The release of the probable cause affidavit in the State of Idaho v. Bryan C. Kohberger offered the public a detailed look into the multi-jurisdictional investigation surrounding the homicides of four University of Idaho students. Filed in Latah County and sworn by Moscow Police Officer Brett Payne, the document outlines the core evidence law enforcement gathered to arrest Kohberger for the November 13, 2022, killings at an off-campus home on King Road.
Understanding what is inside this document requires examining how investigators connected physical traces, digital footprints, and eyewitness accounts to track down a suspect. Rather than reading like a narrative summary, the affidavit functions as a methodical catalog of police steps, tracking a white Hyundai Elantra, cellular tower data, and touch DNA.
Surviving Roommate Accounts and Timeline
The timeline established in the affidavit begins late Saturday night, November 12, 2022, and stretches into the early morning hours of Sunday, November 13. Four victims—Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves—were killed on the second and third floors of the residence. Two other roommates were present on the ground floor and survived.
One surviving roommate, designated in court files as D.M., stated she was awakened around 4:00 a.m. by sounds resembling Goncalves playing with her dog on the third floor. Shortly after, someone heard what sounded like crying coming from Kernodle's room on the second floor. D.M. opened her bedroom door twice to investigate disturbances. For another angle on this development, refer to the recent update from Reuters.
During one of these openings, D.M. reported hearing a male voice say something to the effect of "it's okay, I'm going to help you". When she opened her door a third time at approximately 4:17 a.m., she saw a figure clad in black clothing and a mask walking toward the sliding glass door. D.M. described the male as roughly 5 feet 10 inches or taller, athletically built but not heavy, with bushy eyebrows. She locked her door and remained inside while the suspect departed.
The Knife Sheath and Touch DNA Evidence
Perhaps the most critical piece of physical evidence detailed in the affidavit was discovered right next to Madison Mogen's body on a bed. Investigators located a military-style Ka-Bar knife sheath bearing a USMC insignia.
Crime lab technicians processed the snap button of the leather sheath and extracted a single source of male touch DNA. Investigators later matched this profile to a family reference sample gathered from trash recovered outside the Kohberger family residence in Pennsylvania. According to the affidavit, state laboratory analysis indicated that the probability of finding another individual with a matching profile was roughly 1 in 5.37 octillion, effectively excluding 99.9998% of the male population from being the biological father of the DNA contributor.
Tracking the White Hyundai Elantra
Video surveillance played an enormous role in shifting the investigation toward a specific vehicle make and model. Municipal, business, and campus cameras in Moscow and Pullman, Washington—where Washington State University (WSU) is located—captured a white Hyundai Elantra moving through the area at unusual hours.
- Initial Sighting: Cameras recorded a white sedan driving past the King Road residence multiple times beginning around 3:29 a.m. on November 13.
- The Exit Route: At approximately 4:20 a.m., video captured the vehicle speeding away from the neighborhood down historical routes toward Pullman.
- Database Cross-Checks: On November 25, local police asked area law enforcement agencies to look out for white Hyundai Elantras. A WSU police officer identified a 2015 white Elantra registered to Bryan Kohberger carrying Pennsylvania plates.
- Registration Swap: Records showed that on November 18, five days after the murders, Kohberger registered the vehicle in Washington State and received new plates.
Cell Phone Tower Pings and Digital Footprints
In addition to physical and visual evidence, the affidavit outlines how cell site location information (CSLI) tracked the movement of a phone number associated with Kohberger.
Investigators found that the phone had been communicating with cell towers near Kohberger's apartment in Pullman during the evening of November 12. However, the device stopped connecting to local towers around 2:47 a.m. on November 13, suggesting it had been turned off or switched to airplane mode—a behavior investigators view as an attempt to conceal location data during the commission of a crime.
The phone reappeared on network coverage south of Moscow near Blaine, Idaho, at roughly 4:48 a.m., traveling south toward Grün/Clarkston before heading back toward Washington. Furthermore, historical cell data indicated that the phone had pinged cell towers near the King Road residence on at least a dozen occasions late at night or early in the morning prior to November 13, pointing to potential prior surveillance.
To read the primary source documentation directly, review the Idaho Courts Repository or examine filings hosted by the Idaho Supreme Court.
Common Misconceptions Regarding the Affidavit
Public discourse following the release of legal documents often breeds confusion. Clarifying these points helps establish a precise understanding of the case framework:
- It is not a trial transcript: An affidavit is a pre-trial charging document used to secure an arrest warrant or search authorization. It presents the prosecution's initial evidentiary framework, not a complete summary of all defense arguments or final evidence admitted at trial.
- Surviving roommates' delays: Online commentary frequently questions why D.M. did not call 911 immediately after seeing an unfamiliar masked man. The affidavit notes she locked her door out of fear, and emergency services were not contacted until hours later when friends arrived at the home.
- DNA scope: The touch DNA found on the knife sheath snap was processed via familial matching on trash samples, which triggered subsequent direct swab warrants after arrest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the probable cause affidavit initially sealed?
In Idaho, a court can seal an affidavit upon request if prosecutors demonstrate that early release could jeopardize an ongoing investigation, alert co-conspirators, or compromise witness safety. The document was unsealed shortly after Kohberger's extradition from Pennsylvania to Idaho.
What specific charges were outlined based on the affidavit?
The document supported an arrest warrant featuring four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary, alleging that the suspect entered the dwelling with the intent to commit a crime.
How did police tie the phone number to Kohberger?
Investigators tracked the cell number through subscriber records obtained from AT&T, which matched registration details, billing addresses, and driver's license application data matching Kohberger's personal records.
Did the affidavit mention a specific motive?
No. The probable cause affidavit focuses exclusively on establishing enough facts to show a crime was committed and that the defendant likely committed it. It does not speculate on or detail an official criminal motive.
