glimpse into the case that had transfixed the nation. The images, which depict scenes from the apartment in Pullman, Washington, where Kohberger lived, as well as his office at Washington State University, serve as a somber reminder of the tragedy and the painstaking work that went into solving it, according to Idaho State Police.
The details of the case, as reported by NewsNation and corroborated by Idaho State Police, paint a portrait of a young man whose academic ambitions and personal struggles intersected with a horrific crime. Kohberger, who was pursuing a doctorate in criminology, was not only a student but also a teaching assistant at Washington State University. However, his academic journey was far from smooth. NewsNation learned that he had been issued a performance improvement plan by the university—a fact that became relevant in the days following the murders.
On November 17, 2022, just four days after the murders, Kohberger was on the phone with his mother for hours. That night, according to digital forensic expert Jared Barnhart, Kohberger received a link from his mother. The link led to a news article detailing how Xana Kernodle, one of the victims, had bruises on her body and had put up a fierce fight during the attack. Barnhart explained to NewsNation, "He was on the phone with her for hours (on Nov. 17, 2022), but that night … he received a link from his mom. It was a news article, basically describing how Xana had bruises on her body and how she had put up such a fight." Kohberger did not respond to the message.
The timing of this exchange is notable. On the same day he received the article link from his mother, Kohberger was working on grievance letters addressed to his professors at Washington State University. He was attempting to explain why he needed to retain his teaching assistant role and to dispute the criticisms levied against him. Digital forensic expert Heather Barnhart told NewsNation, "He wrote not one but two letters of grievance, explaining … why he needed the teaching assistant role, what it meant to him. And then in a second one, was saying why the professors were wrong. So why they were wrong: He is a good student, he has a good GPA, he can be both a good student and a TA, and deserves that role."
Jared Barnhart added an observation about the communication patterns between Kohberger and his mother. "Looking at the timeline a little bit, you can tell that they’re actually speaking on the phone. What that tells us, and we can assume, is that they were talking about the Idaho murders on that night, and then the next morning, there’s just kind of nothing," he said. Barnhart speculated that Kohberger might have been deleting text messages with his mother, though he also noted the complicating factor that they were often on voice calls, making it difficult to determine the exact content of their conversations.
As the investigation unfolded, Idaho State Police released images of Kohberger’s living and working spaces. The photos, made public on September 2, 2025, depict the apartment in Pullman, Washington, where Kohberger lived while pursuing his doctorate, as well as his office at Washington State University. The release of these images was a significant moment for the public and the families of the victims, who had long sought transparency and closure. According to Idaho State Police, the evidence photos were part of a broader effort to provide insight into the investigation that ultimately led to Kohberger's arrest and conviction.
The case against Kohberger was built on a combination of forensic evidence, digital footprints, and old-fashioned police work. The fact that he was a criminology PhD student added a chilling layer to the narrative. Here was someone who had studied the criminal mind, now accused—and later convicted—of a crime that shocked even seasoned investigators. Kohberger eventually pleaded guilty to the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, and was sentenced to life in prison, as reported by Idaho State Police and confirmed by NewsNation.
The murders themselves were particularly brutal. The news article sent by Kohberger’s mother highlighted the ordeal faced by Xana Kernodle, who had visible bruises and had clearly fought back against her attacker. This detail underscored the terror experienced by the victims and the determination of investigators to uncover the truth.
For the University of Idaho community and the small city of Moscow, the shockwaves of the crime lingered long after Kohberger’s sentencing. Students, faculty, and residents struggled to process the loss of four young lives, each with their own dreams and aspirations. The victims—Madison, Kaylee, Xana, and Ethan—became symbols of a community’s resilience in the face of tragedy.
The release of the evidence photos in 2025 reignited public interest in the case. For some, it was a chance to reflect on the progress made since the dark days of 2022; for others, it was a painful reminder of lives cut short. The images, stark and unfiltered, served as both documentation and memorial.
In the end, the story of the University of Idaho murders is one of heartbreak, persistence, and the search for justice. It is a reminder that even in the quietest corners of America, tragedy can strike without warning. And while the release of evidence photos cannot heal the wounds left behind, it does offer a measure of transparency and a chance for the community to reckon with its loss. As the families and friends of the victims continue to grieve, the case stands as a testament to the enduring impact of violence—and the resolve of those determined to see justice done.
