MOSCOW, Idaho — A two-hour special of NBC's "Dateline" aired on Friday night, May 9, 2025, shedding light on the chilling case of Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students in November 2022. The episode, titled "The Terrible Night on King Road," featured a wealth of evidence that will be pivotal during Kohberger's upcoming trial, including surveillance footage, cellphone records, and interviews with those who knew the victims.
Keith Morrison, a correspondent for Dateline, shared with KING 5 that the program presents a "fairly comprehensive timeline of when things may have occurred." Among the evidence highlighted in the broadcast is a video of a white car seen in the vicinity of the crime scene on the night of the murders, alongside Kohberger's cellphone records that detail his calls and internet searches.
On November 13, 2022, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were brutally stabbed to death in their off-campus residence at 1122 King Road. Kohberger, who has pleaded not guilty, faces four counts of first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled to commence on August 11, 2025, and is expected to run through November 7, 2025. A judge has ruled that prosecutors can seek the death penalty if he is convicted.
The Dateline episode revealed that Kohberger's cellphone browsing history included searches for "Sociopathic Traits in College Student" and pornography with keywords such as "drugged" and "sleeping." Furthermore, records indicated that Kohberger made a call to his father's account shortly after his phone connected to a cell tower near Moscow at 4:48 a.m. on the morning of the murders. He also took a selfie in his bathroom at 10:31 a.m. that same day.
In a particularly unsettling detail, Kohberger's phone showed searches for "University of Idaho Murders" and information about serial killer Ted Bundy shortly after the killings. This connection to Bundy was highlighted by Morrison, who noted that Kohberger's appearance in one of his selfies resembled Bundy's attire in a related YouTube video.
As the Dateline special unfolded, it also featured former students sharing their experiences with Kohberger. One graduate student recounted meeting him at a pool party and exchanging numbers, only to receive a text the next day with "peculiar" wording. Another friend of one of the victims expressed how she was supposed to be at the King Road house that night but was asked to stay home, a decision that ultimately saved her life.
Angela Navejas, the mother of Ashlin Couch, a former roommate of the victims, shared her family's close ties with Madison Mogen. Navejas revealed that Couch had planned to hang out with friends on the night of the murders but was asked to stay home to care for the family dogs, a decision that likely spared her life. "It was a pain inside … you can’t really explain how your body’s feeling," Navejas said, reflecting on the tragedy.
Following the murders, Couch moved away from the area, feeling the need to escape and regroup. Navejas expressed concern for her daughter, noting that she is "not the same" since the incident and unsure when she will return home. "Once the trial is over, I think that’s really when you’re going to be able to start grieving the right way," Navejas said.
In 2024, Navejas and Couch established The Made With Kindness Foundation, dedicated to honoring the memories of the slain students by creating scholarship opportunities and promoting on-campus safety. Navejas emphasized the importance of remembering the victims' optimism and kindness, stating, "We just decided that we wanted to start something to be able to remember and honor the girls and how they were — their optimism, empowerment, confidence."
The episode also featured Karen Laramie, the mother of Maddie Mogen, who shared a sentimental piece of jewelry her daughter had given her. The emotional weight of these stories underscores the lasting impact of the tragedy on the victims’ families and friends.
As the trial approaches, the community remains on edge, grappling with the aftermath of the horrific event that shook Moscow, Idaho. Morrison's report raises critical questions about the motivations behind the murders and how Kohberger's defense team will navigate the complexities of the case with the death penalty looming over their client.
With the trial set to begin in just 12 weeks, the Dateline episode serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost and the ongoing quest for justice. The investigation continues to captivate the nation, as the families of the victims seek closure and a chance to heal from the devastating loss.
As viewers tuned in to the special, many were left reflecting on the fragility of life and the importance of community in the face of tragedy. The stories shared on Dateline not only honor the memories of Mogen, Goncalves, Kernodle, and Chapin but also highlight the resilience of those left behind, as they strive to find a path forward amidst the pain.
