>> YOU GOT FOUR LIVES, FOUR
BEAUTIFUL, YOUNG LIVES MY DAUGHTER LITERALLY FOUGHT FOR
THE VERY LAST MOMENT >> KAYLEE AND MADDIE WERE DOING
EVERYTHING RIGHT THAT NIGHT. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS ABOUT
TO HAPPEN. >> IT'S AMERICA'S MOST
HEARTBREAKING MYSTERY. >> Reporter: FOUR STUDENTS IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT STABBED TO DEATH
>> MY HEART SANK HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
>> NOW EXCLUSIVE NEW INFORMATION.
>> I TEXTED XANA, "I LOVE YOU. >> A FRIEND SPEAKS OUT FOR THE
VERY FIRST TIME. >> THE FIRST 48 HOURS WERE LIKE
A MOVIE. >> REVEALING NEW DETAILS ABOUT
THE INVESTIGATION. >> AMAZING
THE INCREDIBLE STUFF THEY DID WITH THE CAR AND THE
ELECTRONICS. >> THE DNA ON THE KNIFE
SHEATH -- THAT IS EXTREMELY STRONG EVIDENCE.
>> THE MANHUNT >> I WENT, "WHAT
THE IDAHO MURDER SUSPECT IN PENNSYLVANIA?"
>> YOU CANNOT LET THIS GUY OUT OF EYESIGHT.
>> THEY ACTUALLY JUST BARGED IN. >> THE SUSPECT
>> I FEEL LIKE I WITNESSED A SIDE OF BRYAN THAT OTHER PEOPLE
MIGHT NOT HAVE >> THIS IS SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO
SHOW US THAT HE HAS POWER. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO
SIT IN THAT ROOM AND WATCH HIM >> HE LOOKED SCARED, AS HE
SHOULD BE. >> WE'RE READY
WE'RE READY FOR THIS CASE. >> TONIGHT WE TAKE YOU INSIDE
THE CASE THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS WATCHING
I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS "DATELINE.
HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH "KILLINGS IN A COLLEGE TOWN.
>> Reporter: IT WAS SUNDAY AND ALL AROUND WAS A DAMP, GREY
GLOOM. AND THE HUSH THAT HAD FINALLY
SETTLED ON STUDENT HOUSING AT 3:00 A.M. OR 4:00 LINGERED ALL
MORNING LONG THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
AFTER THE BIG HOMETOWN FOOTBALL GAME AND THE NOISY PARTIES THAT
FOLLOWED >> WE'D GONE TO A FRATERNITY
UNTIL, LIKE, PRETTY LATE THAT NIGHT.
>> Reporter: IN MOSCOW, HOME OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO AND THE
FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES THAT WERE A SECOND FAMILY TO A
SOPHOMORE NAMED MARTHA >> I GOT UP PROBABLY AROUND
10:45, 11:00, GOT READY TO GO DO SOME HOMEWORK.
>> Reporter: SO THAT NOVEMBER 13th, MARTHA DROVE THE
FEW BLOCKS OVER TO THE SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY WHERE SHE AND SOME
FRIENDS PLANNED TO WORK TOGETHER
WHAT WAS THIS PROJECT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WORKING ON
>> IT WAS JUST A GROUP PROJECT FOR ONE OF OUR CLASSES
AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET AT 12:30 AND WERE WAITING FOR ONE
OTHER PERSON, AND IT WAS HUNTER CHAPIN.
>> Reporter: HUNTER WAS LATE HE WAS ONE OF THE CHAPIN
TRIPLETS, THE INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE SIBLINGS WHO ALL
ATTENDED "U" OF "I." EVERYONE SEEMED TO KNOW HUNTER
AND MAIZIE AND ETHAN >> ALL THREE ARE IN GREEK LIFE,
SO WE GOT TO KNOW ALL OF THEM PRETTY WELL.
IT WAS A FAMILY AFFAIR >> Reporter: BUT MARTHA WAITED
NO SIGN OF HUNTER. GETTING CLOSER TO 1:00 NOW
AND ACROSS TOWN, SENIOR KATARINA HOCKEMA WAS WAKING UP
TO SOME NEWS >> I SAW A REGULAR TEXT MESSAGE
NOTIFICATION FROM THE MOSCOW POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> Reporter: IT TOOK A MINUTE TO REGISTER
THE TEXT WAS SOMETHING NAMED FOR THE COLLEGE MASCOT, A VANDAL
ALERT. >> MOSCOW PD INVESTIGATING A
HOMICIDE ON KING ROAD NEAR CAMPUS
STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA AND SHELTER IN PLACE
>> Reporter: BACK AT SIGMA CHI, MARTHA'S GROUP DECIDED TO BE
PROACTIVE WITH THEIR FRIEND HUNTER CHAPIN.
>> WE CALLED HIM AND WE SAID, "HEY, ARE YOU COMING?"
AND HE SAID, "NO, I THINK ETHAN'S DEAD."
>> Reporter: HUNTER SAYS, "I THINK ETHAN'S DEAD."
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE TO HEAR THAT? >> IT WAS SO BEYOND.
I HONESTLY DIDN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT
>> Reporter: MARTHA'S THOUGHTS IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO ETHAN'S
GIRLFRIEND, XANA KERNODLE. >> I TEXTED XANA AND SAID, "I
LOVE YOU." I DIDN'T WANT TO CALL HER
BECAUSE I IMAGINED THAT WHATEVER WAS GOING ON WAS PROBABLY FAIRLY
OVERWHELMING AND THEN WE WALKED OUT INTO THE
COURTYARD. AND SOMEBODY SAID THAT XANA WAS
DEAD AND AGAIN, IT DIDN'T REALLY EVEN
CHECK OUT WITH ME. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS GOING ON
THE HOUSE XANA SHARED WITH HER ROOMMATES ON KING ROAD WAS
CLEARLY VISIBLE FROM SIGMA CHI WHAT WAS GOING ON OVER THERE
>> JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE REALLY IN SHOCK
AND SO WE DIDN'T KNOW IF -- IF IT WAS A CARBON MONOXIDE THING
WE DIDN'T KNOW AND SO WE ALL BASICALLY STOOD IN
A BIG, QUIET CIRCLE AND WATCHED ALL THE BEGINNING STUFF HAPPEN
>> Reporter: THE "BEGINNING STUFF" WAS THIS.
JUST BEFORE NOON, AUTHORITIES RESPONDED TO A 911 CALLER WHO
HAD REPORTED AN UNCONSCIOUS PERSON AT THE HOME
STRANGE, GIVEN WHAT HAD ACTUALLY HAPPENED
BUT THEN THE MERE THOUGHT OF ANYTHING TERRIBLE HAPPENING ON
KING ROAD? WELL, UNTHINKABLE.
AND THAT AFTERNOON, 95 MILES NORTH OF MOSCOW, IN THE TOWN OF
RATHDRUM, IDAHO, THE PARENTS OF ANOTHER UNIVERSITY STUDENT,
KAYLEE GONCALVES, STEVE AND KRISTI, WERE WATCHING A FOOTBALL
GAME >> MY NIECE CALLED ME.
AND SHE WAS VERY UPSET AND CRYING
AND SHE SAID, "SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED TO KAYLEE."
AND I SAID, "WELL, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
AND SHE SAID, "I HAVE A FRIEND DOWN THERE, AND THEY CALLED ME
AND TOLD ME THAT KAYLEE GONCALVES WAS KILLED, HAD
BEEN KILLED. AND I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TRYING
TO CALL KAYLEE AND HER PHONE WAS GOING STRAIGHT
TO VOICEMAIL SO THEN I STARTED CALLING
MADDIE >> Reporter: MADDIE MOGEN,
KAYLEE'S LONGTIME BEST FRIEND. >> HER PHONE WOULD RING AND RING
AND RING AND RING AND RING AND THEN I SAID, "OKAY,
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO, LIKE, RELAX BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO
KAYLEE LAST NIGHT, MADDIE WOULD'VE CALLED ME."
>> Reporter: KAYLEE HAD RECENTLY MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE AT
1122 KING ROAD, BUT HAD RETURNED TO SPEND THE NIGHT WITH MADDIE
BEFORE LONG, THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE GONCALVES' DOOR
>> AND MY SON SAID, "THE SHERIFF'S HERE."
AND I ACTUALLY TOOK OFF TO MY BEDROOM, AND THE REST OF THE
FAMILY ANSWERED THE DOOR >> Reporter: IT WAS TRUE
SHE WAS DEAD THEY WERE BOTH DEAD.
>> MY KNEES WERE SHAKING I MEAN, MY WHOLE BODY WAS
SHAKING. >> THAT'S WHEN YOU LOSE HOPE
Y'KNOW, YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE, AND THEN IT SMACKS YOU
THAT THERE IS NO HOPE. >> Reporter: YEAH.
WOULDN'T WISH IT ON YOUR WORST ENEMY.
>> NO. >> Reporter: AND THEN THE NEWS
WENT EVERYWHERE. FOUR STUDENTS HAD BEEN MURDERED
IN THIS HOME JUST BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS
21-YEAR-OLD MADISON MOGEN, A SENIOR FROM COEUR D'ALENE,
IDAHO. KAYLEE GONCALVES, ALSO 21.
ETHAN CHAPIN, THE 20 YEAR OLD FRESHMEN FROM CONWAY,
WASHINGTON AND ETHAN'S GIRLFRIEND,
20-YEAR-OLD JUNIOR XANA KERNODLE OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA
INCREDIBLY, TWO ROOMMATES SURVIVED -- BETHANY FUNKE AND
DYLAN MORTENSEN. FOR REASONS THAT WERE UNCLEAR,
THEY WERE NOT HURT POLICE ALSO ANNOUNCED THERE WAS
NO ONGOING COMMUNITY RISK. REPORTER JOHN WEBB WORKS AT OUR
NBC AFFILIATE, KHQ >> I THINK IT WAS UNEASY FOR THE
PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THEIR TOWN.
AND THEN TO HEAR THAT THERE'S NO THREAT TO THE PUBLIC, BUT NOT BE
DESCRIBED WHY THERE'S NO THREAT TO THE PUBLIC.
>> Reporter: THAT NIGHT, STUDENTS RECEIVED MULTIPLE
UPDATES FROM THE UNIVERSITY. BUT NONE OF THEM EASED ANY MINDS
OR MADE ANYONE FEEL SAFER. AND CLASSES WERE CANCELED FOR
THE FOLLOWING DAY. MARTHA RETURNED TO HER SORORITY
HOUSE, AND ALONG WITH DOZENS OF YOUNG WOMEN, GATHERED ALL THEIR
BEDS IN ONE BIG ROOM >> AND JUST CRIED, CRIED, CRIED.
AND AT THIS POINT, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS
LIKE, WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING. >> Reporter: EXCEPT THAT THEIR
INNOCENT COLLEGE TOWN, SWEET LITTLE MOSCOW, IDAHO, WASN'T THE
SAME ANYMORE IT WAS GOING TO BE FAMOUS, WORLD
FAMOUS, IN THE WORST IMAGINABLE WAY.
FOUR FRIENDS DEAD, INCLUDING ONE WHO WASN'T EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE
>> Reporter: MORNING CAME. MONDAY MORNING, THE DAY AFTER.
AND ALONG WITH IT CONFUSION, ANXIETY, ANGER, AND UNMEASURABLE
GRIEF. >> YOU JUST FEEL SICK.
>> UH, YEAH, I WENT INTO COMPLETE SHOCK
ABSOLUTE, COMPLETE SHOCK I -- I -- I COULDN'T CRY
I COULDN'T THINK >> Reporter: THE GONCALVES
FAMILY'S DAUGHTER KAYLEE, ALONG WITH HER BEST FRIEND
MADDIE MOGEN, ROOMMATE XANA KERNODLE, AND XANA'S
BOYFRIEND ETHAN CHAPIN, HAD ALL BEEN FOUND DEAD IN THIS HOUSE ON
KING ROAD JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS
KILLED JUST HOURS, REALLY, AFTER THIS -- ALL FOUR DECKED OUT IN
GAME DAY GEAR BEFORE THAT VANDAL FOOTBALL GAME.
WHAT'S IT LIKE SEEING ALL THIS HAPPEN IN YOUR HOMETOWN, IN THAT
PLACE YOU LOVE SO MUCH >> IT BREAKS MY HEART.
>> Reporter: HAYLEY GUENTHNER IS A REPORTER FOR KHQ, OUR LOCAL
NBC AFFILIATE. SHE GREW UP IN MOSCOW, ATTENDED
THE UNIVERSITY, AND ONCE LIVED JUST OFF KING, A BELOVED STRIP
OF HOMES WHERE SORORITY AND FRATERNITY MEMBERS OFTEN MOVED
AT SCHOOL. >> I LIVED THE EXACT LIFE THAT
THEY WERE LIVING AND SO IT JUST -- IT REALLY HIT
CLOSE TO HOME. LIKE, HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?
>> Reporter: NO ONE, IT SEEMED, HAD A CLUE ABOUT THAT, OR WHAT
TO THINK OR FEEL AFTER THE CITY'S FIRST HOMICIDE IN SEVEN
YEARS. MOSCOW POLICE WERE CLEARLY
WORKING THE CRIME SCENE. BUT PUBLICLY WERE SAYING NOT A
WORD ABOUT WHAT THEY'D FOUND INSIDE, ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED
OR WHO MIGHT HAVE DONE IT. SO LOCAL NBC REPORTER JOHN WEBB
WENT TO CITY HALL TO SEE MOSCOW'S MAYOR AND ASK HIM
>> HE TOLD US IT WAS A CRIME OF PASSION.
AND SO WE ASKED, "HOW DID YOU >> Reporter: THIS WAS THE
MAYOR'S ANSWER.. >> BECAUSE THERE WAS NO
BURGLARY THERE WAS NO ROBBERY
THERE WAS NO HOSTAGE TAKEN >> AND SO HE BELIEVED IT WAS A
CRIME OF PASSION >> Reporter: THAT, ALONG WITH AN
EARLIER POLICE COMMENT THAT THERE WAS NO ONGOING THREAT TO
THE COMMUNITY, LED VETERAN IDAHO MAJOR CASE INVESTIGATORS LIKE
BRAD MASKELL TO SOME CONCLUSIONS.
MASKELL WAS NOT WORKING THE CASE BUT KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON IT.
>> MY INITIAL THOUGHTS WERE, "OKAY, THEN IT'S VERY LIKELY A
MURDER- SUICIDE TYPE INCIDENT. POSSIBLY THEY'RE COMFORTABLE
SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE SUSPECT IS RIGHT
THERE IN THE ROOM WITH THE REST OF THE VICTIMS
>> Reporter: BUT NO, IT WASN'T THAT
IN FACT, THE GRUESOME TRUTH WAS ALREADY BEING WHISPERED AROUND
TOWN THE FOUR HAD BEEN STABBED TO
DEATH. KAYLEE AND MADDIE, TOGETHER IN
ONE BED ON THE HOME'S THIRD FLOOR.
ETHAN AND XANA ON THE SECOND FLOOR IN XANA'S BEDROOM WHERE
THEY WERE STAYING. A SCENE SO TROUBLING SOME FIRST
RESPONDERS WERE KEPT OUT ALTOGETHER
>> MY FRIEND HAS A FRIEND, KNEW AN EMT
AND THEY WEREN'T EVEN ALLOWED TO GO IN.
>> Reporter: BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A VIOLENT SCENE?
>> YEAH, SOMEBODY HAD DONE SOMETHING REALLY BAD
>> Reporter: THIS WAS A VERY VIOLENT CRIME.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT? >> NOT EASILY.
I CANNOT ESCAPE IT AND HE -- "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
STOP, STOP, STOP DON'T GO THERE
WHY ARE YOU GOIN' THERE? >> WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR
27 YEARS, SO WE HAVE TO HELP THE OTHER PARTNER FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO NOT CRUSH THEMSELVES. >> Reporter: PROBABLY THE
HARDEST THING A MARRIED COUPLE CAN DO
>> YEAH, IT BREAKS A LOT APART >> Reporter: AND COMMUNITIES
TOO. IN FACT, ONCE WORD GOT AROUND,
AND WITH CLASSES CANCELED, WELL, LIFE IN THIS LIVELY TOWN WAS
STILLED. AND THOSE WHO LIVED ALONG ON
KING ROAD EITHER HOLED UP AT HOME OR JUST LEFT.
>> I'VE NEVER BEEN ON THAT ROAD AND IT BE SO EERILY QUIET.
>> SOME PEOPLE SOBBED AND JUST, LIKE, UNCONTROLLABLY CRIED
SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. SOME PEOPLE WOULDN'T TALK,
REALLY SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T EAT
>> Reporter: THE DEAD HAD BEEN LIKE FAMILY.
THE ONLY MALE VICTIM, ETHAN CHAPIN, GREW UP NORTH OF
SEATTLE. FIRST BORN OF THE CHAPIN
TRIPLETS, ETHAN GREW TALL AND ESPECIALLY LOVED BASKETBALL.
>> ETHAN WAS JUST INCREDIBLE AND HE WAS, YOU KNOW, THE GENTLE
GIANT THAT WAS JUST SWEET AND ALWAYS THE PERSON -- WHEN YOU
WALKED INTO A ROOM, HE'D ALWAYS KINDA PERK UP AND BE LIKE, "OH,
MY GOSH," LIKE, "YOU'RE HERE." >> Reporter: ETHAN AND HIS
SIBLINGS ALL SPENT SUMMERS IN HIGH SCHOOL WORKING AT A RESORT
IN NORTH IDAHO SO IT MADE SENSE ETHAN'S MAJOR
WAS RECREATION, SPORT, TOURISM ETHAN'S GIRLFRIEND XANA KERNODLE
LIVED IN IDAHO, THEN ARIZONA SHE WAS A PROMISING YOUNG
GYMNAST AND PLAYED SEVERAL SPORTS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE HAD MAJORED IN MARKETING >> XANA WAS JUST ONE OF THE
COOLEST PEOPLE ON GREEK ROW. AND EVERYBODY KNEW XANA.
LIKE, IT DIDN'T MATTER WHO YOU WERE, YOU KNEW WHO XANA WAS
'CAUSE SHE WAS JUST SO AWESOME AND A FRIEND TO EVERYONE
>> Reporter: XANA ALSO WORKED PART TIME AT THE MAD GREEK
RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN MOSCOW, AS DID HER ROOMMATE,
MADDIE MOGEN >> MADDIE WAS OUR FAMILY AS
WELL >> Reporter: KAYLEE GONCALVES'
PARENTS CAN'T TALK ABOUT THEIR OWN DAUGHTER WITHOUT TALKING
ABOUT MADDIE >> THESE GIRLS WERE BEST FRIENDS
SINCE SIXTH GRADE. LIKE, INSEPARABLE.
>> THEY WERE IN -- LIVED IN A HOUSE TOGETHER
THEY WERE TRUE, ULTIMATE BEST FRIENDS.
AND MADDIE HAD BEEN A HUGE PART OF OUR LIFE.
>> Reporter: LIKE MADDIE, KAYLEE WAS A HIGH ACHIEVER, DUE TO
GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE EARLY AND HAD A JOB LINED UP WITH AN
I.T. FIRM IN AUSTIN, TEXAS SO SHE'D JUST MOVED OUT OF THE
HOUSE ON KING ROAD, BOUGHT A NEW CAR, A RANGE ROVER, AND HAD GONE
BACK TO MOSCOW FOR ONE LAST WEEKEND.
>> SHE SAID, "WELL, I WANT TO GO SHOW MADDIE MY CAR
AND THERE'S A PI PHI PARTY TONIGHT, AND I WANT TO GO TO THE
PI PHI PARTY." THAT WAS THE LAST TIME THAT I
SAW KAYLEE >> Reporter: TWO DAYS AFTER THE
MURDERS, AND A FULL WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING BREAK, AN EXODUS OF
STUDENTS HAD BEGUN >> A LOT OF STUDENTS LEFT
COMPLETELY I THINK FEAR WAS THE DRIVING
DECISION BEHIND THAT >> Reporter: OH, AND THE FEAR?
IT WAS JUST GETTING STARTED. BECAUSE WHEN POLICE DID TELL THE
PUBLIC WHAT WAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS CRIME, WELL, LET'S JUST SAY IT
>> Reporter: QUITE SUDDENLY, FAME, OF THE VERY WORST KIND,
HAD COME TO MOSCOW, IDAHO. SEEMED LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD WAS
WATCHING >> ANOTHER DEADLY SCHOOL
TRAGEDY, THIS ONE INVOLVING FOUR STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
IDAHO. >> IT COULD BE ANY STUDENT HOUSE
IN THE REMOTE TOWN OF MOSCOW, IDAHO.
>> WHILE AUTHORITIES IN IDAHO HUNT FOR A MASS MURDERER -
>> Reporter: MUCH TO THE DISMAY OF THOSE WHO WANTED MOSCOW NOT
TO BE KNOWN FOR THIS >> WE WANT OUR HIDDEN GEM TO
STAY HIDDEN. SO TO SEE THAT WE ARE MAKING
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT REALLY
IS LIKE A GUT PUNCH. >> OKAY, SO I KEEP GOING BACK
ABOUT IF THERE'S ONE SUSPECT OR THERE'S MULTIPLE SUSPECTS.
>> THIS IS MY THEORY >> Reporter: IT WASN'T LONG, OF
COURSE, UNTIL THE INTERNET CRIME SLEUTHS LATCHED ON
>> THERE'S NO DRIED BLOOD, NO BLOOD AT ALL
>> Reporter: AND HERE, UNCHECKED AND UNRESTRAINED, TRUE CRIME
FANS SECOND-GUESSED AND NAMED INNOCENTS AS POSSIBLE SUSPECTS
>> WE JUST GOT ANOTHER MAJOR PUZZLE PIECE
>> Reporter: VIRALIZED SPECULATION.
>> AND I KNOW THERE'S NO WAY THAT THE PEOPLE GETTING MURDERED
WERE NOT SCREAMING >> EVERYONE'S COME OUT ON THIS
ONE. >> Reporter: LAUREN MATTHIAS, A
FORMER JOURNALIST IN IDAHO, AND HER HUSBAND, FORENSIC
PSYCHOLOGIST DR. JOHN MATTHIAS, HOST A PODCAST CALLED "HIDDEN
TRUE CRIME." DR. MATTHIAS HAS MORE THAN
25 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS A LICENSED CLINICAL AND FORENSIC
PSYCHOLOGIST, EVALUATING THE ACCUSED AND THE CONVICTED FOR
THE COURT SYSTEM >> I THINK THE LACK OF
INFORMATION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMBINED WITH THE
INTENSE FEAR THAT'S BUILDING AROUND THIS CASE, CREATES A LOT
OF MISINFORMATION, AND IT CREATES A LOT OF WILD
SPECULATION. >> KAYLEE THOUGHT SHE HAD A
STALKER. >> Reporter: THAT SPECULATION,
EVERYTHING FROM A STALKER TO A SPURNED LOVER TO A CARTEL HIT,
WAS A WAVE THAT REFUSED TO CREST.
>> EVERYTHING THAT THE PSYCHIC MEDIUM WAS SAYING, LIKE, ALL
ADDED UP >> Reporter: BUT THEN?
TUESDAY, 48 HOURS AFTER THE BODIES WERE DISCOVERED, MOSCOW
POLICE RELEASED A STATEMENT THAT SAID THIS.
"INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THAT AN EDGED WEAPON SUCH AS A KNIFE WAS
USED" IN THE MURDERS A LOCAL SHOP OWNER REPORTED
DETECTIVES HAD STOPPED BY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE
THIS -- A KA-BAR COMBAT KNIFE. AND SUDDENLY ALL THE RUMORS OF A
HORRIFYING CRIME SCENE SEEMED TO BE CONFIRMED
>> WE SPOKE TO THE CORONER, AND SHE SAID SHE'S NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT EVER. IT WAS GRUESOME, IS THE WORD SHE
USED >> Reporter: AND AS FOR THAT
PIECE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE KNIFE BEING THE FIRST
INVESTIGATIVE DETAIL RELEASED BY POLICE
WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT? >> YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY WAS
KIND OF SHOCKED THAT THAT INFORMATION WOULD HAVE BEEN
RELEASED I MEAN, INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO
THE TYPE OF MURDER WEAPON IS SOMETHING THAT INVESTIGATORS
REALLY TRY TO KEEP CLOSE TO THE VEST
>> MY NAME IS CHIEF JAMES FRY WITH THE MOSCOW POLICE
DEPARTMENT >> Reporter: AND THEN ON
WEDNESDAY, THREE DAYS AFTER THE MURDERS, MOSCOW POLICE FINALLY
APPEARED BEFORE REPORTERS. BUT FROM THE FIRST WORDS
SPOKEN - >> WE KNOW YOU HAVE QUESTIONS,
AND SO DO WE >> Reporter: -- IF ANYONE FELT
THAT THERE WAS NO ONGOING THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY, WELL, THAT HAD
CHANGED DRAMATICALLY >> WE DO NOT HAVE A SUSPECT AT
THIS TIME. AND THAT INDIVIDUAL IS STILL OUT
THERE. >> YOU GUYS HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY
THAT THERE'S NO THREAT TO PUBLIC
BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO SUSPECT IS
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S AT. HOW IS THERE NO THREAT TO THE
PUBLIC AT THIS POINT >> WELL, THAT'S KIND OF AN
UNKNOWN. LIKE I SAID, WE TOOK THE
INFORMATION WE HAD AT THE TIME -
>> Reporter: INFORMATION WHICH WAS NOW UPDATED TO THIS.
>> WHAT WE DON'T KNOW -- THE IDENTIFY AND LOCATION OF THE
SUSPECT, THE LOCATION OF THE KNIFE OR ANY CLOTHING THAT WAS
WORN BY THE SUSPECT. >> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS,
WHAT DID POLICE NOT KNOW A LOT.
BUT THE CHIEF DID SAY THERE HAD BEEN NO FORCED ENTRY
WHICH WAS NO SURPRISE TO FORMER KING ROAD RESIDENT JOHN WEBB
>> WE NEVER LOCKED OUR DOORS WE NEVER LOCKED OUR WINDOWS.
WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD EVER BE ANYTHING REMOTELY
SIMILAR TO THIS HAPPENING IN KING STREET, LET ALONE MOSCOW.
>> Reporter: THE HOUSE WAS ON A HILL AND HAD AN UNUSUAL ENTRY
POINT IN THE BACK ON WHAT WAS TECHNICALLY THE SECOND FLOOR
IT'S POSSIBLE THE KILLER HAD SIMPLY WALKED IN THROUGH AN
UNLOCKED SLIDER INTO THE SECOND FLOOR KITCHEN, AND FROM THERE
DOWN A SHORT HALLWAY TOWARD XANA'S BEDROOM, AS YOU CAN SEE
IN THIS VIRTUAL TOUR POSTED ONLINE OF THE HOUSE, WHERE THE
KILLER MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED A SURPRISE
ETHAN, TALL AND ATHLETIC, HAPPENED TO BE SPENDING THE
NIGHT WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND. >> I THINK THAT ETHAN WAS THE
BIGGEST THREAT IN THE HOUSE. AND IF HIS DESIRE WAS TO GO UP
TO THAT THIRD FLOOR, YOU TAKE THE THREAT OUT
WHERE HE REALLY WANTED TO GO WAS THAT THIRD FLOOR
HE WANTED TO GO TO SEE KAYLEE -- KAYLEE AND/OR MADDIE OR BOTH
>> Reporter: THE CORONER HINTED AT WHAT HAPPENED
SOME OF THE VICTIMS HAD DEFENSIVE WOUNDS, BUT THERE WAS
NO SIGN OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. DOES THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO
SEXUAL ASSAULT SAY ANYTHING TO YOU?
>> YOU KNOW, TO ME, THE PERPETRATOR FELT TO GET WHATEVER
IT WAS HE WAS DOING DONE AND GET OUT OF THERE, AND THAT HIS
MOTIVATION IS NOT A SEXUAL MOTIVATION
>> Reporter: BUT THE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST, JOHN MATTHIAS,
DEEPLY VERSED IN THE BEHAVIORAL MOTIVATIONS BEHIND VIOLENT
ATTACKS ON WOMEN, HAD A DIFFERENT TAKE ONCE HE READ A
REPORT FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
EXCEPT - >> IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE
MURDERER NEEDED TO GET IN AND OUT QUICKLY.
SO IF THERE WERE FANTASIES ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT, HE PROBABLY
REALIZED THAT HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PULL THAT OFF WITH SO
MANY PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE AND SO MANY PEOPLE IN SUCH CLOSE
PROXIMITY. >> Reporter: AS THE FBI SENT A
COMMAND CENTER TO ASSIST IN THE INVESTIGATION, PROFILERS WERE
ASSIGNED BUT THE SEARCH FOR THE KNIFE
SEEMED THE MOST PRESSING TASK. IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN VERY
SPECIALIZED KNIFE TO ENACT THIS DAMAGE ON PEOPLE, DOES THAT SAY
SOMETHING MORE >> I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING
VERY FREUDIAN IN THE SENSE THAT THIS IS SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO
SHOW US THAT HE HAS POWER. HE WANTS TO SHOW US THAT HE'S
PROUD OF HIS KNIFE AND HE WANTS TO SHOW US THAT
HE'S CAPABLE OF INFLICTING A LOT OF PAIN.
>> Reporter: THE PRESSURE WAS ON
THE SMALL TOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD SOME BIG LEAGUE HELP
BUT FAME AND PUBLIC ATTENTION ARE FICKLE
COPS WERE BEING JUDGED IN PUBLIC, SOMETIMES HARSHLY.
DID THEY HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TO CATCH THIS KILLER?
MAYBE THEY COULD START, WENT THE CHATTER ON THE INTERNET, WITH
>> Reporter: FOR A WEEK THEY CONTINUED, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT,
AND ALL AROUND IDAHO VIGILS FOR ETHAN, XANA, MADDIE,
AND KAYLEE A GREAT, COLLECTIVE SORROW
>> I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT THESE FAMILIES ARE GOING
THROUGH. YOU SEND YOUR BABY OFF TO
COLLEGE. YOU EXPECT THEM TO COME HOME TO
YOU WITH A DIPLOMA AND ALL OF THESE AMAZING MEMORIES
AND INSTEAD, THAT'S IT THEY'RE GONE
>> Reporter: AND WHILE THE INTERNET HAD BEEN CHURNING WITH
A THOUSAND SPECULATIONS, THE COPS -- MOSCOW PD, IDAHO STATE
POLICE, THE FBI -- PICKED OVER THE HOUSE ON KING
ROAD, EXAMINED WHAT THEY FOUND, AND SAID NOTHING
NOTHING AT ALL WOULD YOU EXPECT A LOT OF USEFUL
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AT A CRIME SCENE LIKE -- OF THAT TYPE
>> I WOULD BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF BLOOD
EVIDENCE ALONG WITH THAT WILL BE TOUCH
DNA. THAT COULD POSSIBLY GIVE YOU AN
IDENTITY OF THE -- OF THE PERPETRATOR.
>> Reporter: BUT -- COMPLICATIONS.
THE HOUSE ON KING ROAD HAD BEEN THE REGULAR SETTING OF LARGE
PARTIES, AND NOISE COMPLAINTS. LIKE THIS ONE THREE MONTHS
BEFORE THE MURDERS, AS SHOWN ON THIS MOSCOW POLICE BODYCAM
>> IS THIS YOUR PLACE? >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: THAT'S KAYLEE TALKING TO THE OFFICERS.
>> HEY, LADIES >> Reporter: HERE'S ANOTHER
PARTY TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDERS.
>> Reporter: FOR THIS PARTICULAR PARTY, NONE OF THE ACTUAL
RESIDENTS WAS EVEN PRESENT >> ALL RIGHT, CAN YOU HEAR ME,
MADDIE >> Reporter: ALTHOUGH OFFICERS
EVENTUALLY REACHED MADDIE MOGEN. >> SOUNDS GOOD, I'M -- I'M JUST
AS FRUSTRATED. ALSO SO SORRY ONCE AGAIN
>> Reporter: AND THE NEXT NIGHT, THERE WERE TWO MORE NOISE
COMPLAINTS >> HELLO MISS, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
>> XANA. >> Reporter: ON THIS TAPE, XANA
CAME TO THE DOOR >> WE CAN HEAR THE MUSIC
>> I'M SO, SO SORRY. >> Reporter: THE WEEKEND OF THE
MURDERS THERE WAS ANOTHER PARTY AT 1122 KING ROAD, FRIDAY NIGHT
THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY SOURCES HAVE TOLD US THAT AS
MANY AS 150 PEOPLE ATTENDED. AND THOUGH POLICE WERE NOT
CALLED, THIS TIME THE MERE PRESENCE, 24 HOURS BEFORE THE
KILLINGS, OF SO MANY PEOPLE -- ALL OF WHOM MAY HAVE LEFT THEIR
DNA BEHIND -- MADE THE TASK OF PARSING OUT THE KILLERS --
IMPOSSIBLE HMM.
IF THE COPS KNEW, THEY WEREN'T SAYING
BUT, STANDARD PROCEDURE, THEY BUILT TIMELINES, AND LEARNED ALL
THEY COULD ABOUT HOW EACH OF THE VICTIMS ENDED UP IN THAT HOUSE
ON THAT NIGHT. HERE THEY WERE, TOGETHER,
SATURDAY BEFORE THE VANDALS FOOTBALL GAME.
12 HOURS BEFORE THEY WERE KILLED
WITH THEM WERE TWO MORE ROOMMATES, BETHANY AND DYLAN,
WHO SOMEHOW ESCAPED THE FATE OF THE OTHERS
WHAT DID THEY KNOW, WHAT DID THEY SEE
NO ONE WOULD SAY THAT SATURDAY EVENING, ETHAN AND
XANA ARRIVED AT SIGMA CHI FOR A PARTY AROUND 9:00 P.M.
ANYTHING MEMORABLE HAPPEN AT THAT PARTY
>> I HUNG OUT WITH XANA FOR A LOT OF THAT NIGHT.
AND I'M HAPPY IN RETROSPECT, BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO HAVE WHAT
I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME, BUT MY LAST SECONDS WITH XANA.
>> WHAT SPIRITS WAS SHE IN >> XANA WAS ALWAYS HAPPY
XANA WAS, LIKE, THE TRUE EPITOME OF, LIKE, A GOOD FRIEND.
>> Reporter: KAYLEE AND MADDIE, THAT SATURDAY EVENING, WERE IN
DOWNTOWN MOSCOW AT A PLACE CALLED THE CORNER CLUB, ARRIVING
SOMETIME AFTER 10:00 P.M THREE AND A HALF HOURS LATER,
AROUND 1:30 A.M., THEY LEFT THE BAR TOGETHER, WALKED A COUPLE OF
BLOCKS TO A PLACE CALLED THE GRUB TRUCK, AND GOT SOME FOOD,
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS VIDEO THAT'S THEM, ORDERING AT THE
WINDOW >> IT JUST KILLS ME, KNOWING
THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO WALK INTO WHAT THEY WALKED INTO
THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
>> Reporter: AT PRECISELY 1:49 A.M., ONE OF THE WOMEN
CALLED FOR A YOUNG FRATERNITY MEMBER WHO'D BEEN ASSIGNED TO
HELP UPPERCLASSMEN AND WOMEN DRIVE HOME SAFELY.
>> WE DON'T REALLY TAKE UBERS IN MOSCOW
IT'S A LOT CHEAPER, AND IT'S A LOT SAFER.
YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE. YOU JUST GET IN THE CAR WITH
SOMEBODY YOU KNOW, AND KNOWS ALL YOUR FRIENDS
>> Reporter: THE DRIVE HOME FOR KAYLEE AND MADDIE WAS A LITTLE
MORE THAN A MILE THEY ARRIVED AT 1:56 A.M
>> KAYLEE AND MADDIE WERE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT THAT NIGHT.
THEY WERE TOGETHER THEY HAD A SAFE RIDE HOME.
THEY WEREN'T OUT THERE, YOU KNOW -
>> COMING BACK FROM A CLUB OR DOING ANY RISKY BE -- BEHAVIOR,
OUT ON DATES, THAT -- THERE WAS NOTHING.
>> Reporter: XANA AND ETHAN HAD ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE ALREADY, A
FEW MINUTES BEFORE KAYLEE AND MADDIE
SO BY 2:00 A.M., ALL 6 RESIDENTS WERE SAFELY HOME
OR SO THEY MUST HAVE BELIEVED. THEN, SHORTLY BEFORE 3:00 A.M.,
THIS >> HEY, MOSCOW POLICE.
COME BACK HERE >> Reporter: A COUPLE BLOCKS
AWAY, MOSCOW PD RESPONDED TO A CALL
AND HERE IS WHAT THE OFFICER FOUND, RECORDED ON HIS BODYCAM
>> I TAKE IT YOU'RE NOT 21 >> Reporter: ALCOHOL OFFENSE
NOTHING UNUSUAL. THEN, ON THAT BODYCAM -- IT'S
VERY HARD TO HEAR, BUT WHAT SOUNDED TO SOME LIKE A BARELY
AUDIBLE DISTANT SCREAM WHICH, WHEN THE VIDEO CAME OUT,
SENT INTERNET TONGUES WAGGING AGAIN.
>> OKAY, YOU GUYS, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY HUGE.
AT EXACTLY 3:12 A.M., 45 SECONDS IN, YOU CAN HEAR, LIKE, THE
SCREAMS OF A FEMALE. >> Reporter: BUT LATER, THE
POLICE, MUM ABOUT MOST THINGS, SAID THE INCIDENT WAS NOT
RELATED TO THE MURDERS STILL, THEY WERE LOOKING AT
VIDEO, HOURS AND HOURS OF THAT, FROM HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS, AND
DOORBELLS, AND ANYTHING THAT RECORDED WHATEVER MOVED AROUND
KING ROAD FROM 3:00 UNTIL 6:00 A.M
>> AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA EXPAND THAT OUT INTO THE FURTHER AREAS
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE ROUTES OF TRAVEL THAT
THE PERPETRATOR MAY HAVE TAKEN SO YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO EXPLOIT
AS MUCH OF THAT DIGITAL EVIDENCE THAT MIGHT BE OUT THERE AS YOU
CAN. >> Reporter: LIKE PANNING FOR
GOLD LOTS OF BORING ROCK, AND MAYBE,
HERE AND THERE, A VALUABLE LITTLE NUGGET.
SUCH AS A YOUNG MAN ABOUT TO BE KNOWN FAR AND WIDE AS FOOD TRUCK
>> Reporter: NATURE, AS WE KNOW, ABHORS A VACUUM.
AND NO ONE KNOWS IT MORE THAN THE AMATEUR SLEUTHS OF SOCIAL
MEDIA. THEORIES MULTIPLIED LIKE SPORES
IN A WORLDWIDE PETRI DISH. NOTHING LIKE THE METHOD AND
ORDER EX-DETECTIVE, BRAD MASKELL, HAD LONG
PREFERRED. >> YOU'RE GONNA DISPATCH
INVESTIGATORS TO DO INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSEST TO
THE VICTIMS AND WORKING OUTWARD. >> Reporter: BEFORE HE RETIRED,
MASKELL HANDLED SOME OF IDAHO'S BIGGEST MURDER CASES
HIS METHODS WERE TIME-TESTED >> I WANT TO KNOW AS MUCH AS I
CAN ABOUT THEIR CONTACTS, WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS SOME
RUB WITH A FAMILY MEMBER, WITH POSSIBLY ANOTHER FRIEND, WITH A
RELATIONSHIP THAT POSSIBLY WENT BAD.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO AN INVESTIGATOR TO GET TO KNOW EACH
VICTIM, ALMOST ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.
>> Reporter: THE ONLINE AMATEURS WERE DOING THE SAME THING, IN A
WAY. EXCEPT -- WHEN THE INTERNET
DISCOVERED THE EX-BOYFRIEND, INVESTIGATIVE RESTRAINT WAS
ABANDONED ALTOGETHER KAYLEE GONCALVES' LONGTIME
BOYFRIEND AND ENGINEERING STUDENT, JACK DUCOEUR, WAS SOON
SOCIAL MEDIA SUSPECT NUMBER ONE. >> JACK IS A VERY SOFT-SPOKEN
KID. HE ADORED KAYLEE
HE COMES FROM A VERY NICE FAMILY
JACK WAS THE KIND OF KID THAT, YOU KNOW, HE -- HE WOULD COME
OVER, AND THE FIRST THING HE WOULD DO IS, YOU KNOW, TAKE OFF
HIS SHOES AND -- >> HE'D TAKE THE GARBAGE OUT
>> -- TAKE THE GARBAGE OUT >> THAT KIND OF WON ME OVER.
>> Reporter: KAYLEE'S PARENTS GOT TO KNOW HIM WELL OVER THE
FIVE YEARS HE DATED THEIR DAUGHTER
BUT JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE KAYLEE WAS KILLED, THEY HAD
BROKEN UP. WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT
RELATIONSHIP >> I THINK THAT THEY JUST GOT TO
THE POINT THAT THEY HAD BEEN TOGETHER FOR SO LONG THAT THEY
WERE KIN -- THEY WERE JUST KIND OF ON A BREAK, REALLY, LIKE,
"LET'S JUST SEE WHERE IT GOES, AND IF WE WIND UP TO -
TO -- TOGETHER, THEN WE WIND UP TOGETHER."
BUT IT WAS VERY AMICABLE >> Reporter: JACK AND KAYLEE
BOUGHT A DOG TOGETHER. THEY NAMED HIM MURPHY AND SHARED
CUSTODY OF HIM ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 13th,
MURPHY WAS STAYING WITH KAYLEE SO, NOW A BONFIRE OF RUMORS.
WHY WAS MURPHY UNHARMED? WHY DIDN'T HE BARK AND WARN
EVERYONE BECAUSE HE KNEW THE KILLER
SO, IT WENT ONLINE AND THEN IT WAS DISCOVERED
KAYLEE AND MADDIE TRIED CALLING JACK TEN TIMES THAT NIGHT
BETWEEN 2:26 AND 2:52 A.M. HE DIDN'T ANSWER
WHY, THE INTERNET DEMANDED TO KNOW
YOU KNOW PEOPLE SAW THE NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS TO JACK THAT
NIGHT. THEY -- THEY KEPT HEARING,
"JACK, JACK, JACK. AND JACK BECAME SUSPECT.
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
>> IT WAS HARD >> Reporter: ONE WEEK AFTER THE
KILLINGS, CHIEF JAMES FRY WAS ASKED ABOUT THOSE PHONE CALLS.
>> EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TAKEN FROM THE -- FROM THOSE CALLS, WE
HAVE FOLLOWED UP ON, WE HAVE CLEARED, AND WE BELIEVE THAT
THERE'S NO CONNECTION THERE. >> Reporter: BUT EVEN THOUGH
POLICE CLEARED JACK, THE ONLINE SCRUTINY REMAINED INTENSE.
>> JACK WOULD COME OVER AND SHOW ME P -- PRIVATE MESSAGES THAT HE
WAS GETTING AND STUFF. AND THEY WERE JUST HORRIBLE.
>> Reporter: JACK WASN'T ALONE, MIND YOU
THERE WAS THE GUY IN THE HOODIE HANGING OUT NEAR THE FOOD TRUCK.
REMEMBER, KAYLEE AND MADDIE STOPPED BY THERE JUST BEFORE
THEY WERE KILLED >> HI!
>> WELCOME BACK! >> Reporter: AND JUST LIKE THAT,
THIS GUY, CAUGHT ON VIDEO, WAS INTERNET SLEUTH.
SUSTAINED SUSPEPECT NUMBER TWO. >> IT WAS KIND OF EERIE.
>> Reporter: REPORTER JOHN WEBB SPOTTED HIM IN THE VIDEO NEAR
KAYLEE AND MADDIE. >> AS THE GIRLS G
STEPS BACK HE PUTS HIS HAT AROUND, PUTS HIS
HOOD OVER, AND KINDA LURKS IN BETWEEN THE REST OF THE CROWD AS
THE GIRLS ORDER THEIR FOOD THEN THEY WAIT FOR TEN OR SO
MINUTES TO GO PICK UP THEIR FOOD ON THE UN -- OTHER END OF THE
GRUB TRUCK >> AND THEN AS THE GIRLS LEAVE
TO HOP INTO THAT PRIVATE PARTY RIDE, YOU COULD SEE HIM THROW
HIS HANDS UP AND THEN HE STARTS WALKING
TOWARDS THEM, WALKS AROUND A BENCH AND THEN GOES TOWARD THE
DIRECTION WHERE THEY LIVED >> WE'LL CALL HIM FOOD TRUCK
GUY. >> Reporter: LAUREN MATTHIAS
LEARNED HE LIVED NEARBY AND LEARNED MUCH MORE.
>> ON HIS MOTHER'S FACEBOOK PAGE, SLEUTHS HAVE DISCOVERED
PHOTOS OF HIM WITH A VERY LARGE KNIFE IN FRONT OF SKINNED
ANIMALS. AND HUNTING SEEMS TO BE A
PASSION OF HIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN USING A KNIFE.
>> I WANT TO ADDRESS SEVERAL AREAS OF SPECULATION
>> Reporter: BUT WITHIN DAYS, WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC EXPLANATION,
POLICE CLEARED HIM AS WELL HE DID NOT DO IT
IT WASN'T FOOD TRUCK GUY, AS POLICE CAPTAIN ROGER LANIER
EMERGED TO TELL REPORTERS. >> WE DO NOT BELIEVE THE
FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS CRIME
THE TWO SURVIVING ROOMMATES, A MALE SEEN AT THE GRUB TRUCK FOOD
VENDOR DOWNTOWN, SPECIFICALLY WEARING A WHITE HOODIE
>> Reporter: AS WITH JACK DUCOEUR, EVEN AFTER POLICE
CLEARED "THE FOOD TRUCK GUY," SO-CALLED INTERNET SLEUTHS
WOULDN'T LET GO OF THEIR SUSPICIONS
MARTHA READ SOME OF THOSE ONLINE THEORIES WITH DISBELIEF.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE IT THE TOUGHEST WAS THE TIKTOK
SLEUTHS. >> Reporter: THE TIKTOK SLEUTHS.
>> THE INDEPENDENT TIKTOK SLEUTHS AND THE PEOPLE WHO MADE
OUT THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE AND KNOW INTO MONSTERS ONLINE.
THERE WAS SOME REALLY AWFUL THINGS WRITTEN ON THE INTERNET
>> Reporter: GOT A REAL-LIFE LESSON ON HOW CRUEL THE INTERNET
CAN BE >> YEAH.
AND IT DEFINITELY -- IT WENT THROUGH ALL PARTS OF OUR CAMPUS.
EVERY DIGITAL FOOTPRINT, EVERY VENMO TRANSACTION, EVERY --
EVERY -- EVERYTHING
>> Reporter: ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS IN PARTICULAR GET HURT OR HIT BY
THIS STUFF >> YEAH.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS -- IT WAS ODD, BECAUSE YOU'D BE WITH
PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE LITERALLY, LIKE, ACTIVELY GRIEVING WITH,
AND THEN YOU'D, LIKE, OPEN FACEBOOK, OR YOU'D OPEN TIKTOK,
AND THEN IT WOULD BE WHY THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO YOU IS
THE ONE THAT DID IT. >> Reporter: BUT, AS WE SAY,
NATURE ABHORS A VACUUM AND, ASIDE FROM THOSE FEW
COMMENTS, THE POLICE JUST WEREN'T FILLING THE INCESSANT
DEMAND FOR ANSWERS EVEN FROM VICTIMS' FAMILIES, AS
KRISTI GONCALVES TOLD NBC'S GADI SCHWARTZ.
>> WE DON'T KNOW MY HUSBAND IS IN CONTACT WITH
THEM EVERYDAY. THE FBI, MOSCOW, IDAHO STATE
POLICE AND EVERYDAY HE JUST SAYS,
"NOTHING BABE. AND I'M LIKE, "NOTHING?"
AND HE'S LIKE, "NOTHING. I MEAN, JUST NOTHING."
>> Reporter: AND STEVE GONCALVES SAID THE VERY THING MILLIONS
WERE THINKING. >> WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT THINGS
GOIN' COLD, YOU KNOW WE WERE -- WE WERE HONESTLY
WORRIED ABOUT THAT >> Reporter: EXCEPT THEY DIDN'T
KNOW -- COULDN'T KNOW ABOUT A MYSTERIOUS WHITE CAR THAT JUST
MIGHT BE IMPORTANT
AHEAD IN MOSCOW, IDAHO EARLY DECEMBER, THE BIG LIGHT UP
THE SEASON EVENT WOULD MAKE ITS WAY DOWN MAIN STREET AS ALWAYS
BUT THINGS WEREN'T THE SAME, OF COURSE, COULDN'T BE, HERE IN
REPORTER HAYLEY GUENTHNER'S HOMETOWN
>> YOU GO TO SAFEWAY, AND YOU WONDER, IS THE KILLER CHECKING
OUT NEXT TO ME ARE THEY PUMPING GAS RIGHT
ACROSS FROM ME >> Reporter: IT'S A WEIRD
SITUATION. THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT
YOU KEEP HOPING THAT YOU'LL GET SOME ANSWER, SOME CLARITY, AND
THERE JUST ISN'T ANY >> Reporter: HOW ARE PEOPLE
FEELING ABOUT THE MESSAGES THEY ARE GETTING FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE
IN AUTHORITY >> PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED
THEY'RE ANGRY. THEY'RE CONFUSED
BUT WORST OF ALL, THEY'RE REALLY SCARED
>> Reporter: A KILLER WAS STILL OUT THERE.
WHICH WAS WHY KAYLEE'S FAMILY MADE THE DECISION TO DELAY HER
FUNERAL. HER FATHER, STEVE.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO DESTROY THAT CEREMONY WITH THAT GUY -- THAT
MONSTER BEING THERE IN JUST FEEDING OFF EVERYBODY'S MISERY
AND EVERYBODY'S TEARS. WE WANT TO GIVE ENOUGH TIME FOR
THESE OFFICERS TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO
>> Reporter: EXCEPT STEVE HAD BEGUN TO WORRY, AND HE WASN'T
ALONE, THAT HIS DAUGHTER'S MURDER WOULD NEVER BE SOLVED
>> IT'S GONNA BE A COLD CASE IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING WITHIN THE
NEXT WEEK OR TWO >> Reporter: SEEMED TO STEVE
LIKE SOMEBODY HAD TO SAY IT. MIGHT AS WELL BE HIM
>> I FEEL LIKE THERE'S NOT ANYTHING BEING RELEASED.
AND MAYBE I'M A FOOL, BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING PAID FOR IF YOU'RE NOT
COMMUNICATING ANYTHING BUT I HONESTLY LAID IT ON THE
LINE FOR THESE GUYS IN A ROOM AND SAID, "HEY, MAN, I'M A MAN
OF HONOR I'M NOT GONNA LIE.
HELP ME. I LITERALLY SAID, "HELP ME, HELP
ME HELP ME FROM HURTING MYSELF.
HELP ME FROM HURTING THIS CASE." AND THEY JUST LEFT ME.
THEY JUST LEFT ME WITH NOTHING >> Reporter: AROUND THE COUNTRY,
POLICE BECAME THE TARGET OF INTENSE CRITICISM.
TO WHICH RETIRED DETECTIVE BRAD MASKELL RESPONDED, "BE
PATIENT. >> IT JUST SAYS TO ME THAT THE
CASE WAS IN THE STAGES THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED SO MANY TIMES IN MY
CAREER IT'S IN A CHAOTIC STAGE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE HAPPENING INITIALLY THAT DON'T
MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. BUT I BELIEVE THAT AT THE CORE
OF THE INVESTIGATION, THEY'RE FOCUSED AND THEY'RE DOING WHAT
THEY NEED TO DO. >> EVERY SINGLE WORD THEY SAY IS
GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, DEEPLY SCRUTINIZED.
>> Reporter: SO, SAID FORMER FBI AGENT AND NBC NEWS CONSULTANT
GREG ROGERS, DETECTIVES TRYING TO SOLVE THE CASE OF THE
MURDERED STUDENTS HAD GOOD REASON TO SHARE VERY LITTLE OF
WHAT THEY WERE DISCOVERING AND TO TRY TO IGNORE THE CRITICS
>> IT'S NOT HELPFUL. BUT TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH
YOU, THEY DON'T CARE THEY JUST WANNA DO THEIR JOB
AND THEY WANNA SOLVE THIS CASE >> Reporter: FINALLY, ON
DECEMBER 7th, 3 WEEKS AFTER THE MURDERS, THERE WAS A GLIMMER OF
WHAT SEEMED LIKE PROGRESS. MOSCOW POLICE PUT OUT A PUBLIC
APPEAL THEY WANTED TO SPEAK WITH THE
OWNER OF A 2011 TO 2013 WHITE HYUNDAI ELANTRA.
P.I.O. ROBBIE JOHNSON PROVIDED A BIT MORE DETAIL FIVE DAYS LATER.
>> WELL, WE KNOW THROUGH THE INFORMATION WE'VE GATHERED THAT
THAT VEHICLE WAS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF WHERE THE
HOMICIDES TOOK PLACE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF
NOVEMBER 13th. SO WE KNOW THE VEHICLE WAS
THERE. WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHO WAS IN
IT, WHO MAY HAVE OWNED THAT CAR, WHO MAY HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT SO THAT IS A REAL BIG FOCUS
RIGHT NOW AS WE TRY TO GET THOSE ANSWERS.
>> MY FIRST THOUGHT JUST STARTED BEING LIKE, "HOW LONG HAVE THEY
HAD THIS INFORMATION WHERE DO THEY GET THIS
INFORMATION? WAS IT ON A CAMERA?"
>> Reporter: KAYLEE'S MOTHER, BY NO MEANS ALONE IN THIS, WAS
FRUSTRATED THAT THE POLICE WOULDN'T ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> THEY BELIEVE THAT PERSON OR PERSONS HAS PERTINENT
INFORMATION TO THE CASE. SO THAT'S GOTTA GIVE ME SOME
HOPE WHETHER IT'S A WITNESS, WHETHER
IT'S SOMEONE BEYOND A WITNESS, I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW.
>> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING THE POLICE DIDN'T SAY
WHEN THEY APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC FOR HELP
SEVERAL SOMETHINGS THINGS THEY KNEW ABOUT THAT
WHITE ELANTRA AND ITS OWNER. SOMETHING SO SURPRISING, SO
DEEPLY SHOCKING, IT WOULD JUST HAVE TO REMAIN A VERY DISTURBING
>> (MUSICA). OF A WHITE VEHICLE THAT WAS IN
THE AREA EITHER DURING THE TIMEFRAME OF THE HOMICIDE OR
AROUND THE TIMEFRAME OF THE HOMICIDES.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR A 2011 TO A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
>> Reporter: RARELY HAS A POLICE APPEAL FOR HELP BEEN MET BY SO
ENTHUSIASTIC A RESPONSE OR SO MANY QUESTIONS
>> THEY HOPE THAT THIS IS A BREAK IN THE CASE AS THIS
HEARTBROKEN COMMUNITY ATTEMPTS TO HEAL.
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THIS WHITE 2011 TO 2013 HYUNDAI
ELANTRA? >> WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING FOR
THIS ELANTRA, WE THOUGHT, "IS THIS A SUSPECT THAT THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR OR A WITNESS?" WE DIDN'T KNOW
THE WAY THAT THEY HAD POSED IT WAS, "WE THINK THEY HAVE
ANSWERS. >> Reporter: ANSWERS TO WHAT,
THEY DIDN'T SAY. >> IF YOU OWN ONE OR IF YOU KNOW
SOMEONE DRIVING ONE THE DAY BEFORE OR DAY AFTER, TO PLEASE
SEND THAT TIP IN >> Reporter: DID PEOPLE RESPOND?
OH, YES, THEY DID. IN MOSCOW, OF COURSE, BUT ACROSS
THE STATE BORDER TOO, WHERE AUSTIN MORRISON IS A STUDENT IN
THE OTHER COLLEGE TOWN A TEN-MILE DRIVE AWAY AT
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IN PULLMAN.
>> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT ONCE PEOPLE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE WHITE
ELANTRA, THEY KEPT IN THE FRONT OF THEIR MINDS OF TRYING TO
SOURCE AND FIND ANY CLUES THAT THEY COULD FOR THE POLICE.
>> Reporter: TIPS ABOUT ELANTRA SIGHTINGS POURED IN, INCLUDING
ONE FROM THIS GAS STATION A FEW MINUTES FROM THE SITE OF THE
MURDERS. MURDERS.
AN EMPLOYEE THERE SCROLLED THROUGH SECURITY FOOTAGE FROM
NOVEMBER 13th AND SPOTTED A WHITE CAR DRIVE BY QUICKLY,
3:45 A.M AND THEN, COULD THIS BE A BREAK?
>> MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER THOSE FOUR COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE
KILLED IN MOSCOW, IDAHO, POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A HYUNDAI CAR
LIKE THIS ONE FOUND ABANDONED IN EUGENE, OREGON
>> Reporter: IN THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 17th, SOMEONE CALLED
911 IN EUGENE, OREGON, REPORTED SEEING SOMEONE SLEEPING INSIDE
OF A WHITE ELANTRA WITH A DAMAGED FRONT END.
AND SUDDENLY THE EUGENE STORY WAS EVERYWHERE
>> SO THIS IS PRETTY WILD. A WHITE HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS
FOUND ABANDONED. >> THIS CAR WAS FOUND IN EUGENE,
OREGON >> IT'S SMASHED AND HAS NO
LICENSE PLATE ON IT. >> Reporter: THAT MYSTERY GOT AN
ARMY OF WEB SLEUTHS FIRED UP, WATCHED BY TRUE CRIME PODCASTERS
LAUREN AND JOHN MATTHIAS >> WE HAVE TRUE CRIME SLEUTHS
WITH -- THAT PAY FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS
AND THEY WERE PULLING UP THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND GETTING
THE V.I.N. NUMBER. AND WE WERE GETTING CLOSEUPS OF
THE V.I.N. NUMBER. I MEAN
>> PARKING TICKETS >> PARKING TICKETS
WE HAD EVERYTHING ON THIS ELANTRA.
>> Reporter: BUT LIKE A LOT OF OTHER WEB-BASED FANTASIES, IN
THE END, IT CAME TO NOTHING. POLICE INVESTIGATED AND
DISCOVERED NEITHER THE CAR NOR OWNER HAD ANYTHING WHATEVER TO
DO WITH THE MURDERS IN MOSCOW. AND IT WASN'T THE ONE.
>> AND IT WASN'T THE ONE I GUESS THEY MAKE A LOT OF WHITE
ELANTRAS >> Reporter: WHAT THE WEB
SLEUTHS DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT BEHIND THE SCENES, POLICE WERE
GATHERING SECURITY CAMERA VIDEO CAPTURING IMAGES OF A WHITE
HYUNDAI ELANTRA DRIVING PAST THE KING ROAD HOUSE THREE TIMES JUST
BEFORE THE MURDERS, RETURNING A FOURTH TIME AT 4:04 A.M., AND
LEAVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN A VERY BIG HURRY 16 MINUTES LATER.
NICK GIBSON IS A SENIOR AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY AND
A FREELANCE REPORTER >> LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD AN IDEA
OF WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR LONG BEFORE THE PUBLIC WAS AWARE
OF IT. >> Reporter: THAT'S BECAUSE A
B.O.L.O. ALERT -- BE ON THE LOOKOUT -- WAS DISTRIBUTED TO
POLICE AGENCIES NEARLY TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC
FOR TIPS ABOUT A WHITE ELANTRA A CAMPUS COP AT WASHINGTON STATE
UNIVERSITY SAW THAT B.O.L.O. AND TOOK SOME INITIATIVE
>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND SNOBBY ABOUT IT, BUT
YOU'RE NOT LOOKIN' TO CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS USUALLY.
THEY -- THEIR -- THEIR JOBS ARE BASICALLY WRITING TICKETS ON
CAMPUS BUT THIS SHOWED SOME INITIATIVE,
AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL TO THIS CASE.
>> Reporter: ON NOVEMBER 29th, AFTER THE B.O.L.O. WENT OUT,
THIS CAMPUS COP DID A LITTLE RESEARCH, AS NICK GIBSON TOLD
US >> WSU HAS --, LIKE MANY
UNIVERSITIES OR BIG ENTITIES, THEY HAVE A PARKING SERVICES
DEPARTMENT AND SO ANY UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES
WILL HAVE THEIR PARKING PASS WITH THEIR REGISTRATION, THEIR
LICENSE PLATE, YOU KNOW, MAKE AND MODEL IN THE SYSTEM ALREADY.
>> Reporter: AND IN THAT SYSTEM IS WHERE THE CAMPUS COP FOUND A
HYUNDAI ELANTRA, WHITE, WITH PENNSYLVANIA PLATES.
THE CAR WAS REGISTERED TO A BRYAN KOHBERGER.
FIRST TIME THAT NAME TURNED UP, ACTUALLY
KOHBERGER WAS A PhD STUDENT IN CRIMINOLOGY AND PART TIME
TEACHING ASSISTANT HE LIVED ON CAMPUS
A SECOND CAMPUS COP WENT OUT TO TAKE A LOOK.
>> SO THAT AREA IS ON CAMPUS HOUSING.
IT'S POPULAR AMONG GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS.
>> Reporter: AND THERE IT WAS, IN THE COMPLEX PARKING LOT -- A
WHITE ELANTRA. BUT WAS IT THE CAR THE POLICE
WERE LOOKING FOR OR NOT? THE CAR IN THE LOT HAD
WASHINGTON STATE LICENSE PLATES, NOT PENNSYLVANIA
AND THE B.O.L.O. SAID 2011 TO '13 ELANTRA.
THIS WAS A 2015. BUT THEY TURNED IN THE TIP
ANYWAY AND THEIR SIGHTING WOUND UP ON A
LIST WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF OTHER WHITE ELANTRAS
CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE GOSK HAS BEEN COVERING THE CASE FOR NBC
NEWS >> WELL, THIS TIME, KEITH, THE
TASK FORCE ON THIS CASE IS GETTING INUNDATED WITH
INFORMATION AND A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CAR
SO THEY'VE GOT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION COMING IN, AND IT'S
LIKE A DROP IN THE BUCKET. THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT
TO PURSUE THIS THEY DON'T -- THEY MAY NOT HAVE
THE PEOPLE TO GO AND LOOK AT EVERYONE WITH A REGISTERED WHITE
HYUNDAI ELANTRA WHO POPS >> Reporter: SO IT WAS ON THEIR
LIST, BUT JUST NOT PROMINENTLY ON THEIR LIST?
>> IT MUST'VE BEEN A LONG LIST >> Reporter: SO ON THAT LIST IT
SAT, WAITING FOR ATTENTION AND INVESTIGATORS REMAINED IN
THE DARK ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR 2015 ELANTRA AND ITS OWNER,
QUITE UNAWARE OF HIM OR HIS PLAN TO TAKE A LONG TRIP CLEAR ACROSS
THE COUNTRY FROM WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY AND FAR OUT OF
REACH OF THOSE DETECTIVES WORKING SO HARD BACK IN MOSCOW
OR SO HE MAY HAVE HOPED. BUT AS HE CELEBRATED THE SEASON,
DID HE WORRY WHAT THEY MIGHT DISCOVER OR WHO MIGHT SOON BE
>> Reporter: MONDAY, DECEMBER 12th, THE START OF
FINAL EXAMS AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY ACROSS THE BORDER
FROM IDAHO A PRESSURE COOKER OF A TIME, OF
COURSE, BUT ESPECIALLY NOW SENIOR NICK GIBSON
>> SO IT'S FINALS WEEKS. THEY'RE GRINDING
MANY OF THEM ARE MOURNING. MANY OF THEM ARE FEARING FOR
THEIR SAFETY >> Reporter: WINTER BREAK
COULDN'T COME SOON ENOUGH. NICK WAS HEADED HOME LIKE SO
MANY OTHERS. BRYAN KOHBERGER TOO.
HIS DAD HAD FLOWN OUT FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO MAKE A
CROSS-COUNTRY DRIVE HOME WITH HIS SON, 2,800 MILES IN BRYAN'S
WHITE ELANTRA, THE VERY TYPE OF CAR POLICE WERE LOOKING FOR.
>> I WOULD KEEP AN EYE OUT IF I'M DRIVING.
"OH, THERE'S A WHITE CAR IS THAT AN ELANTRA?"
>> Reporter: BUT AS BRYAN AND HIS DAD PULLED OUT OF WASHINGTON
STATE UNIVERSITY, THE POLICE DID NOT YET UNDERSTAND THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS ELANTRA BECAUSE IT WAS AT LEAST TWO
YEARS NEWER THAN THE CAR THEY THOUGHT THEY'D SEEN ON SECURITY
VIDEO NEAR THE MURDERS NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT
STEPHANIE GOSK >> IT WAS A 2015 HYUNDAI
ELANTRA. SO SOMEBODY HAD IT WRONG
>> Reporter: THE KOHBERGERS' CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP STARTED OUT
UNEVENTFULLY ON DECEMBER 13th, THE ELANTRA
PASSED UNDER AN AUTOMATIC LICENSE READER IN LOMA,
COLORADO TWO DAYS LATER, DECEMBER 15th --
>> HELLO >> HOW YOU DOIN'
>> HOW Y'ALL DOIN' TODAY >> GOOD, GOOD.
TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE REAL QUICK IF I COULD.
>> Reporter: A TRAFFIC STOP IN INDIANA FOR TAILGATING, BRYAN AT
THE WHEEL. >> WE'RE SLIGHTLY PUNCHY BECAUSE
WE'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR HOURS >> HOURS, DAYS
>> HOURS HE'S DRIVING -- WELL, ALMOST A
DAY. IT'S FINE.
DEPUTY: OKAY >> Reporter: MINUTES LATER, A
SECOND TRAFFIC STOP JUST DOWN THE ROAD, STILL IN INDIANA
NO CITATION EITHER TIME. WAS THAT JUST A COINCIDENCE OR
SOMETHING MORE A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THE FBI
WAS FOLLOWING THEM ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY
NOT THE CASE >> AND THERE WAS A THEORY THAT
THEY -- THAT THE FBI ASKED THE INDIANA STATE POLICE TO STOP
THEM ON THE ROAD AND GET THIS VIDEO OF THEM, WHICH SOUNDED
LIKE IT MADE SOME SENSE. BUT OUR SOURCES TELL US IT JUST
WAS NOT THE CASE >> Reporter: ALL PURE
COINCIDENCE? >> PURE COINCIDENCE.
>> Reporter: A DAY LATER, FRIDAY THE 16th, THE ELANTRA ARRIVED AT
ITS FINAL DESTINATION -- ALBRIGHTSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA,
90 MILES NORTH OF PHILADELPHIA THE KOHBERGER HOME IS IN A GATED
COMMUNITY. BRYAN SETTLED IN FOR THE
HOLIDAYS BACK IN IDAHO, THE WEEK BEFORE
CHRISTMAS, THE INVESTIGATORS FINALLY CAUGHT A VERY BIG BREAK.
DNA FROM THE KNIFE SHEATH FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE HAD BEEN
ANALYZED BY FORENSIC GENETIC GENEALOGISTS
A LAW ENFORCEMENT SOURCE TOLD US THE GENEALOGISTS SUGGESTED
INVESTIGATORS FOCUS ON A PARTICULAR FAMILY TREE
>> OUR SOURCE TELLS US THEY GOT A LIST, A SMALL ENOUGH LIST THAT
THEY GOT A NAME. >> Reporter: A NAME IN THE
IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF BRYAN KOHBERGER.
THE COPS WENT INTO HYPERDRIVE. TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THEY
USED THAT DNA INFORMATION TO OBTAIN A SEARCH WARRANT FOR
BRYAN'S CELL PHONE RECORDS AND FOUND A TREASURE TROVE
LIKE THE FACT THAT KOHBERGER'S PHONE WAS NEARLY ALWAYS ON BUT
APPEARED TO BE OFF ON NOVEMBER 13th FROM 2:47 A.M. TO
4:48 A.M., A WINDOW THAT INCLUDES THE TIME POLICE BELIEVE
THE FOUR UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO STUDENTS WERE MURDERED
AND JUST A FEW HOURS LATER, KOHBERGER'S PHONE PINGED NEAR
1122 KING ROAD, AS IF HE WERE REVISITING THE CRIME SCENE
IT TURNED OUT HE WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE KING ROAD
HOUSE. HIS PHONE PINGED NEAR IT
REPEATEDLY IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDERS.
>> NOT ONLY ONCE, NOT ONLY TWICE, BUT 12 TIMES.
>> Reporter: NEXT INVESTIGATORS GOT THEIR HANDS ON COPIES OF
SECURITY CAMERA VIDEO FROM WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY AND
THE CITY OF PULLMAN, WHERE WSU IS LOCATED
A WHITE ELANTRA WAS SEEN LEAVING AND REENTERING PULLMAN RIGHT
AROUND THE TIME OF THE MURDERS THE ELANTRA POLICE WERE HOPING
TO SEE >> KOHBERGER'S ELANTRA IS
SPOTTED TRAVELING TOWARDS MOSCOW RIGHT BEFORE THE WINDOW WHERE
THE ELANTRA IS SEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE KING ROAD
RESIDENCE. THAT ELANTRA IS THEN SEEN AGAIN
REENTERING TOWN AROUND 5:26 A.M. >> Reporter: THAT WHITE ELANTRA,
POLICE FINALLY REALIZED, WAS IT, THE ONE THEY'D BEEN SEARCHING
FOR. IT WAS A 2015, NOT AN EARLIER
MODEL. THE SAME ELANTRA DISCOVERED BY
THAT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS SECURITY OFFICER WEEKS
EARLIER. IT ALL CAME TOGETHER
THE VIDEOS OF KOHBERGER'S MOVEMENTS.
THE 2015 ELANTRA THE CELL RECORDS
TOGETHER WITH THE DNA, THE POLICE FINALLY HAD A SUSPECT
>> IF THEY HAD NOT USED THAT FORENSIC GENEALOGY, THEY MIGHT
NEVER HAVE IDENTIFIED HIM. >> Reporter: THEY'D HAVE THE
MATERIAL RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THEM UNDER A BIG STACK OF OTHER
STUFF ABOUT WHITE ELANTRAS BUT NO WAY -
>> RIGHT, HIS NAME GAVE THEM THE CELL PHONE NUMBER, AND IT WASN'T
UNTIL THEY GOT THE CELL PHONE NUMBER THAT THEY COULD PUT THE
CELL PHONE AND THE CAR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE SAME TIME.
>> Reporter: AS CHRISTMAS CAME AND WENT, FBI AGENTS WERE
WATCHING THE KOHBERGER HOME IN PENNSYLVANIA
ON DECEMBER 27th, THEY PULLED TRASH AT THE HOME AND FLEW IT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO THE IDAHO STATE LAB FOR TESTING.
THEY GOT THE RESULTS THE NEXT DAY.
>> THE DNA THAT THEY GOT THEY REALIZED WAS FROM THE PERSON WHO
WAS VERY, VERY, VERY LIKELY TO BE THE FATHER OF THE PERSON WHO
COMMITTED THE CRIME. NOW, WE KNOW BRYAN KOHBERGER IS
WITH HIS PARENTS SO THE DNA THAT THEY PULL THEY
SUSPECT IS HIS FATHER, THE FATHER OF THE PERSON WHO
COMMITTED THE MURDER >> Reporter: THINGS HAPPENED
FAST AFTER THAT. IN THE PREDAWN DARKNESS OF
DECEMBER 30th, 50 AGENTS FROM THE FBI AND THE PENNSYLVANIA
STATE POLICE'S SPECIAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM SURROUNDED THE
KOHBERGER HOUSE. >> KOHBERGER WOULD'VE BEEN
CONSIDERED A VERY HIGH RISK TARGET
>> Reporter: PAM FLICK, A FORMER FBI AGENT WITH THREE DECADES OF
EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD. >> HE HAS ALLEGEDLY MURDERED
FOUR PEOPLE USING A KNIFE. IT'S A PRETTY VIOLENT CRIME.
>> Reporter: THE AGENTS WENT IN WITH FORCE
THEY BROKE MULTIPLE WINDOWS AND DOORS TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE
HOUSE. >> IT'S A DYNAMIC ENTRY.
SO KICKING IN WINDOWS AND DOORS IS AN EXTREMELY DYNAMIC ENTRY,
RIGHT? IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT DONE
TYPICALLY ALL THE TIME >> Reporter: BRYAN KOHBERGER WAS
UNDER ARREST, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT INCIDENT
IT WOULD BE SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE WORLD LEARNED THE NEWS
AND AFTER THAT, ALL ANYBODY WANTED TO KNOW WAS -- WHO WAS
BRYAN KOHBERGER? YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET SOME PEOPLE
>> Reporter: BRIAN SHEEHAN, GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER AT
NBC10 IN PHILADELPHIA, WAS ON THE EARLY SHIFT ON
DECEMBER 30th. THE NEWS DAY LOOKED SLUGGISH
UNTIL A HOT TIP CAME IN. >> I GET A PHONE CALL FROM MY
ASSIGNMENT MANAGER SAYING, "WE NEED YOU TO GET TO THE POCONOS
WE THINK THEY HAVE THE SUSPECT IN THE IDAHO MURDER CASE."
I WENT, "WHAT, THE IDAHO MURDER SUSPECT IN PENNSYLVANIA?
>> Reporter: HE RACED TO THE POCONOS, A MOUNTAINOUS REGION
90 MILES NORTH OF PHILADELPHIA HE WORKED HIS PHONES ON THE WAY.
HIS COLLEAGUES WERE AT IT TOO. IF THEY WERE GOING TO BREAK ONE
OF THE BIGGEST STORIES IN THE COUNTRY, THEY HAD TO NAIL THE
FACTS. >> IT WAS A LOT OF BACK AND
FORTH. AND WE HAD MULTIPLE SOURCES TELL
US, "THIS IS THE GUY." >> LIVE IN EAST STROUDSBURG --
>> Reporter: BY MIDMORNING, THEY HAD IT BUTTONED UP
A SUSPECT WAS IN CUSTODY BRIAN BROKE THE NEWS
>> THIS MORNING WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT A PERSON OF INTEREST
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY >> Reporter: AS THE DAY WENT BY,
EVERYONE LEARNED MORE. >> WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS WE
HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL IN CUSTODY WHO COMMITTED THESE HORRIBLE
CRIMES >> Reporter: WHEN CASEY ARNTZ
HEARD THE NAME BRYAN KOHBERGER, SHE WAS STUNNED AND TURNED TO
TIKTOK >> I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THE
KID. I WAS FRIENDS WITH HIM
I WOULDN'T MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS UP.
I AM JUST IN ABSOLUTE SHOCK RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: CASEY MET BRYAN KOHBERGER YEARS AGO WHEN
THEY RODE THE SCHOOL BUS TOGETHER IN EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA HE WAS A YEAR YOUNGER THAN HER,
AN OVERWEIGHT KID, SHE SAID, AND A MEMBER OF THEIR LITTLE GANG.
>> HE WAS LAUGHING, AND HE WAS ALWAYS FUN AROUND OUR FRIEND
GROUP 'CAUSE HE FELT COMFORTABLE WITH US, WHICH WAS NICE.
BUT FROM -- I'M HEARING FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT HE GOT BULLIED
FOR HIS WEIGHT >> Reporter: BULLIED EVEN BY
SOME OF THE GIRLS, SAID CASEY. SHE THOUGHT AT ONE POINT BRYAN
MIGHT HAVE HAD A CRUSH ON HER -- NOT THAT THEY EVER DATED
>> HE WOULD, LIKE, COMPLIMENT ME AND STUFF.
I REMEMBER I HAD DYED MY HAIR RED ONE TIME, AND IT WAS, LIKE,
RED-RED. YEAH, IT WAS POPPED.
AND HE SAID IT LOOKED GOOD AND THAT IT WAS MORE RED THAN
ORANGE >> Reporter: CASEY GRADUATED
FROM HIGH SCHOOL FIRST BUT STAYED IN TOUCH WITH BRYAN
HE MESSAGED HER WHEN HE GRADUATED.
AT SOME POINT, SHE LEARNED HE'D DEVELOPED A HEROIN HABIT
BUT HE TOLD HER HE WENT TO REHAB.
THEY LOST TOUCH AFTER THAT UNTIL, IN 2017, CASEY WENT TO A
WEDDING, SAW BRYAN THERE, AND WAS STUNNED.
HE WAS THIN NOW. LOOKED, SHE SAID, LIKE HE'D
GOTTEN HIS LIFE BACK TOGETHER. >> IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE,
"HOLY CRAP, THAT'S BRYAN HE LOOKS SO GOOD."
>> Reporter: SHE GAVE HIM A HUG, WHICH IS WHEN SHE REALIZED, SHE
SAID, HE WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE IN THAT SOCIAL SETTING
>> I THINK BRYAN WAS KINDA WEIRDED OUT THAT I DID HUG HIM
BUT HE STILL RETURNED THE HUG. IT WAS JUST A REALLY AWKWARD
HUG. >> Reporter: THEY CAUGHT UP.
HE TOLD HER HE WANTED TO STUDY CRIMINOLOGY.
BUT SHE DIDN'T SEE HIM ENGAGE WITH OTHERS ONCE THAT NIGHT.
SAID HE WAS CLOSED OFF, QUIET. >> HE DID NOT DANCE.
HE DID NOT TALK TO ANYONE ELSE HE WAS JUST KINDA THERE.
>> Reporter: CASEY WASN'T THE ONLY ONE FLOORED BY BRYAN'S
ARREST A FORMER CLASSMATE NAMED MADISON
WAS TOO. SHE STUDIED WITH HIM AT DeSALES
UNIVERSITY, A PRIVATE CATHOLIC COLLEGE SET IN THE HILLS OF
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA >> IT DEFINITELY TOOK ME BY
SHOCK. AND ESPECIALLY HIS MUGSHOT
HE LOOKED A LOT SKINNIER THAN I REMEMBERED HIM BEING
>> Reporter: LAST TIME SHE SAW HIM, SHE THINKS, WAS IN 2020
THEY'D TAKEN A CRIMINOLOGY COURSE TOGETHER IN HER JUNIOR
YEAR THAT WAS 2018.
WHAT STUCK WITH HER WAS HOW BRYAN ALWAYS HAD TO LET EVERYONE
IN CLASS KNOW HE KNEW HIS STUFF. WHICH, SHE SAID, BECAME
ANNOYING >> WHENEVER HE RAISED HIS HAND,
HE DEFINITELY TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO ANSWER THE QUESTION,
BUT YET THEN GIVE EVERY SINGLE DETAIL THAT HE POSSIBLY COULD TO
HELP FURTHER HIS POINT IT WAS ALWAYS LIKE, "OH, BRYAN'S
ANSWERING THIS QUESTION. THIS IS GONNA TAKE UP THE WHOLE
ENTIRE CLASS." >> Reporter: THERE WAS SOMETHING
ELSE, SHE SAID NOT QUITE CREEPY BUT ODD
>> HE WOULD STARE AT US. HE DEFINITELY HAD VERY PROMINENT
EYES SO I FELT LIKE WHENEVER ME AND
MY FRIENDS WOULD KINDA, LIKE, LOOK OVER TO THE SIDE, DEPENDING
ON WHERE HE WAS SITTING NEAR US, LIKE, I WOULD ALWAYS CATCH HIM
STARING AT US. HE WOULDN'T EVER REALLY TRY TO
TALK TO US >> Reporter: SMALL AS DeSALES
WAS, MADISON DOESN'T REMEMBER SEEING BRYAN ANYWHERE ELSE ON
CAMPUS NOT IN THE LIBRARY, NOT HANGING
IN THE CAFETERIA NO WALKING THROUGH CAMPUS.
>> I TRULY ONLY SAW HIM IN CLASS.
>> Reporter: ON JANUARY 3rd, BRYAN KOHBERGER APPEARED IN A
PENNSYLVANIA COURT JASON LaBAR, MONROE COUNTY'S
CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER, REPRESENTED HIM.
>> HE WAS VERY OPEN AND UPFRONT AND HONEST WITH ME
>> Reporter: LaBAR REPEATED WHAT BRYAN TOLD HIM FROM THE START --
THAT HE WANTED TO WAIVE EXTRADITION.
>> HE'S EAGER TO GET BACK TO IDAHO SO THAT HE WILL BE
EXONERATED OF THE CHARGES, IMPLICITLY MEANING THAT HE'S
INNOCENT OF THE CHARGES. >> Reporter: BRYAN'S FAMILY WAS
AT THE HEARING TOO MOM, DAD, TWO SISTERS.
THEY WERE SHOCKED, LaBAR SAID, BUT SUPPORTIVE
AND THEN IT WAS OVER BRYAN KOHBERGER WAS ON A PLANE,
HEADING WEST TO THE PLACE WHERE HE'D ARRIVED ONLY A FEW MONTHS
BEFORE, HIS WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF HIM THEN
>> Reporter: BRYAN KOHBERGER, BY MANY ACCOUNTS, HAD GROWN UP AN
AWKWARD TEEN IN PENNSYLVANIA BUT BY LAST JUNE, IT SEEMED HE
HAD GOTTEN HIS LIFE TOGETHER, GRADUATING FROM DESALES
UNIVERSITY WITH A MASTERS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SOON AFTER HE HEADED WEST TO WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY TO
START THE PhD PROGRAM IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE THERE
>> HE GRADED PAPERS AND OCCASIONALLY WOULD SPEAK TO THE
CLASS ABOUT STUFF. >> Reporter: HAYDEN STINCHFIELD
IS A JUNIOR IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM AT WSU
BRYAN WAS ONE OF HIS TEACHING ASSISTANTS
HAYDEN SAID HE WAS NOT THE KIND OF TA TO HANG AROUND AFTER
CLASS. >> I THINK HE GOT OUT BEFORE WE
DID. PROBABLY 'CAUSE HE HAD TO BE
SOMEWHERE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE HE HAD NO REASON TO STICK AROUND.
LIKE, BECAUSE NO ONE WAS GONNA GO UP AND TALK TO HIM.
YOU KNOW, HE - >> Reporter: HE WAS NOT REALLY
APPROACHABLE >> YEAH, HE -- HE -- EXACTLY
HE WASN'T A SUPER APPROACHABLE GUY.
>> Reporter: INITIALLY, HAYDEN WAS NOT HAPPY WITH BRYAN, AND HE
WASN'T ALONE HE WAS THE GUY WHO WAS GRADING
YOUR PAPERS. AND HE GRADED THEM HARSHLY
>> YEAH. YEAH, DEFINITELY
HE HAD A TENDENCY TO GO THROUGH YOUR WORK.
HE WOULD BE LIKE, "WELL, WHAT I WOULD'VE DONE HERE IS I WOULD'VE
INCLUDED ALL THIS INFORMATION. AND I WOULD'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS
THIS WAY." AND THEN HE WOULD GRADE YOU DOWN
FOR THAT AND THAT WAS ALWAYS ANNOYING TO
US BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, "WELL, WE -- YOU'RE NOT TELLING US WE
DID IT WRONG YOU'RE TELLING US HOW YOU
WOULD'VE DONE IT AT YOUR PhD LEVEL.
AND THEN YOU'RE TAKING OUR POINTS FOR IT.
>> Reporter: HAYDEN SAID THAT GRADING STYLE CONTINUED FOR
WEEKS. AND THEN IT CHANGED.
QUITE SUDDENLY AND NOW HE WONDERS WAS THE
CHANGE SOMEHOW RELATED TO THE MURDERS?
>> AT A CERTAIN POINT, HE STARTED JUST GIVING EVERYONE
100s AND, LIKE -- OR, LIKE, YOU KNOW, SUPER HIGH MARKS
AND HE STOPPED LEAVING NOTES AND SO THAT SORT OF, LIKE -- BY
THE END OF THE SEMESTER, NO ONE WAS THINKING ABOUT THE LITTLE
DEDUCTIONS FROM EARLIER BECAUSE A MONTH AND A HALF STRAIGHT OF
JUST 100s DOESN'T REALLY -- YOU KNOW, LIKE, KIND OF EVENS --
>> Reporter: WHEN DID -- >> --IT OUT
>> Reporter: --THAT CHANGE? >> YEAH, EXACTLY, RIGHT?
LOOKING BACK, IT LINES UP PRETTY WELL ALSO WITH OBVIOUSLY, LIKE,
NOVEMBER 12th, 13th, LIKE, THROUGH THERE.
>> Reporter: WHICH WAS OF COURSE THE DATE OF THE MURDERS.
COULD HAVE BEEN A COINCIDENCE OF COURSE
HAYDEN IS PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY ONE LOOKING BACK NOW, WONDERING
IF BRYAN KOHBERGER'S BEHAVIOR CHANGED AFTER THE MURDERS.
DR. JOHN MATTHIAS, PODCAST HOST AND FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST, SAID
IT WOULDN'T BE SURPRISING FOR THE KILLER -- WHOEVER IT IS --
TO BE TRANSFORMED AFTER THE MURDERS.
>> I THINK THIS IS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A LOT OF FANTASIES OF
REVENGE AND A LOT OF VIOLENT AND AGGRESSIVE IMPULSES OVER THE
YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WEIGHING HEAVILY ON HIM.
AND THEY'VE CREATED A LOT OF ANXIETY AND A LOT OF DISTRESS,
AND I SEE THIS AS BEING KIND OF A RELEASE FOR HIM.
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS KNOW CRIMINALS S
SCENE OF THEIR CRIME AND WE KNOW BRYAN DID DRIVE PAST
THE HOUSE ON KING ROAD HOURS AFTER THE MURDERS.
AND THEN THERE WAS THIS LOOK AT THESE IMAGES OF A VIGIL FOR THE
IDAHO VICTIMS ON NOVEMBER 30th ONLINE SLEUTHS GOT EXCITED BY
THIS MAN WALKING BY, HANDS IN HIS POCKET
"BLUE COAT GUY" THEY CALLED HIM. MANY ONLINE BELIEVED THIS WAS
BRYAN KOHBERGER. AND?
HE WAS NOT WASN'T HIM AT ALL.
AND THE VIRAL THEORY COLLAPSED SOUNDLY DEBUNKED
A CAUTIONARY TALE, GIVEN ALL THE RUMORS FLYING AROUND
ON THE OTHER HAND, AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, POLICE
ARE LOOKING SERIOUSLY AT ANOTHER POSSIBLE "SIGHTING" OF BRYAN --
ON A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT BEARING THE NAME POPPA RODGER AND THIS
IMAGE. AMATEUR SLEUTHS AND POLICE
INVESTIGATORS ARE SIFTING THROUGH OLD POSTS, TRYING TO
DETERMINE IF PAPPA RODGER WAS ACTUALLY BRYAN KOHBERGER
HERE'S ONE OF PAPPA RODGER'S POSTS.
"OF THE EVIDENCE RELEASED THE MURDER WEAPON HAS BEEN
CONSISTENT AS A LARGE FIXED BLADE KNIFE.
THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY FOUND THE SHEATH."
BUT THAT WAS POSTED NOVEMBER 30th.
LAW ENFORCEMENT DIDN'T REVEAL THEY FOUND A KNIFE SHEATH UNTIL
JANUARY 5th. SO WAS IT A WILD GUESS
OR SOMETHING MORE? DR. JOHN AND LAUREN MATTHIAS
HAVE BEEN STUDYING PAPPA RODGER'S POSTS
>> THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WOULD -- THAT WOULD KNOW OR SPECULATE
THAT A SHEATH WAS LEFT BEHIND HAD TO BE VERY LIMITED
>> HE GOT IN AN ARGUMENT ABOUT SOMEONE WITH THE SHEATH,
DEFENDING WHY SOMEONE -- SOMEONE WAS, LIKE, "WHY WOULD SOMEONE BE
DUMB ENOUGH TO LEAVE A SHEATH BEHIND?"
AND THE GUY IS, LIKE, "WELL, YOU WOULD JUST CARRY A KNIFE AROUND
WITHOUT ONE?" LIKE, HE GOT REALLY DEFENSIVE -
>> RIGHT SOMEBODY WAS QUESTIONING THE --
THE CRIMINAL'S INTELLIGENCE, WHICH YOU DON'T DO WITH
BRYAN KOHBERGER. >> Reporter: AND THIS WAS A KIND
OF AGGRESSIVE RESPONSE TO THAT -- TO THAT QUESTION
IN DECEMBER, PAPPA RODGER PEPPERED THE FORUM WITH
QUESTIONS. DELVING INTO DETAILED
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE TIMELINE THE NIGHT OF THE MURDERS
SOUNDING LIKE A PERSON OBSESSED. OR SCARED.
THE MATTHIAS' SAY BRYAN HIMSELF COULD HAVE BEEN FEELING THAT
WAY. >> I THINK HE WAS SCARED
WITH THAT SHEATH MISSING, HE CERTAINLY WAS WORRIED.
>> Reporter: THERE WAS A LOOSE END OUT THERE.
HE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE OTHER LOOSE ENDS, OF THE CAR
MOVEMENTS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. BUT HE'D CERTAINLY KNOW THAT HE
LEFT THE SHEATH BEHIND >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: THOSE KNIVES WITHOUT A SHEATH ARE DANGEROUS
THINGS TO HAVE -- HOLDING IN YOUR HAND.
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THERE IS THIS --
AFTER THE ARREST, THOSE ONLINE SAY PAPPA RODGER FELL SILENT
MORE CURIOSITIES SURFACED, INCLUDING THIS, A RESEARCH
SURVEY WRITTEN BY KOHBERGER WHILE A GRAD STUDENT AT DESALES.
HE HAD POSTED IT ON REDDIT IT WAS DIRECTED TO CONVICTED
CRIMINALS, ASKING QUESTIONS TO UNDERSTAND HOW EMOTIONS AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAITS INFLUENCE THE DECISION-MAKING INVOLVED IN
COMMITTING A CRIME QUESTIONS LIKE, "WHY DID YOU
CHOOSE THAT VICTIM, OR TARGET OVER OTHERS?
AND, "AFTER COMMITTING THE CRIME, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING
AND FEELING? >> I KNOW HE'S DOING THIS FOR
OTHER PEOPLE, AND HE'S TRYING TO FIND SUBJECTS THAT HAVE
COMMITTED CRIMES AND HE'S INTERESTED IN THEIR
THOUGHT PROCESSES, BUT I THINK HE'S ALSO GIVING US A GLIMPSE
INTO HIS PSYCHE. INTO THE WAY HE'S THINKING ABOUT
COMMITTING A CRIME >> Reporter: BUT FOR ALL THE
THEORIES AND SPECULATION, THERE IS SOMETHING ONLY ONE PERSON IN
THE WORLD KNOWS RIGHT NOW. THE KILLER'S MOTIVE.
HAYDEN STINCHFIELD SPOKE FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY HERE.
>> I'M REALLY CURIOUS TO FIND OUT BECAUSE IT IS SO FAR FROM
WHAT, YOU KNOW, A NORMAL PERSON WOULD DO
>> Reporter: ON JANUARY 5TH, THE PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT WAS
UNSEALED REVEALING, FINALLY, EVIDENCE AND
NATION >> THE KILLING OF FOUR
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO STUDENTS. >> MANY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED AND
NO ARRESTS >> FOR SIX WEEKS STUDENTS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO HAD LIVED AS IF THERE WAS A NIGHT-DWELLING,
MEDIEVAL MONSTER IN THEIR MIDST, TURNING THE MURDERS OF KAYLEE
AND MADISON AND XANA AND ETHAN INTO SOMETHING OF A FABLE-LIKE
HORROR STORY >> Reporter: SO WHEN
BRYAN KOHBERGER MADE HIS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE IN A MOSCOW,
IDAHO, COURTROOM LAST THURSDAY, MILLIONS OF EYES WERE FOCUSED ON
HIM, TRYING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A MONSTER BEHIND THAT FACE AS
THE JUDGE READ THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
>> COUNT TWO ALLEGES THAT YOU COMMITTED THE FELONY OFFENSE -
COUNT THREE ALLEGES THAT YOU COMMITTED --
COUNT FOUR ALLEGES THAT YOU COMMITTED --
COUNT FIVE ALLEGES THAT YOU COMMITTED THE FELONY OFFENSE OF
MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR THIS
OFFENSE IS DEATH OR IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? >> YES
>> Reporter: STEVE AND KRISTI MADE A POINT OF DRIVING THE
95 MILES FROM THEIR HOME TO SIT BEHIND THE MAN INVESTIGATORS
THINK KILLED THEIR DAUGHTER. WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO SIT IN THAT
ROOM AND WATCH HIM >> HE LOOKED SCARED, AS HE
SHOULD BE. IF HE IS INDEED THE PERSON, I
FEEL THAT NO MERCY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HIM
>> Reporter: BRYAN KOHBERGER, OF COURSE, HAS ONLY BEEN CHARGED
WITH THE FOUR MURDERS. HE HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF
ANYTHING BUT BEFORE THIS HEARING STARTED,
THE STATE RELEASED THIS 18-PAGE AFFIDAVIT LAYING OUT THE CASE
AGAINST HIM. IT'S A LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT
STARTS OFF LIKE -- WELL, LIKE A MEDIEVAL HORROR STORY.
BEGINNING WITH AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT FROM DYLAN MORTENSEN,
ONE OF THE ROOMMATES WHO SURVIVED WHO WAS NOT ASSAULTED
DYLAN SAID SHE WOKE AROUND 4:00 A.M. BY WHAT SOUNDED LIKE
KAYLEE GONCALVES PLAYING WITH HER DOG.
THEN A VOICE SAYING, "THERE'S SOMEONE HERE."
FOLLOWED BY CRYING AND A MALE VOICE SAYING, "IT'S OKAY
I'M GOING TO HELP YOU. DYLAN SAID SHE OPENED HER DOOR
TO CHECK ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND SAW A MAN CLAD IN BLACK
CLOTHING AND A MASK WALKING TOWARDS HER.
SHE SAID SHE STOOD IN A "FROZEN SHOCK PHASE" AS THE MAN WALKED
PAST HER AND TOWARDS THE BACK SLIDING GLASS DOOR
WE DON'T KNOW FROM THE AFFIDAVIT IF THE MAN SAW HER OR NOT.
THOUGH DYLAN DID SAY SHE LOCKED HER DOOR AND HID IN HER ROOM
AND FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, 8 HOURS PASSED BEFORE SOMEONE
CALLED 911 RETIRED FBI AGENT AND CURRENT
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR GREG ROGERS TEACHES A COURSE ON
PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILING AND GAVE US HIS TAKE ON THE KILLER'S
BEHAVIOR THAT NIGHT. >> IF THE ONE ROOMMATE'S
STATEMENTS ARE ACCURATE ABOUT WHAT SHE HEARD THE MALE SAYING
"IT'S OKAY, DON'T WORRY, IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT," HE WAS WELL
REHEARSED. HE'D BEEN THINKIN' ABOUT THIS
FOR A LONG TIME. HE WAS ACTING OUT A FANTASY, AND
HE WAS WELL PREPARED >> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU SEE
THAT -- THAT COMMENT, IF IT'S ACCURATE, WHAT WAS THAT INTENDED
TO DO? >> HIS STUDY IN HIS DOCTORAL AND
MASTER'S PROGRAMS WERE BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS
SO HE'S WELL VERSED IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HOW
PEOPLE THINK, HOW THEY BEHAVE. SO HE'S TRYIN' TO CALM HER DOWN
AND OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T WANT HER TO SCREAM AND ALERT HER
ROOMMATES. IT SHOWS A VERY CALM DEMEANOR ON
HIS PART TO HAVE THIS NORMAL CONVERSATION WITH -- IT'S --
IT'S -- IT'S EERIE IT'S -- IT'S FRIGHTENING
>> Reporter: LATER, WHILE SEARCHING KAYLEE AND MADDIE'S
ROOM, INVESTIGATORS FOUND THAT KA-BAR KNIFE SHEATH ON THE BED
NEXT TO THE TWO FRIENDS. >> HE COULD'VE EASILY ACQUIRED A
HANDGUN IF HE WANTED ONE HE COULD'VE ACQUIRED IT LEGALLY
OR ILLEGALLY HE CHOSE A KNIFE ON PURPOSE.
YOU PULL OUT A BIG KA-BAR LIKE THAT, IT'S INCREDIBLY
FRIGHTENING. THAT'S WHY THEY CHOOSE THESE
WEAPONS. IT'S TO -- TO JUST REALLY SCARE
THEIR VICTIMS AND TO GET -- TO GET CONTROL.
>> Reporter: AND YET THE KNIFE, OR THAT SHEATH, AT LEAST, ENDED
UP BEING THE KEY TO THE CASE >> LEAVING THE SHEATH IN THE
APARTMENT, THAT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE ON HIS PART.
PROBABLY FELL OUT OF THE BACKPACK, OR MAYBE HE WAS
PULLIN' THE KNIFE OUT AND IT SLID OFF
WHO KNOWS? BUT THAT'S AS GOOD AS IT GETS.
>> Reporter: STEVE AND KRISTI GONCALVES TAKE SOME
COMFORT IN THINKING, HOPING THEIR DAUGHTER KAYLEE PLAYED
SOME HAND IN SOLVING HER OWN MURDER BY SNATCHING THE SHEATH
FROM HER ASSAILANT >> WHEN WE READ WHERE IT WAS
FOUND, I JUST -- I JUST SAID, "CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?
AND I SAID, "I HOPE THAT MAYBE IN A STRUGGLE, SHE PULLED IT OFF
OF HIM." >> YEAH, IT'S A CHECKMATE TYPE
MOMENT >> YEAH.
>> AND OUR GIRLS WERE A PART OF IT
>> YUP >> Reporter: NOW THE MAN ACCUSED
OF COMMITTING THESE MONSTROUS MURDERS IS IN CUSTODY WAITING,
HE SAID, TO BE EXONERATED. WAITING FOR VINDICATION.
BUT GIVEN ALL THE DAMNING EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM, FROM DNA
TO CELL PHONE RECORDS TO SURVEILLANCE CAMERA FOOTAGE,
WHAT COULD KOHBERGER'S DEFENSE POSSIBLY BE?
ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF THAT YOU WOULD DO TO DEFEND A GUY
LIKE THIS, IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS
>> THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO
SHOWS THAT STARTED IT, PROSECUTORS WILL TELL YOU.
AND NOW JURORS TEND TO ASSUME EVERY TRIAL WILL INCLUDE
ROCK-SOLID EVIDENCE LIKE EITHER CELL PHONE RECORDS OR DNA.
THE CASE LAID OUT IN THIS AFFIDAVIT HAS BOTH CELL PHONE
AND DNA EVIDENCE, AND MORE SURVEILLANCE CAMERA FOOTAGE OF
THE WHITE ELANTRA. >> I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE
BETTER PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVITS I EVER READ, VERY TIGHT AND
WELL-WRITTEN >> Reporter: WE ASKED
JAMES SIEBE, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE IDAHO ASSOCIATION OF
CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CASE AND REVIEW
THE AFFIDAVIT FOR US >> THIS IS A TOUGH CASE, NO
DOUBT ABOUT IT >> Reporter: IS THERE ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CASE THAT YOU FIND UNIQUE?
>> BOY, THAT'S A BIG QUESTION. AND, YES, OF COURSE.
STABBINGS. THAT'S SOMEWHAT ARCHAIC TO ME
WITH ALL THE FIREARMS EVERYBODY HAS.
IT'S REAL MACABRE, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THE STABBING
ASPECT THROWN IN THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S THE THING
THAT STICKS OUT IN MY MIND AND I'M SURE BOTHERS A LOT OF
OTHER PEOPLE >> Reporter: AT THE MOMENT THE
STATE'S CASE LOOKS STRONG TO YOU?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF -- I HESITATE TO SAY "STRONG," BUT IT
LOOKS PRETTY SOLID, THAT'S FOR SURE
>> Reporter: IF THERE'S A PLEA DEAL, ALL OF FAMILIES WOULD HAVE
TO AGREE TO A DEAL, WOULDN'T THEY
>> WELL, THE -- NOT TECHNICALLY AGREE, BUT NO PROSECUTOR WOULD,
IN MY MIND, WORTH THEIR SALT, WOULD NOT LISTEN TO THEM
>> Reporter: WE DON'T KNOW WHAT MADDIE, AND XANA, AND ETHAN'S
FAMILIES WOULD THINK ABOUT A POSSIBLE PLEA OFFER, BUT
KAYLEE'S PARENTS TOLD US IF KOHBERGER IS GUILTY, THEY HAVE
NO INTEREST IN STRIKING ANY KIND OF BARGAIN WITH HIM.
>> WE LIVE IN IDAHO. AND IDAHO HAS THE DEATH PENALTY.
WE'RE HOPEFUL FOR THAT >> Reporter: FOR THE DEATH
PENALTY? >> YES
>> THAT'S THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE -- IF ATTACKING SOMEBODY
WHILE THEY'RE SLEEPING IN THEIR BED ISN'T PROBABLE CAUSE FOR YOU
TO BE -- >> UNPROVOKED.
>> -- REMOVED FROM THE PLANET, WHAT DOES?
>> HE CHOOSE OVER AND OVER TO END PEOPLE'S LIVES
AND THAT HAS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR.
>> YEP >> IT HAS TO BE.
>> Reporter: THAT'S NOT TO SAY THE GONCALVESES DON'T WANT
ANSWERS. THE BIGGEST QUESTION OF ALL, THE
ONE THAT TORTURES THE FAMILIES AND CONFOUNDS INVESTIGATORS, IS
WHY. IF BRYAN KOHBERGER IS THE
KILLER, WHY DID HE DO IT HE DIDN'T APPEAR TO KNOW ANYONE
LIVING IN THE KING ROAD HOUSE. WHAT IS KNOWN, ACCORDING TO THE
AFFIDAVIT, IS THAT KOHBERGER'S PHONE WAS DETECTED NEAR THE
HOUSE AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES PRIOR TO THE KILLINGS.
AND AS LONG AGO AS AUGUST 21, 2022
>> I THINK HE BECAME OBSESSED WITH ONE OF THESE VICTIMS.
COULD BE JUST AS SIMPLE AS SOMETHING HE -- SHE MIGHT'VE
SERVED HIM IN ONE OF THE RESTAURANTS THEY WORKED AT
HE MIGHT HAVE JUST SEEN HER. YOU NEVER KNOW
>> Reporter: YOU HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE IN CASES YOU'VE COVERED
IN YOUR OWN CLASS? >> OH YEAH, YEAH
HE MAY NOT HAVE EVEN EVER SPOKEN TO ANY OF THEM
HE MAY HAVE SPOKEN TO ONE OF THEM AND DONE SOMETHING AWKWARD
AND ASKED FOR A NUMBER AND BEEN REJECTED AND GOT UPSET
>> Reporter: JUST A THEORY, MIND YOU, THERE'S NO PROOF.
BUT THE GONCALVES ALSO SUSPECT KOHBERGER WAS STALKING THEIR
DAUGHTER KAYLEE AND HER FRIENDS. >> OUR PI AND SOME RETIRED
OFFICERS TOLD US THAT HE -- TO EXPECT THAT HE MAY HAVE DONE DRY
RUNS WHERE HE GOT CLOSE, CHECKED DOORS, CHECKED WINDOWS
WE DON'T KNOW THIS FOR A FACT, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT HE WAS CLOSE
ENOUGH TO THE HOUSE THAT HIS PHONE ON SOME OF THESE OCCASIONS
THAT HE WAS COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR WIFI, WHICH EVERYBODY
KNOWS. >> YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CLOSE
>> THAT'S THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND IT
THEY DIG IT. AND IF THIS WAS VERY SATISFYING
TO HIM, WHICH IT LIKELY WAS -- HE'D HAVE BEEN BACK OVER, AND
OVER, AND OVER >> Reporter: NOW, HE IS IN JAIL
AND THE LONG DELIBERATE SLOW WALK TOWARD JUSTICE CAN BEGIN.
STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO ARE BEGINNING TO RETURN TO
CAMPUS READY FOR A NEW SEMESTER, NO LONGER AFRAID OF A MONSTER
LURKING IN THE NIGHT >> I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT
YO KNOW THE INVESTIGATION HAS GONE
THE WAY IT HAS AND THERE'S SOMEONE THERE IN CUSTODY
>> IT DEFINITELY DOES FEELS BETTER KNOWING THAT THERE IS
SOMEONE WHO THE POLICE THINKS IS RESPONSIBLE THAT IS IN CUSTODY
>> IT FEELS GOOD OBVIOUSLY I LIKE TO BE HERE.
I LIKE TO BE LEARNING AND FURTHERING MY EDUCATION.
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE HOME >> Reporter: KOHBERGER WAS BACK
IN COURT YESTERDAY FOR A "STATUS CONFERENCE."
A ROUTINE LEGAL PROCEEDING IN A CASE THAT'S ANYTHING BUT
>> ALL RISE. >> Reporter: THE SOLE ITEM ON
THE AGENDA WAS TO ESTABLISH A DATE FOR THE PRELIMINARY
HEARING. THAT IS WHEN PROSECUTORS WILL
ON KOHBERGER ENOUGH EVIDENCE, APPARENTLY,
THAT KOHBERGER'S ATTORNEY WHO SUBMITTED THIS LENGTHY REQUEST
FOR DISCOVERY, SAID SHE NEEDED MONTHS TO GO THROUGH IT ALL.
>> WE ARE GOING TO ASK THE COURT TO SET PRELIMINARY HEARING OUT
INTO JUNE. >> SO MR. KOHBERGER, HAVE YOU
HAD ENOUGH TIME TO SPEAK WITH MS. TAYLOR ABOUT YOUR DECISION
TO WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO A SPEEDY PRELIMINARY HEARING?
>> YES >> I WILL GO AHEAD AND RESERVE
THE WEEK, SO JUNE 26th TO JUNE 30th, IN THE EVENT THAT WE
NEED ALL FIVE DAYS FOR PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE
>> Reporter: WHAT KOHBERGER'S DEFENSE ULTIMATELY WILL BE IS
STILL UNKNOWN. JAMES SIEBE, THOUGH, TOLD US
KOHBERGER'S COUNSEL, ANNE TAYLOR, IS A TOUGH, VETERAN
TRIAL ATTORNEY >> ANNE'S ONE OF THE -- ONE OF
THE BEST >> Reporter: WHAT MAKES HER ONE
OF THE BEST? >> WELL HER RANGE OF EXPERIENCE,
PERSONALITY, INTELLIGENCE. SHE'S A FORMER PROSECUTOR, BEEN
INVOLVED IN A LOTTA REALLY BIG TRIALS, HAD A GOOD SUCCESS RATE,
I'D SAY. SO I HAVE THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR
HER. >> Reporter: WE ASKED TO SPEAK
TO TAYLOR, BUT SHE, LIKE THE OTHER LAWYERS AND INVESTIGATORS
INVOLVED IN THE CASE, IS SUBJECT TO THE JUDGE'S GAG ORDER
>> Reporter: SO, THE QUEST FOR JUSTICE GRINDS SLOW, AS EVER, AS
PARENTS LEARN TO GO ON SOMEHOW WITHOUT THEIR CHILDREN
STEVE AND KRISTI TOLD US THEY ARE DETERMINED THAT KAYLEE BE
REMEMBERED NOT FOR THE TERRIBLE WAY SHE DIED, BUT FOR THE JOY
SHE BROUGHT TO THOSE WHO LOVED HER.
>> THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF LOVE AND SUPPORT THAT WE GOT.
WE HAD PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD REACHING OUT
WE -- WE GET LETTERS, HANDWRITTEN LETTERS THAT ARE
FIVE PAGES LONG. I'VE HAD BRACELETS MADE FOR ME
AND PEOPLE MAKING SPECIAL PICTURES WITH KAYLEE AND SENDING
'EM TO ME. >> AND IT MIGHT SEEM KIND OF
BIZARRE, BUT IT REALLY DOES HELP
>> I WISH THEY COULD SEE HOW MUCH THEIR LIVES MEANT TO SO
MANY >> Reporter: YOU WANT TO BE ABLE
TO GO AND TELL HER THAT. >> YES
I WOULD LOVE TO BE LIKE, "YOU -- MADDIE AND KAYLEE, YOU KNOW,
LOOK AT THIS." YEAH
"LOOK WHAT YOUR LIVES MEANT TO EVERYONE."
>> Reporter: FOUR BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE
IMAGINE WHAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU THE LATEST ON THIS CASE HERE ON
"DATELINE," ON NBC NIGHTLY NEWS, AND ON TODAY
I'M LESTER HOLT. FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS,