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Bryan Kohberger: 5 burning questions that remain unanswered after Idaho suspect’s dramatic arrest

The investigators zeroed down their focus on Bryan Kohberger after tracing his ownership of a white Hyundai Elantra seen in the area of the killings

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MOSCOW, IDAHO: Police have finally arrested a suspect related to the brutal stabbings of four University of Idaho students that took place in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant, Pennsylvania State Police announced Friday, December 30. He was detained on suspicion of first-degree murder and burglary in Chestnuthill Township, Pennsylvania—over 2,000 miles away from the site of the murders. 

The investigators zeroed down their focus on Kohberger after tracing his ownership of a white Hyundai Elantra seen in the area of the killings, according to law enforcement sources. The authorities also claimed his DNA matched genetic material recovered at the murder house where the students were killed. During a press conference, Moscow Police Chief James Fry said that officials were "limited" in what information could be released to the public "due to Idaho state law," as per Newsweek. Kohberger is set to make a court appearance in Pennsylvania on January 3 before he gets extradited to Idaho. While authorities have arrested a suspect now, there are still many questions left unanswered related to the six-week-long crime case that needs to be addressed. 

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Where is the knife? 

Murder weapons form a very crucial part of any criminal case investigation. There are many instances where criminals got away scot-free due to the absence of the weapons they used for committing crimes. Unfortunately, the Idaho murder case has spanned for more than a month now and police have still not been able to recover the murder weapon. The authorities have previously described the weapon as a "fixed-blade knife." According to Moscow Police Chief, the murder weapon has not been found as of Friday. No other details were also provided related to the matter as Fry only said that police were "still looking for all pieces of evidence" including the murder weapon, Newsweek reported. 

What is the motive? 

To build a strong case against a potential criminal, police need a solid motive. Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, both 20, were found dead after being fatally stabbed alongside their 21-year-old classmates Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen on November 13. However, police have not been able to draw a connection between the suspect, Kohberger, and the four students. It is not known yet if he knew any of the victims. Kohberger had just finished his first semester in a PhD program for Washington State University’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and despite being in different states, the suspect and the victims lived close to each other. The University of Idaho is located about 10 miles away from Washington State University.

"[The motive] will come out as we continue the investigation," said Fry. "What we still ask is for people to continually send us things in the tip line. We are still looking for more information. We're still trying to build that picture....We're putting all the pieces together and that will help."

How police identified Kohberger as a suspect?

Although it is known that Kohberger's DNA matched to genetic material recovered at the murder house, police have not released any other information related to his arrest. The police chief thanked the residents for the overwhelming number of tips that poured in for the case but did not specify when asked whether a specific piece of information led to Friday's arrest. More information, including the factual basis for the charges that were filed, will be revealed when a probable cause affidavit is unsealed, which would not happen until the suspect lands in Idaho and is served an arrest warrant there. 

Bryan Kohberger's journey from Idaho to Pennsylvania

Kohberger was a PhD criminology student and teaching assistant at Washington State University's Pullman campus at the time of his arrest which is only about a 15-minute drive from Moscow, Idaho. Besides, the two universities are partners in several academic programs, and students sometimes attend classes and seminars or work at the neighboring schools. In a memo to students and employees, University of Idaho President Scott Green wrote the school did "not appear to have any record" of Kohberger, according to USA Today.

Did he know the victims?

Police sources have not released any information which can draw a connection between the suspected criminal and the four victims. Moscow Police Chief James Fry said that the investigation is still going on and they would not publicly say whether the suspect knew the victims.