SUBSCRIBE FOR $1/WEEK

Read the Affidavit

Jan. 5, 2023

Give this article

The affidavit provides additional details

about the night of the University of Idaho
killings. It notes that DNA and surveillance
video led them to the 28-year-old accused
of stabbing four University of Idaho
students. Read more ›

Download the original document (pdf)

CLRKOFDISTCT.LATAH
34 Ip.-

DEC2S2022FK2:52
(129=22-2805

ExhibitA
StatementofBrettPayne

ThebelowinformationisprovidedbyBrettPayne,whoisadulyappointed,qualifiedand
actingpeaceofficerwithintheCountyofLatah,StateofIdaho.BrettPayneisemployedby
MoscowPoliceDepartmentintheofficialcapacityorpositionofCorporal(CPL)andhasbeena

trainedandqualifiedpeaceofficerforapproximatelyfour(4)years.CPLPayneisbeingassistedby
membersoftheIdahoStatePoliceandagentsoftheFederalBureauofInvestigation.

OnNovember13,2022,atapproximately4:00p.m.,MoscowPoliceDepartment(MPD)
SergeantBlakerandIrespondedto1122KingRoad,Moscow,Idaho,hereafterthe"KingRoad
Residence,"toassistwithscenesecurityandprocessingofacrimesceneassociatedwithfour

homicides.Uponourarrival,theIdahoStatePolice(ISP)ForensicTeamwasonsceneandwas

preparingtobeginprocessingthescene.MPDOfficer(OFC)Smith,oneoftheinitialresponding
officerstotheincident,advisedhewouldwalkmethroughthescene.

OFCSmithandIenteredtheKingRoadResidencethroughthebottomfloordooronthe

northsideofthebuilding.OFCSmithandIthenwalkedupstairstothesecondfloor.OFCSmith
directedmedownthehallwaytothewestbedroomonthesecondfloor,whichIlaterlearned

(throughXana'sdriver'slicenseandotherpersonalbelongingsfoundintheroom)wasXana

Kernodle's,hereafter"Kernodle"room.Justbeforethisroomtherewasabathroomdooronthe

southwallofthehallway.AsIapproachedtheroom,Icouldseeabody,lateridentifiedas

Kernodle's,layingonthefloor.Kernodlewasdeceasedwithwoundswhichappearedtohave
beencausedbyanedgedweapon.

Alsointheroomwasamale,lateridentifiedasEthanChapin,hereafter,"Chapin".

Chapinwasalsodeceasedwithwoundslaterdetermined(AutopsyReportprovidedbySpokane

REDACTED

03T0A039

CountyMedicalExaminer datedDecember15,2022)tobecausedby"sharp-force
injuries."

IthenfollowedOFCSmithupstairstothethirdflooroftheresidence.Thethirdfloor
consistedoftwobedroomsandonebathroom.Thebedroomonthewestsideofthefloorwas

laterdeterminedtobeKayleeGoncalves,hereafter"Goncalves,"room.Ilaterlearned(from

reviewofOfficerNuns'bodycamera)therewasadogintheroomwhenMoscowPolice
Officersinitiallyresponded.ThedogbelongedtoGoncalvesandherex-boyfriendJackDucoeur.

IfoundoutfrommyinterviewwithJackDucoueronNovember13,2022thatheandGoncalves
sharedthedog.OFCSmiththenpointedoutasmallbathroomontheeastsideofthethirdfloor.
ThisbathroomsharedawallwithMadisonMogen's,hereafter*Mogen"bedroomwhichwas

situatedonthesoutheastcornerofthethirdfloor.

AsIenteredthisbedroom,Icouldseetwofemalesinthesinglebedintheroom.Both

GoncalvesandMogenweredeceasedwithvisiblestabwounds.Ialsolaternoticedwhat

appearedtobeatanleatherknifesheathlayingonthebednexttoMogen'srightside(when
viewedfromthedoor).Thesheathwaslaterprocessedandhad"Ka-Bar""USMC"andthe
UnitedStatesMarineCorpseagleglobeandanchorinsigniastampedontheoutsideofit.The

IdahoStateLablaterlocatedasinglesourceofmaleDNA(SuspectProfile)leftonthebutton
snapoftheknifesheath.

Aspartoftheinvestigation,numerousinterviewswereconductedbyMoscowPolice

DepartmentOfficers,IdahoStatePoliceDelectives,andFBIAgents.Twooftheinterviews
includedB.F.,andD.M.BothB.F.andD.M.wereinsidetheKingRoadResidenceatthetimeof
thehomicidesandwereroommatestothevictims.B.F.'sbedroomwaslocatedontheeastside
ofthefirstflooroftheKingRoadResidence,

BasedonnumerousinterviewsconductedbyMPDOfficers,ISPDetectives,andFBI

Agentsaswellasmyreviewofevidence,Ihavelearnedthefollowing:

OntheeveningofNovember12,2022,ChapinandKernodleareseenbyB.F.atthe
SigmaChihouseontheUniversityofIdahocampusat735NezPerceDrivefromapproximately
9:00p.m.onNovember12to1:45a.m.onNovember13.B.F.alsoestimatedthatat
approximately,1:45a.m.ChapinandKernodlereturnedtotheKingRoadResidence.B.F.also
statedthatChapindidnotliveintheKingRoadResidencebutwasaguestofKernodle.

GoncalvesandMogenwereatalocalbar,theCornerClubat202N.MainStreet,in
Moscow.GoncalvesandMogencanbeseenonvideofootageprovidedbytheCornerClub
between10:00p.m.onNovember12and1:30a.m.onNovember13th.Atapproximately1:30
a.m.GoncalvesandMogencanbeseenonvideoatalocalfoodvendorcalledthe"GrubTruck"

at318S.MainStreetindowntownMoscow.TheGrubTrucklivestreamsvideofromtheirfood
truckonthestreamingplatformTwitchwhichisavailableforpublicviewingontheirwebsite.
Thisvideowascapturedbylawenforcement.Aprivateparty reportedthathe

providedaridetoGoncalvesandMogenatapproximately1:56a.ma.fromdowntownMoscow
(infrontoftheGrubTruck)totheKingRoadResidence.

D.M.andB.F.bothmadestatementsduringinterviewsthatindicatedtheoccupantsofthe

KingRoadResidencewereathomeby2:00a.m.andasleeporatleastintheirroomsby
approximately4:00a.m.ThisiswiththeexceptionofKernodle,whoreceivedaDoorDashorder

attheresidenceatapproximately4:00a.m.(lawenforcementidentifiedtheDoorDashdelivery
driverwhoreportedthisinformation).

D.M.statedsheoriginallywenttosleepinherbedroomonthesoutheastsideofthe

secondfloor.D.M.statedshewasawokenatapproximately4:00a.m.bywhatshestated
soundedlikeGoncalvesplayingwithherdoginoneoftheupstairsbedrooms,whichwere
locatedonthethirdfloor.Ashorttimelater,D.M.saidsheheardwhoshethoughtwas
Goncalvessaysomethingtotheeffectof"there'ssomeonehere."Areviewofrecordsobtained
fromaforensicdownloadofKernodle'sphoneshowedthiscouldalsohavebeenKernodleasher

cellularphoneindicatedshewaslikelyawakeandusingtheTikTokappatapproximately4:12
a.m.

D.M.statedshelookedoutofherbedroombutdidnotseeanythingwhensheheardthe

commentaboutsomeonebeinginthehouse.D.M.statedsheopenedherdoorasecondtime
whensheheardwhatshethoughtwascryingcomingfromKernodle'sroom.D.M.thensaidshe

heardamalevoicesaysomethingtotheeffectof"it'sok,I'mgoingtohelpyou."

Atapproximately4:17a.m.,asecuritycameralocatedat1112KingRoad,aresidence
immediatelytothenorthwestof1122KingRoad,pickedupdistortedaudioofwhatsoundedlike
voicesorawhimperfollowedbyaloudthud.Adogcanalsobeheardbarkingnumeroustimes
startingat4:17a.m.ThesecuritycameraislessthanfiftyfeetfromthewestwallofKernodle's
bedroom,

D.M.statedsheopenedherdoorforthethirdtimeaftersheheardthecryingandsawa
figurecladinblackclothingandamaskthatcoveredtheperson'smouthandnosewalking
towardsher.D.M.describedthefigureas5'10"ortaller,male,notverymuscular,but

athleticallybuiltwithbushyeyebrows.ThemalewalkedpastD.M.asshestoodina"frozen
shockphase."Themalewalkedtowardsthebackslidingglassdoor.D.M.lockedherselfinher

approximately3:26a.mandwestboundonStynerAvenueatIdahoStateHighway95inMoscow

atapproximately3:28a.m.Onthisvideo,itappearedSuspectVehicle1wasnotdisplayinga
frontlicenseplate.

AreviewoffootagefrommultiplevideosobtainedfromtheKingRoadNeighborhood
showedmultiplesightingsofSuspectVehicle1startingat3:29a.m.andendingat4:20a.m.

ThesesightingsshowSuspectVehicle1makesaninitialthreepassesbythe1122KingRoad
residenceandthenleaveviaWalentaDrive.BasedoffofmyexperienceasaPatrolOfficerthis
isaresidentialneighborhoodwithaverylimitednumberofvehiclesthattravelintheareaduring

theearlymorninghours.Uponreviewofthevideothereareonlyafewcarsthatenterandexit
thisareaduringthistimeframe.

SuspectVehicle1canbeseenenteringthearcaafourthtimeaapproximately4:04a.m.It

canbeseendrivingeastboundonKingRoad,stoppingandturningaroundinfrontof500Queen
Road#52andthendrivingbackwestboundonKingRoad.WhenSuspectVehicle1isinfrontof
theKingRoadResidence,itappearedtounsuccessfullyattempttoparkorturnaroundinthe
road.ThevehiclethencontinuedtotheintersectionofQueenRoadandKingRoadwhereitcan

beseencompletingathree-pointturnandthendrivingeastboundagaindownQueenRoad

SuspectVehicle1isnextseendepartingtheareaoftheKingRoadResidenceat

approximately4:20a.m.atahighrateofspeed.SuspectVehicle1isnextobservedtraveling
southboundonWalentaDrive.Basedonmyknowledgeoftheareaandreviewofcamerafootage
intheneighborhoodthatdoesnotshowSuspectVehicle1duringthattimeframe,Ibelievethat
SuspectVehicle1likelyexitedtheneighborhoodatPalouseRiverDriveandConestogaDrive.
PalouseRiverDriveisatthesouthernedgeofMoscowandproceedsintoWhitmanCounty,
Washington.EventuallytheroadleadstoPullman,Washington.PullmanWashingtonis
6

approximately10milesfromMoscow,Idaho.BothPullmanandMoscowaresmallcollege
townsandpeoplecommonlytravelbackandforthbetweenthem

LawenforcementofficersprovidedvideofootageofSuspectVehicle1toforensic
examinerswiththeFederalBureauofInvestigationthatregularlyutilizesurveillancefootageto

identifytheyear,make,andmodelofanunknownvehiclethatisobservedbyoneormore

camerasduringthecommissionofacriminaloffense.TheForensicExaminerhasapproximately

35yearslawenforcementexperiencewithtwelveyearsattheFBI.Hisspecifictrainingincludes

identifyinguniquecharacteristicsofvehicles,andheusesadatabasethatgivesvisualcluesof
vehiclesacrossstatestoidentifydifferencesbetweenvehicles.

AfterreviewingthenumerousobservationsofSuspectVehicle1,theforensicexaminer

initiallybelievedthatSuspectVehicle1wasa2011-2013HyundaiElantra.Uponfurtherreview,
heindicateditcouldalsobea2011-2016HyundaiElantra.Asaresult,investigatorshavebeen

reviewinginformationonpersonsinpossessionofavehiclethatisa2011-2016whiteHyundai
Elantra

InvestigatorsweregivenaccesstovideofootageontheWashingtonStateUniversity

(WSU)campuslocatedinPullman,WA.Areviewofthatvideoindicatedthatatapproximately
2:44a.m.onNovember13,2022,awhitesedan,whichwasconsistentwiththedescriptionofthe
WhiteElantraknownasSuspectVehicle1,wasobservedonWSUsurveillancecameras
travellingnorthonsoutheastNevadaStreetatnortheastStadiumWay.Atapproximately2:53
a.m.,awhitesedan,whichisconsistentwiththedescriptionoftheWhiteElantraknownas
SuspectVehicle1,wasobservedtravelingsoutheastonNevadaStreetinPullman,WAtowards
SR270,SR270connectsPullman,WashingtontoMoscow,Idaho.Thiscamerafootagefrom

Pullman,WAwasprovidedtothesameFBIForensicExariner.TheForensicExaminer

identifiedthevehicleobservedinPullman,WAasbeinga2014-2016HyundaiElantra.

Atapproximately5:25a.m.,awhitesedan,whichwasconsistentwiththedescriptionof
SuspectVehicle1,wasobservedonfivecamerasinPullman,WAandonWSUCampus

cameras.Thefirstcamerathatrecordedthewhitesedanwaslocatedat1300JohnsonRoadin

Pullman.ThewhitesedanwasobservedtravelingnorthboundonJohnsonRoad.JohnsonRoad

leadsdirectlybacktoWestPalouseRiverDriveinMoscowwhichintersectswithConestoga
Drive.ThewhitesedanwasthenobservedturningnorthonBishopBoulevardandnorthweston
SR270.Atapproximately$:27a.m.,theWhiteElantrawasobservedoncamerastraveling
northboundonStadiumWayatNevadaStreet,StadiumWayatGrimesWay,StadiumDriveat
WilsonRoad,andStadiumWayatCougarWay

DepictionshowingMoscowandPullman:

DepictionshowingWhiteElantra'spathoftravel(nottoscale):

Legend

WhiteElantra
seenleavingWSU
Campus

WhiteElantra
seenReturningto
WSUCampus

snigoron

Arrowsare
camera
locationsand
indicate
vehicle
directionof
travel

OnNovember25,2022,MPDaskedarealawenforcementagenciestobeonthelookout

forwhiteHyundaiElantrasinthearca.OnNovember29,2022,atapproximately12:28a.m.,
WashingtonStateUniversity(WSU)PoliceOfficerDanielTiengo,queriedwhiteElantras
registeredatWSU.Asaresultofthatqueryhelocateda2015whiteElantrawithaPennsylvania
licenseplateLFZ-8649.ThisvehiclewasregisteredtoBryanKohbergerhereafter"Kohberger"
residingat

isapproximatelythree-quartersofamilefromtheintersectionofStadiumWayandCougarWay
(lastcameralocationthatpickedupthewhiteElantra).

Thatsamedayatapproximately12:58a.m.,WSUOfficerCurtisWhitmanwaslooking
forwhiteHyundaiElantra'sandlocateda2015whiteHyundaiElantraat

inPullmanintheparkinglot. sanapartmentcomplexthathousesWSU

students.OfficerWhitmanalsoranthecaranditreturnedtoKohbergerwithaWashingtontag.I

reviewedKohberg'sWAstatedriverlicenseinformationandphotograph.Thislicenseindicates

thatKohbergerisawhitemalewithaheightof6'andweighs185pounds.Additionally,the

photographofKohbergershowsthathehasbushyeyebrows.Kohberger'sphysicaldescriptionis
consistentwiththedescriptionofthemaleD.M.sawinsidetheKingRoadResidenceon
November13th

Furtherinvestigation,includingareviewofLatahCountySheriff'sDeputyCPLDuke's
bodycamandreports,showedthatonAugust21,2022,BryanKohbergerwasdetainedaspartof
atrafficstopthatoccurredinMoscow,Idaho,byCPLDuke.Atthetime,Kohberger,whowas
thesoleoccupant,wasdrivingawhite2015HyundaiElantrawithPennsylvaniaplateLFZ-8649
whichwassettoexpireonNovember30,2022.Duringthestop,whichwasrecordedviaalaw
enforcementbodycamera,Kohbergerprovidedhisphonenumberas 8458,hereafterthe

"8458Phone"ashiscellulartelephonenumber.Investigatorsconductedelectronicdatabase
queriesandlearnedthatthe8458PhoneisanumberissuedbyAT&T.

OnOctober14,2022,BryanKohbergerwasdetainedaspartofatrafficstopbyaWSU
PoliceOfficer.Uponreviewofthatbodycamandreportofthestop,Kohbergerwasthesole
occupantandwasdrivingawhite2015HyundaiElantrawithPennsylvaniaplateLFZ-8649.

OnNovember18,2022,accordingtoWAstatelicensing,Kohbergerregisteredthe2015
whiteElantrawithWAandlaterreceivedWAplateCFB-8708.Priortothistime,the2015white
ElantrawasregisteredinPennsylvania,whichdoesnotrequireafrontlicenseplatetobe
displayed(thiswaslearnedthroughcommunicationswithaPennsylvaniaofficerwhois
currentlycertifiedintheStateofPennsylvania).Basedonmyownexperienceand

10

Note: The New York Times has redacted the suspect’s

address.

Give this article

ADVERTISEMENT

© 2023 The New York Times Company

NYTCo Contact Us Accessibility Work with us Advertise

T Brand Studio Your Ad Choices Privacy Policy Terms of Service
Terms of Sale Site Map Canada International Help
Subscriptions

Tell us about yourself. Take our survey.