JonBenét had tabloids, O.J. had helicopters—this one had DNA on a knife sheath, 12 camera sightings of a white Elantra, and a suspect who studied criminology and allegedly graded papers after the killings.
Trailer for “One Night in Idaho: The College Murders”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Bryan Kohberger drove cross-country with his dad right after the killings.
- He was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology.
- Kohberger allegedly posted online under the name “Papa Rodger,” discussing the case before his arrest—including creepy questions like “How was the knife held?” After Kohberger was arrested, “Papa Rodger” stopped posting. Internet sleuths think they’re the same person.
- One of the victims, Xana Kernodle, had over 50 stab wounds—many of them defensive, suggesting a violent struggle in her final moments.
Watch “One Night in Idaho: The College Murders”
You can watch “One Night in Idaho: The College Murders” on Prime Video.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 93/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: not yet rated (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Matthew Galkin and Liz Garbus directed this doc. This is a 4-part series with each episode lasting around 45 minutes. I binge-watched this on one rainy Saturday!
Release Date: July 2025 (following Kohberger’s confession as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty)
My Review of “One Night in Idaho: The College Murders”
The Setup
On November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were found murdered in their off-campus house.
The victims—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—were brutally stabbed, some in their sleep. It shocked the country.
The police had few leads for weeks.
But a knife sheath left behind, DNA, and surveillance footage of a white Hyundai Elantra ultimately led to Bryan Kohberger, a 30-year-old Ph.D. student in criminology at nearby Washington State University.
The doc walks through the emotional toll on the families and the massive manhunt that followed.
More Highlights from the Doc
- The DNA match came from the snap-button sheath of a military-style knife left on one of the victims’ beds. That tiny clue cracked the case wide open.
- The white Hyundai Elantra seen near the crime scene was caught on surveillance cameras 12 times that night—just blocks from the murder house.
- Kohberger drove cross-country with his dad to Pennsylvania shortly after the murders, where he was arrested weeks later.
- Victims’ families recall the moment they found out—and how they now keep their children’s memories alive through foundations and scholarships.
- The house at 1122 King Road, the site of the murders, was eventually torn down in 2023. The doc includes drone footage from before and after.
- Investigators used genetic genealogy databases to connect the DNA from the knife sheath to Kohberger’s family tree.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Kohberger applied to the Pullman Police Department for an internship in fall 2022, saying he wanted to help solve crimes using data analysis.
- He was reportedly a teaching assistant in the criminal justice department—and students noticed his grading got harsher after the murders.
- The surviving roommate heard crying and saw a “masked man in black clothing” leave—but didn’t call 911 for hours, something the doc tries to contextualize.
- Kohberger allegedly turned off his phone for a critical 2-hour window around the time of the murders—only for it to ping back on near the house minutes later.
- Forensics showed no signs of sexual assault, adding to the confusion about the motive. Kohberger has not explained why he did it.
Wrap Up
“One Night in Idaho” is brutal, detailed, and deeply personal. If you followed the case, or want to know what really happened, this doc lays it all out with clarity and care.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc