The suspect in the University of Idaho student murders allegedly had multiple photos of one of the female victims on his phone — an indication that he may have been “paying attention” to her specifically.
Bryan Kohberger, 28, allegedly stabbed Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, and Xana Kernodle, 20, to death in their beds on Nov. 13 in their home off the University of Idaho campus.
Kohberger was arrested after investigators pieced together his cellphone data and the path of travel of the vehicle of interest. The vehicle’s make and model matched Kohberger’s car.
IDAHO STUDENT MURDERS: SUSPECT BRYAN KOHBERGER ALLEGEDLY POSTED HE HAD ‘CRAZY THOUGHTS’ ONLINE
A source connected to the case told PEOPLE that the images were discovered on Kohberger’s phone after investigators seized it upon his arrest. The source did not specify which female student’s photos were on his phone, but they said he had “more than one” photo of her.
“It was clear that he was paying attention to her,” the source said.
Latah County Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall issued a gag order in January barring attorneys for people involved, witnesses, investigators, law enforcement personnel, and prosecuting and defense attorneys from making written or oral statements on the case. At least 20 news organizations, including the Idaho Statesman, are challenging the gag order.
The probable cause affidavit showed that Kohberger made multiple trips from his home at Washington State University, where he is a criminology graduate student, to Moscow, Idaho, and he drove past the home several times in the months leading up to the murders.
DNA evidence on a knife sheath found at the scene and statements made by Dylan Mortensen, one of two surviving roommates, linked Kohberger to the crime.
Mortensen said she heard noises coming from Goncalves’s bedroom, and when Mortensen opened her door, she said she saw a figure in black clothing and a black mask. She matched the figure’s facial description to Kohberger.
Information about photos on Kohberger’s phone comes two weeks after the New York Times reported that he was fired from his assistant teaching position amid allegations that he was interacting inappropriately with female students. Less than two weeks before the murders, Kohberger was called into a meeting to discuss his troubling behavior.
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After the murders, Kohberger’s behavior continued to decline, but he was not named a suspect at the time. Faculty decided to terminate him.
Kohberger was arrested on Dec. 30. A hearing date is set for June 26, which will mark seven months since the murders.
