A chilling connection emerges between Bryan Kohberger and an unsolved home invasion that occurred before the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students.
According to Fox News, officials revealed that Kohberger, the primary suspect in the Moscow quadruple homicide case, was previously investigated for a home invasion in Pullman, Washington, that took place in October 2021.
The investigation details surfaced through newly released body camera footage obtained by ABC News, showing police responding to a terrifying incident where a masked intruder wielding a knife entered a woman's bedroom around 3:30 a.m.
The victim managed to fight off the attacker by kicking them in the stomach, causing them to retreat through her closet and flee up the stairs.
Striking Similarities Between Two Cases Raise New Questions
The Pullman break-in case shares several disturbing parallels with the November 2022 Moscow murders. Both incidents involved a masked perpetrator armed with a knife who entered residences in the early morning hours and remained silent throughout the attack. These similarities prompted investigators to name Kohberger as a person of interest in the Pullman case 13 days after the Moscow murders.
The victim from the Pullman incident provided her account to police, as captured in the body camera footage:
I heard my door open and I looked over and someone was wearing a ski mask and had a knife, and so I like kicked the s--- out of their stomach and screamed super loud, and they like flew back into my closet then ran out my door and up the stairs.
However, significant discrepancies emerged during the investigation. The victim described the intruder as being between 5-foot-3 and 5-foot-5, while Kohberger stands at six feet tall. Additionally, records show that Kohberger was not yet enrolled at Washington State University when the Pullman break-in occurred.
Legal Proceedings Move Forward As Questions Linger
Kohberger currently faces four first-degree murder charges and a felony burglary charge for allegedly killing Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in their off-campus residence.
The brutal attack occurred around 4 a.m. on November 13, 2022, with a surviving housemate later describing the suspect as a masked man with "bushy eyebrows."
The Pullman break-in case has since been closed without resolution, leaving the victim frustrated with the investigation's handling. She expressed her disappointment to ABC News:
My family and I have been frustrated that the case was not investigated more in depth or resolved.
As Kohberger's trial approaches in August 2025, questions remain about whether his defense team will utilize the Pullman case to establish reasonable doubt. The former criminology Ph.D. student is being held without bail and faces potential capital punishment if convicted.
Next Steps in High-Profile Prosecution
Bryan Kohberger's connection to two horrifying home invasions has captured national attention, with one case remaining unsolved while the other moves toward trial. The 28-year-old former criminology student faces charges in the deaths of four University of Idaho students, with his next court appearance scheduled for January 23.
As prosecutors prepare their case, the possibility of the death penalty looms over the proceedings, while the earlier Pullman investigation adds another layer of complexity to an already intricate case.
