Newly released surveillance videos reveal convicted killer Bryan Kohberger shopping shortly after murdering four University of Idaho students.
Footage obtained by Fox News shows Kohberger, 30, being turned away from a Costco for not having a membership card. Additional video from Moscow, Idaho, police captures him browsing inside another store and using a self-checkout register.
Other clips—intended for use during a trial before Kohberger pleaded guilty in July—show his white Hyundai Elantra appearing in several locations before and after the killings.
In December 2022, Kohberger was charged with four counts of murder and one count of felony burglary for the slayings of Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Ethan Chapin.
Goncalves, 21; Mogen, 21; Kernodle, 20; and Chapin, 20, were stabbed to death inside their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. Two roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, were home at the time but were unharmed and later ruled out as suspects.
On July 2, Kohberger entered guilty pleas to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. Prosecutors had previously indicated they planned to pursue the death penalty before reaching a plea deal.
On July 23, he was sentenced to four consecutive life terms plus 10 additional years for burglary, along with $270,000 in fines and civil penalties. He will not be eligible for parole.
Nearly three years later, the motive remains unclear. Acquaintances and criminology classmates from Washington State University speculated that Kohberger—who studied criminal behavior—may have wanted to test whether he could commit and conceal such crimes himself.
Investigators later discovered that Kohberger had photos of one of the victims on his phone. It remains unclear whether the images were taken personally or obtained from social media.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Kohberger was identified after police found a knife sheath near the bodies of Mogen and Goncalves. DNA recovered from the sheath matched DNA obtained from trash at his parents’ Pennsylvania home. In June 2023, prosecutors confirmed that a direct DNA sample from Kohberger matched the sheath evidence.
The affidavit also detailed surveillance showing a white sedan—referred to as Suspect Vehicle 1—leaving the crime scene around 4:20 a.m. on the night of the murders. Cell phone records later placed Kohberger’s phone near the house between 9:12 and 9:21 a.m. the same day.
Detectives found that his phone had been in the area of the King Road residence at least 12 times prior to November 13, 2022—mostly during late-night and early-morning hours.
In August, the Daily Mail reported that Kohberger complained of being “taunted” by other inmates at Idaho Maximum Security Institution.
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“They’re tormenting him at all hours—shouting through vents, kicking doors, and making noise,” said retired homicide detective Chris McDonough of the Cold Case Foundation.
Blake Lopez, Public Information Officer for the Idaho Department of Corrections, confirmed that Kohberger had filed complaints about his treatment but declined to verify the specifics.
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“We are aware of Kohberger’s complaints about what he considers taunting,” Lopez said. “Incarcerated individuals commonly communicate through vents. Kohberger is housed alone in his cell, and our staff maintain a safe, orderly environment for everyone in custody.”