Dateline: Who is Bryan Kohberger and what do we know about his crimes? Details from The Terrible Night on King Road, explored

Dateline reports that on November 13, 2022, police found the bodies of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at their off-campus home, all with stab wounds. People throughout the country were scarred by this sudden tragedy and a thorough investigation took place.

Exactly one month after the deaths, Bryan Kohberger, who was studying criminology at Washington State University, was accused of covering up the crime and charged with entering their home and killing the students. He has been waiting for his court date since June 2025, which is now set for August 11, 2025, in Boise, Idaho.

The Dateline episode titled "The Terrible Night on King Road" that aired on May 9, 2025 details the case and the suspect who may have been involved.

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Bryan Kohberger's background and education

As per Dateline, Bryan Kohberger was born on November 21, 1994, in Pennsylvania. He achieved his associate degree in psychology from Northampton Community College in 2018.

He claimed on Dateline that he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from DeSales University in 2020 and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the school in 2022. On August 16, 2022, Kohberger began a Ph.D. course in criminology at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. He held several teaching assistant positions at the university.

Events leading up to the incident on King Road, according to Dateline

According to Dateline, on November 12, 2022, the four students went to different social events and then went home together to King Road. Film from the bar’s security system caught a few of them there and near a food truck at about 11:30 pm.

On November 13, at approximately 4:00 in the morning, a masked person came inside our home through the front door. The incident happened when the victims seemed to be sleeping, and there were no indications that anyone had attacked the building by breaking in, according to Dateline. There were signs of multiple stabbings on the people found at the scene of the crime.

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Evidence connecting Kohberger to the crime scene

Dateline records show that investigators used cellphone tower data to place Kohberger's phone near the King Road residence multiple times on November 12 and 13. A knife sheath found at the crime scene contained DNA that matched Kohberger's.

Additionally, forensic analysis linked fibers from the sheath to Kohberger. Prosecutors also noted that Kohberger had conducted internet searches related to homicide methods and serial killers in the weeks leading up to the incident. These pieces of evidence are subject to legal review and will be presented during the trial.

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Arrest and initial court proceedings

Dateline reports that Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022, in Pennsylvania and extradited to Idaho. He was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.

During pretrial motions, discussions focused on the admissibility of cellphone data, internet search history, and other evidence. The defense raised concerns about pretrial publicity potentially biasing jurors. Kohberger has maintained his innocence since his arrest.

Current status of the trial and future proceedings

To create a fair jury, the proceedings were transferred from Moscow to Boise, Idaho. Trial jury selection began on July 30, 2025, and the trial is planned to start on August 11, 2025, with Judge Steven Hippler presiding. Through November 7, 2025, the trial is expected to proceed, possibly ending with a sentencing phase.

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Authorities have said that if Kohberger is convicted, they may bring charges seeking the death penalty. There is no declared reason behind the crime, and it will be up to the jury to review all the presented evidence.

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