Suspect in Committing Idaho Murders Caught

[Frau Muller]

This just in. Big news - Surprised that there was no thread here.

Suspect is a 28-yr-old PhD student from a univ in Washington state, Bryan Kohberger. Arrested in Pennsylvania.

Idaho college killings suspect is criminology PhD student

A 28-year-old criminal justice graduate student was arrested in eastern Pennsylvania on Friday as a suspect in the mysterious stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students last month, authorities said. DNA evidence played a key role in identifying Bryan Christopher Kohberger as a suspect...

www.yahoo.com

 

[Frau Muller]

p.s. Wow - an expert in criminology! Was studying the behavior of criminals. Creep.

…reading articles coming in…

 

[Karen-W]

Oh, thank God!!!!

 

[BlueRidge]

Oh, thank God!!!!

Yes, at least the fear of not knowing if the killer was out there planning something else is over. So scary for those in the city and university.

I was shocked by the news; it seemed like it might be unsolved for a long time. I think the police were tracking their leads while keeping a lid on information coming out so the suspect wasn't tipped off. Good job.

 

[Prancer]

So he teaches at and attends another university and has no connection to the victims?

If that is true (and he is guilty), I am amazed that they caught him. I'll bet he is, too.

 

[Karen-W]

So he teaches at and attends another university and has no connection to the victims?

If that is true (and he is guilty), I am amazed that they caught him. I'll bet he is, too.

Washington State is in Pullman, about 15 min away from Moscow, where the murders happened. Hard to know yet whether or not there was any sort of tangential connection. Hopefully we'll learn more during the press conference.

 

[Dobre]

It doesn't say whether there was a personal connection, does it? Per Google, it's only a 9-minute drive between the two universities. Also, it sounds like he might have fled? (As he was found so far away?)

I'm glad they caught him.

 

[Cachoo]

Dead looking eyes in his mug shot...and the "survey" was totally creepy. It sounds like he's wanted to do something like this for a minute.

 

[Karen-W]

Listening to the news conference right now. Per Idaho state law, the arrest documents are sealed until the suspect is arraigned in an Idaho court, so we're going to have to wait until next week before we get any further details. Sounds like the suspect has his next court appearance in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

 

[ilovepaydays]

OMG - Apparently, the suspect called into this true crime podcast and the host contacted the FBI afterwards.

Here’s the clip of the alleged call the suspect made during the live episode.

This is INSANE if the suspect was the actual caller.

 

[Cachoo]

OMG - Apparently, the suspect called into this true crime podcast and the host contacted the FBI afterwards.

Here’s the clip of the alleged call the suspect made during the live episode.

This is INSANE if the suspect was the actual caller.

I'd kind of like to be in the room when it is played at the national chapter headquarters of the Sigma Chi's.

 

[Frau Muller]

…. Also, it sounds like he might have fled? (As he was found so far away?) …

I believe that he was caught at his parents’ house, in a gated community in eastern Pennsylvania. Not quite “in hiding.” The capture this morning must have been a shocker.

 

[ilovepaydays]

I'd kind of like to be in the room when it is played at the national chapter headquarters of the Sigma Chi's.

I believe that he was caught at his parents’ house, in a gated community in eastern Pennsylvania. Not quite “in hiding.” The capture this morning must have been a shocker.

Apparently, his car and DNA matches what was near/at the crime scene. I guess somehow the FBI already had his DNA in their database?

I bet that they’ll be able to get a good idea of how this happened within the next few days. But if it’s REALLY related to the fraternities - OMG!!!!

 

[Cachoo]

Apparently, his car and DNA matches what was near/at the crime scene. I guess somehow the FBI already had his DNA in their database?

I bet that they’ll be able to get a good idea of how this happened within the next few days. But if it’s REALLY related to the fraternities - OMG!!!!

I doubt that it is. I simply wonder if he was a Sigma Chi reject because he said at LEAST ten Sigma Chis have asked him, individually mind you, "if you were going to kill somebody how would you get away with it?" So at ten different times, ten different Sigma Chi's have consulted with him on murder and getting away with murder. RRRIIIIGGGHHHTTT....
"

 

[Karen-W]

Apparently, the white Elantra might have been the real tip-off per the Twitter thread. There was a woman who saw a white Elantra with Washington plates in the area where the suspect was arrested and she called in to the podcast and asked if she should call the tipline.

 

[Garden Kitty]

I'd kind of like to be in the room when it is played at the national chapter headquarters of the Sigma Chi's.

I believe from reports I read that the male victim was a member of Sigma Chi and he and his girlfriend were at a Sigma Chi party that night.

 

[Karen-W]

I believe from reports I read that the male victim was a member of Sigma Chi and he and his girlfriend were at a Sigma Chi party that night.

That is correct, I believe.

 

[Cachoo]

Well between that and then some stuff I put in the "Craziness" thread earlier I do wonder if this guy wants to be outed for his crimes. The surveys suggests he has a fascination with the subject.

 

[ilovepaydays]

So, what I don’t get right now is - the suspect had to know, with his background in criminology, that they had his DNA scored when they took it (for what, anyway?). He HAD to know that his DNA would be at the scene. Did he not think that they would figure it out?

 

[Judy]

This was reported on CNN:

The suspect in the murders of four University of Idaho students was identified with the help of genetic genealogy, a source with knowledge of the case tells CNN.

Unknown DNA found in Idaho during the course of the investigation was taken through a DNA public database to find potential matches for family members, the source said. Once potential family matches were found, subsequent investigative work by law enforcement led to the identification of suspect Bryan Kohberger, according to the source.

 

[Amy L]

Law enforcement can get familial DNA matches through 23andMe or similar services. So either a perp could have used that type of service themselves or a close relative has. Once a family group has been identified, they can whittle it down by seeing who in the family had proximity to the crime scene at the time it took place. (that's how the Golden State Killer was eventually caught after 40+ years)

 

[Buzz]

Glad they found this guy. It is cringe worthy to think that someone could do something like this and just carry on. Hope now the victims can Rest In Peace.

 

[Vash01]

deleted

 

[Judy]

I’m relieved he is caught too. Those poor kids .

 

[Frau Muller]

Among many other details emerging about this creep…

A strict vegan, who angrily threw away pots in which meat was cooked…as per someone who saw him throw a tantrum with his parents.

Another article quotes an ex-classmate who mentioned him being overweight until very recently. Change to vegan diet recently?

 

[Lacey]

I believe from reports I read that the male victim was a member of Sigma Chi and he and his girlfriend were at a Sigma Chi party that night.

Let me know if I can get in trouble for this post because, at this stage,
some of the things printed may be true or may be speculation or both.
I am obviously not a member of any investigation team,
and I don't know if speculating is hurtful,
But if it is really him, and I believe it is,
I think they said they have his car and his DNA.
And it's horrible to say
I suspect he might have targeted them somehow
in relation to the fraternity.

This man seems to be a MONSTER!

Those poor kids and their parents and friends, we are all traumatized.

Washington State University identifies the arrestee as a Ph.D. student in its department of criminal justice and criminology.

Really, Criminal Justice and Criminology?

 

[Judy]

I am obviously not a member of any investigation team,
and I don't know if speculating is hurtful,
But if it is really him, and I believe it is,
I think they said they have his car and his DNA.
And it's horrible to say
I suspect he might have targeted them somehow
in relation to the fraternity.

This man seems to be a MONSTER!

Those poor kids and their parents and friends, we are all traumatized.

Washington State University identifies the arrestee as a Ph.D. student in its department of criminal justice and criminology.

Really, Criminal Justice and Criminology?

Yes but likely a lot won’t be known until a trial either. Lots of speculation in between. In Canada we’re about two years for a murder trial… kind of the same with USA? A trial will be brutal on the families unless he pleads guilty.

I have no problem saying the 3 different police forces/FBI etc did an extraordinary job working together.

 

[Cachoo]

Popping around and reading up on him: One friend said he was socially awkward, bullied by girls in high school, struggled with his weight then with heroin addiction. She also said he was curious about a lot of things but wasn’t so good with adult interaction. She cried when she found out why he was in the news.

 

[Judy]

Law enforcement can get familial DNA matches through 23andMe or similar services. So either a perp could have used that type of service themselves or a close relative has. Once a family group has been identified, they can whittle it down by seeing who in the family had proximity to the crime scene at the time it took place. (that's how the Golden State Killer was eventually caught after 40+ years)

Could you explain a bit more re the DNA matches.

 

[Karen-W]

Could you explain a bit more re the DNA matches.

Essentially law enforcement is, increasingly, submitting their DNA results to these public companies like 23andMe, etc, to see if they can find a match - if not an exact match then a close familial match - you know in the commercials when they say "oh, here's a new leaf on your family tree..." If a match or a close family match (sibling, parent, niece/nephew, first cousin) comes up then that significantly narrows the field of suspects from thousands to hundreds or even tens.

Here is an article about how it worked to find the Golden State Killer that @Amy L referenced -

Science | AAAS

www.science.org