The Top 10 Crime and Justice Stories Of The Year - #2 - "962 DAYS OF INNOCENCE CLAIMS: BRYAN KOHBERGER'S SHOCKING GUILTY PLEA

0:03 Caalarogu Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Reed Carter. Monday, December twenty second, twenty twenty five. We're counting down the top ten crime and justice stories of twenty twenty five. Today number two. November thirteenth, twenty twenty two. Moscow, Idaho, a quiet college town in the northern Panhandle, population twenty five thousand. The University of Idaho hadn't seen a homicide in seven years. That morning, police responded to a call about an unconscious person at a rental house on King Road. What they found was a massacre. Four students stabbed to death in their beds, blood so thick it dripped down the foundation outside, faces so damaged they were unrecognizable. The worst crime scene any of those officers had ever witnessed. Kaylee Goncalves twenty one, Madison Mogan twenty one, Xana Kernodle twenty Ethan Chapin twenty best friends roommates, a young couple in love, all gone in the span of minutes. Two other roommates, asleep in their basement bedrooms survived. One of them saw a masked man with bushy eyebrows walking through the house, heard him say it's Okay, I'm going to help you, then watched him walk out the back door. She froze, didn't call nine one one until hours later, thought she'd imagined it.

1:30 For six weeks, the town was paralyzed, no suspect, no motive, no arrest. Parents pulled their children from school, Students locked their doors. Everyone wondered who did this and why. December thirtieth, twenty twenty two, Pennsylvania FBI agents surrounded a home in the Pocono Mountains. Inside Brian Christopher Coberger, twenty eight years old, a criminology PhD student at Washington State University, eight miles from Moscow, studying how criminals think, while allegedly becoming one himself. For nine hundred sixty two days, Coburger and his lawyers insisted on his innocence. Said he was driving alone that night, said the DNA was planted, said he had nothing to do with the murders. Then July Tewod twenty twenty five, one month before his trial was scheduled to begin, everything changed.

2:24 Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty? The judge asked, yes. Coburger said, did you kill Madison Mogen? Yes? Did you kill Kaylee Gonkhov's Yes, did you kill Zana Kernodle? Yes? Did you kill Ethan Chapin? Yes? Four words, four confessions, nine hundred sixty two days of innocence claims obliterated in minutes. I'm read Carter today, number two on our countdown. Brian Cooberger and the Idaho student murders. The investigation, the evidence, the guilty plea that shocked the nation, and the questions that may never be answered. This is celebrity trials. Let me paint you the picture. Saturday November twelfth, twenty twenty two, a typical college weekend in Moscow, Idaho. Kaylee Gone Calves and Madison Mogan, best friends since childhood, spent the evening at a sports bar called The Corner Club, drinking, dancing, having fun. They'd been inseparable since sixth grade. Kaylee was supposed to graduate in December, had already moved out of the King Roadhouse, but came back that weekend to see Maddie.

3:42 Around one thirty am, they got a ride to a food truck called grub Wandering Kitchen ordered late night food. A TikTok video shows them standing at the counter laughing. One of the last images of them alive. Meanwhile, Zana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin were at a Fraturn party. Ethan was one of triplets attending the university. His siblings were at the same party. Around one forty five am, Zana and Ethan left together and walked back to the King roadhouse. At one fifty six am, Kaylee called her ex boyfriend Jack seven times. He didn't answer. She and Mattie got a ride home from a private party they'd stopped at, arriving around one fifty six am. The house at eleven twenty two King Road was a three story rental six bedrooms. Kaylee and Maddie went to Mattie's room on the third floor. Zona and Ethan were in Xana's room on the second floor. Two other roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funk, were in basement bedrooms. Between four am and four twenty five am, someone entered the house through the sliding glass door at the back, climbed to the third floor, found Kaylee and Mattie asleep in Mattie's bed.

4:54 He killed them first, then he went down to the second floor. Zana had receive Eve a door dash delivery at four am. She may have been awake, She may have heard something. She may have tried to fight back. Defensive wounds on her hands suggested she did. He killed Zana, then Ethan. Around four to twelve am, Dylan Mortensen heard noises, crying, a voice saying there's someone here. She opened her door, saw nothing closed it. More sounds whimpering from Zana's room. A male voice, it's okay, I'm going to help you. Dylan opened her door again. This time she saw him, A man in black masked walking toward her, then passed her toward the backsliding door. She described him as having bushy eyebrows. She stood frozen, watched him leave, then went back to her room, locked her door, did not call nine one one. She thought she'd imagined it. Thought her roommates would explain everything in the morning. She went back to sleep. Hours later, around noon, Dylan and Bethany called friends over because they couldn't reach their roommates. One of those friends called nine to one one to report an unconscious person. Police arrived found the bodies four students, stabbed multiple times. A tan leather knife sheath with a k bar military insignia left on the bed next to Maddie's body.

6:26 The murder weapon, a k bar style hunting knife, was gone. The killer had been in the house for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes, killed four people, left two alive. Why didn't he kill Dylan? Why didn't he kill Bethany? Former Moscow Police Chief James Frye asked that question after the sentencing, said, there are a lot of theories, including that he may have been exhausted from the stabbings or felt he'd been in the house too long. Only he has that answer, and Brian Koberger has never given it. The investigation was massive, hundreds of law enforcement officers, over twenty thousand tips, more than nine thousand vehicles examined, the FBI, Idaho State Police, Moscow Police Department, all working together, and for six weeks nothing But investigators had one crucial lead, a white car.

7:29 Surveillance footage from a business on the highway between Pullman and Moscow showed a white sedan entering Moscow around three two am on November thirteenth. Around three thirty am, cameras caught the same car circling the neighborhood near King Road three times. At four oh four am. It appeared again at four to twenty am. It was seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed. An FBI expert identified the vehicle as a twenty eleven to twenty sixteen Hundai Elantra. November twenty fifth, Moscow police asked the public for help finding a white Hyundai Elantra seen near the crime scene. Tips flooded in. Three days later, a Washington State University police officer ran a query for white Elantras on campus. One came back Pennsylvania plates registered to Brian Christopher Coburger. Within thirty minutes, another officer located the vehicle at Coburger's apartment complex, but something was different. The plates were now Washington State, not Pennsylvania. Coburger had reregistered his car five days after the murders. Investigators dug deeper found that Coburger had been pulled over by a Lata County Sheriff's deputy in August twenty twenty two while driving the Elantra.

8:47 He'd provided his name, phone number, and address. His driver's license photo showed a man matching the surviving roommate's description, six feet tall, one hundred eighty five pounds, bushy eyebrows. Cell phone records revealed something even more damning. Coburger's phone had pinged cell towers near the King Road house at least twelve times before the murders, including as early as August twenty first, the day before his classes began at Washington State. Most of those pings were late at night or early in the morning. He'd been watching that house, stalking it for months. On the night of the murders, his phone went dark around two forty seven am, right when the white Elantra was captured entering Moscow. It didn't reappear on the network until four forty eight am, pinging along highways south of Moscow, then west into Washington, then north toward Pullman. The disappearance was consistent, investigators said, with an effort to conceal his location during the quadruple homicide, but they needed DNA. December twenty seventh, twenty twenty two, Pennsylvania investigators conducted a trash pull at the Coburger family residence in all Wrightsville. Collected garbage that had been set out for collection, found a Q tip. The Idaho State Crime Lab tested it determined the DNA came from the biological father of whoever left DNA on the knife sheath button snap found at the crime scene, at least ninety nine point nine nine nine eight percent of the male

10:18 population would be excluded from being the suspect's biological father. Coburger is an only child. Three days later, December thirtieth, FBI agents and Pennsylvania State Police surrounded the Coburger home. Brian was inside with his parents, home for the holidays after finishing his first semester of doctoral work. He was arrested without incident, waived extradition to Idaho. Faced four counts of first degree murder and one count of felony burglary. After his arrest, investigators obtained a cheek swab. The DNA was a direct match to the sample found on the knife sheath, and here's the kicker. In March twenty twenty two, eight months before the murders, Coberger had purchased a k bar knife on Amazon using a gift card. Evidence showed he later tried to delete his purchase history, smart enough to plan quadruple murder, too stupid to realize Amazon keeps records, But the murder weapon itself was never found Coburger cleaned his car meticulously after the killings. Whatever knife he used is still out there somewhere. Brian Coburger was indicted in May twenty twenty three pleaded not guilty. A strict gag order was imposed, preventing both sides from speaking publicly for two and a half years. The case proceeded in near silence.

11:38 Motions filed, hearings held, trial dates set and postponed. Coburger's defense team, led by public defender Ann Taylor, maintained his innocence throughout. In June twenty twenty three, they filed a motion suggesting Coburger had an alibi. He was out driving alone that night, just dry, looking at the moon and stars. This prior notice of alibi indicates the defendant intends to offer an alibi defense. The filing stated the defendant was out driving during the late night and early morning hours of November twelfth to thirteen. They never specified where he was, just that he was somewhere else. The defense also suggested the DNA might have been planted, that investigators desperate for a suspect may have contaminated the evidence, that the knife sheath found at the scene could have been touched by someone else. June twenty twenty five, prosecutors sought the death penalty given the aggravating circumstances multiple victims, their vulnerability while asleep, the premeditation involved. November twenty twenty four, a judge denied the defense's motion to remove the death penalty as a possible sentence. January twenty twenty five, the trial was moved from Moscow to Boise, three hundred miles south because of pre trial publicity. Judge Stephen Hipler from Ada County would preside.

13:06 April twenty twenty five, Judge Hipler denied a defense motion seeking to argue that four alternate perpetrators could have committed the murders. He called the argument rank speculation, with nothing linking those individuals to the crimes. The trial was set to begin August fourth, twenty twenty five, with opening arguments on August eighteenth. Then in late June everything changed. Coburger's defense team approached prosecutors asked for a plea offer. After nine hundred sixty two days of insisting their client was innocent, they wanted a deal. Prosecutors met with the victim's families, weighed the options, made a formal offer. July first, twenty twenty five, a letter went out to the families informing them Brian Coberger had agreed to plead guilty to all five counts in exchange for life in prison instead of execution.

14:02 The Gonkhov's family was furious. They wanted a trial, wanted answers, wanted the death penalty. They asked prosecutors to amend the deal, require a full confession, require Coburger to reveal where the murder weapon was hidden. Prosecutors said no, an offer already accepted by the defendant could not ethically be changed. The Chapin family, Ethan's parents, and his triplet siblings, supported the deal. July second, twenty twenty five, Brian Koberger walked into the Ada County Courthouse wearing a button down shirt, tie and khakis. Greeted his defense team and his parents with a wide smile.

14:44 Then he admitted to murder. The courtroom was packed families of all four victims, media from around the world, everyone who had followed this case for nearly three years. Judge Stephen Hipler asked Coburger a series of questions. Was he thinking clearly yes? Had he been promised anything? In exchange for his plea beyond what was in the agreement? No, did he understand the consequences? Yes? Then the judge named each victim asked Coburger directly if he had killed them.

15:27 Did you kill and murder Madison Mogen Yes? Did you kill and murder Kaylee Goncalves Yes? Did you kill and murder Zana Kernodle Yes? Did you kill and murder Ethan Chapin Yes. It was the first time since his arrest that Coburger had spoken during court proceedings. Four words, four admissions, delivered with what his defense attorneys later attributed to flat affect from autism spectrum disorder. Family members wept, some looked down, others stared at the man who had destroyed their lives. Prosecutor Bill Thompson then delivered a summary of the evidence that would have been presented at trial, the surveillance footage, the cell phone data, the DNA, the Amazon purchase of the k Bar knife eight months before the murders. Thompson revealed that Coburger entered the house through the sliding glass door, went to the third floor, first killed Maddie and Kaylee, then worked his way down. He encountered Zana, who may have been awake, and killed her, then killed Ethan. But Thompson admitted something. Prosecutor still didn't know whether Coburger entered the home intending to kill all four students. We will not represent that he intended to commit all of the murders that he did that night, Thompson said, appearing to choke up as he read the victim's names. But we know that is what resulted. Sentencing was set for July twenty third. Three weeks later, the families returned to court.

16:57 This time, Coburger wore an orange prison jumpsuit. The civilian clothes were gone, the wide smile was gone. One by one, the families addressed him. Steve Gungcalves, Kaylee's father, physically turned the podium to face Coburger, directly called him a complete joke. Said the families took this disaster and kept the focus on their loved ones alivea Goncalves, Kaylee's older sister, who had been close friends with Mattie, delivered perhaps the most searing statement. My sister Kaylee and her best friend Mattie were not yours to take. They were not yours to study to stalk or to silence. They're everything you could never be loved, accepted, vibrant, accomplished, brave and powerful. No one is scared of you today. No one is impressed by you. No one thinks you're important. The courtroom applauded Christy Goncalves. Kaylee's mother looked at Coburger and said, simply, hell will be way. The surviving roommate spoke too. Dylan Mortensen, who had been nineteen when it happened, who had seen the killer walk past her door, delivered her statement through tears.

18:12 What happened that night changed everything. He didn't just take their lives. He took the light they carried into every room. He took away my ability to trust the world around me. He shattered me in places I didn't know could break. She called Coburger a hollow vessel, something less than human, a body without empathy, without remorse. He tried to take everything from me, my friends, my safety, my identity, my future. He took their lives, but I will continue trying to be like them, to make them proud. Living is how I honor them. He will never get to take my voice. The courtroom wept. Bethany Funka's statement was read by a friend.

18:56 She described the guilt she still carries for not knowing what had happened, for not calling nine one one sooner, even though it wouldn't have changed anything. I still tell them every night. I will keep living for them. Only Zana's aunt, Kim Kernadle, struck a different note. She told Coburger she'd forgiven him because she could no longer live with the hate. Offered to speak with him if he ever wanted to explain what happened. Ethan Chapin's family chose not to attend. When given the chance to speak, Coburger declined, I respectfully decline, He said, the only words he'd speak that day. Judge Hipler sentenced him to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus ten years for burglary, ordered two hundred fifty thousand dollars in fines and twenty thousand dollars in restitution. He acknowledged that Coburger's motive may never be known, but warned against giving the killer power by endlessly seeking answers he'll never provide. He should be ashamed of what he did. Former police Chief James Frye said after he destroyed lie gives families, communities, changed everybody that ever worked that case. Brian Coburger will die in prison.

20:07 He cannot appeal, cannot seek sentence reduction, cannot ever walk free. But he also never explained why, never revealed where the knife is, never gave the families what they most desperately wanted understanding. Here's what we still don't know. Why did Brian Coburger target that house? Why those four students? Investigators found no connection between Coburger and any of the victims, no social media contact, no prior relationship. Nothing. Was he stalking Kayley, Maddie, Zana all of them? His phone pinged near that house at least twelve times before the murders.

20:51 He was watching, but watching who? Why did he spare the surviving roommates. Dylan Mortensen saw him, made eye contact through the darkness, He walked past her and left. Bethany Funkel was asleep in another basement bedroom. He never went downstairs. Did he not know they were there? Did he decide they weren't threats? Did he run out of time? Energy? Will? Where is the murder weapon? The Cobar knife he bought on Amazon in March twenty twenty two, was never recovered. He cleaned his car extensively after the murders disposed of evidence somewhere, but where and the biggest question, what was going through his mind? Brian Koberger was a PhD student in criminology, studied how criminals think, wrote papers about criminal decision making and burglary. According to prosecutors, one of his graduate school assignments was essentially a how to guide for covering tracks after committing murder. Did he think he could get away with it because he understood the system? Did he see himself as smarter than the investigators who would hunt him? He left a knife sheath with his DNA on it at the crime scene, drove his own car, a distinctive white Alantra that would be captured on surveillance, let his phone ping towers near the house a dozen times before the murders. Reregistered his car five days later, drawing attention to the very vehicle police were searching for, smart enough to plan quadruple murder, too stupid to realize that DNA, cell towers and surveillance cameras would catch him anyway,

22:24 Or maybe he wanted to be caught maybe the criminology student wanted to become the subject of his own case study. We'll never know, because Brian Coberger has chosen silence, and he'll have the rest of his life in prison to keep those secrets. That's number two on our countdown of the top ten crime and justice stories of twenty twenty five. Brian Coburger, the Idaho student murders four young people stabbed to death in their beds. A nation gripped by the investigation a criminology student who thought he could commit the perfect crime. Nine hundred and sixty two days of innocence claims, then four words yes, yes, yes, yes. Kaylee Goncalves was twenty one years old. Should have graduated that December. Should be building her career, should be living her life. Madison Mogan was twenty one years old. Kaylee's best friend since childhood.

23:22 Should be planning their futures together. Should be laughing at inside jokes only they understood. Zana Kernodle was twenty years old. Life of the party, kindest person in any room. Should be falling deeper in love with Ethan. Should be dreaming about what comes next. Ethan Chapin was twenty years old. One of Triplet's, his siblings, got to graduate, got to move on. He should have been there with them. Four lives, four futures, four families destroyed. Brian Koberger will never explain why. The families will never understand what drove him to their door that November night. The questions will echo forever in the silence. He's chosen tomorrow Number one on our Countdown the Grand Finale. P Diddy from hip hop mogul to convicted felon, The trial that exposed decades of alleged abuse, the verdict that shocked the music industry, the sentencing that put him behind bars. I'm read Carter, see you tomorrow for the conclusion of our top ten crime and justice stories of twenty twenty five. Rest in peace, Kayley, Rest in peace, Maddie, Rest in peace, Zana, Rest in peace. Ethan.

24:33 Someone has to say your names. This is celebrity Trials.