{ "id": "2022-11-13-university-of-idaho-stabbing", "slug": "university-of-idaho-stabbing-2022-11-13", "institution": { "name": "University of Idaho", "shortName": "U of I", "state": "ID", "type": "public-r1", "alertSystemName": "Vandal Alert", "enrollment": 11500 }, "incident": { "date": "2022-11-13", "type": "stabbing", "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification", "resolution": "confirmed-threat", "headline": "Four students fatally stabbed at an off-campus house; shelter-in-place issued", "headlinePublic": "Four students fatally stabbed at an off-campus house; shelter-in-place issued", "summary": "In the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, [four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_University_of_Idaho_murders) in an off-campus house on King Road in Moscow, Idaho. The university issued a Vandal Alert directing students to shelter in place. The Moscow Police Department initially stated they did not believe there was an ongoing threat, but the lack of an identified suspect caused widespread fear, leading many students to leave town early for Thanksgiving break.", "outcome": "Bryan Kohberger, a Washington State University PhD student, was arrested on December 30, 2022 in Pennsylvania. He pleaded guilty on July 2, 2025 and was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without parole plus ten years for burglary." }, "alerts": [ { "sequence": 1, "type": "initial", "timestampApprox": "Approximately 1:05 p.m. PST, November 13, 2022", "channel": "sms", "verbatimText": "VANDAL ALERT. Moscow PD is investigating a homicide on King Rd. near campus. Suspect is not known at this time. Stay away from the area and shelter in place.", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/uidaho/status/1591915738776104960", "sourceDescription": "University of Idaho official Vandal Alert post on X (Twitter)", "annotations": [ "Verbatim from the official @uidaho X post; all-caps 'VANDAL ALERT.' prefix preserved", "This alert went out roughly nine hours after the estimated time of the murders (approximately 4 a.m. PST); sent at approximately 1:05 p.m. PST per news reporting, while the @uidaho X post carrying the text is timestamped 2:07 p.m. PST (X status ID) on November 13, 2022 (Moscow, Idaho observes Pacific Time)", "The use of 'homicide' rather than 'active threat' or 'stabbing' was noted by students as understating the severity" ], "characterCount": 157 }, { "sequence": 2, "type": "update", "timestampApprox": "2:46 p.m. PST on November 13, 2022 (X status ID timestamp)", "channel": "twitter-x", "verbatimText": "Vandal Alert: Investigation continues. Suspect unknown. MPD does not believe there is an active threat. Shelter in place lifted. Remain vigilant.", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/uidaho/status/1591925451966283776", "sourceDescription": "University of Idaho on X/Twitter", "annotations": [ "Posted on the official @uidaho Twitter/X account; text confirmed from the post", "The phrase 'does not believe there is an active threat' was widely criticized given that no suspect had been identified", "Moscow Police Chief James Fry later acknowledged he could not say there was no threat to the community" ], "characterCount": 145 } ], "context": "The [murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_University_of_Idaho_murders) in an off-campus rental house sent shockwaves through the University of Idaho and the small city of Moscow (population approximately 26,000). The initial Vandal Alert was not sent until approximately 1 p.m. PST, roughly nine hours after the estimated time of the attacks. Police initially characterized the incident as a targeted attack and stated they did not believe there was an active threat to the community. With no suspect identified, many students and Moscow residents did not trust those assurances and began an early Thanksgiving exodus from the area. Professors canceled classes, and the university suspended in-person instruction on November 14. The campus remained in a state of heightened anxiety for nearly seven weeks until [Bryan Kohberger](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/idaho-college-student-killings-summary-timeline-rcna63818), a criminology PhD student at neighboring Washington State University, was arrested in Pennsylvania on December 30, 2022. Kohberger eventually [pleaded guilty on July 2, 2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_University_of_Idaho_murders#Plea_agreement_and_sentencing) and was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.", "keyFindings": [ "The Vandal Alert was not sent until approximately nine hours after the estimated time of the murders, a gap discussed extensively in subsequent coverage", "Police stated they did not believe there was an active threat while no suspect had been identified, an assurance many students and residents said they did not trust", "The 48-day gap between the murders and the arrest of Bryan Kohberger left the campus and town in sustained fear" ], "sources": [ { "title": "2022 University of Idaho murders (Wikipedia)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_University_of_Idaho_murders", "type": "encyclopedia" }, { "title": "Vandal Alert tweet: initial homicide notification (University of Idaho on X)", "url": "https://x.com/uidaho/status/1591915738776104960", "type": "official-social-media" }, { "title": "Vandal Alert tweet: Investigation continues (University of Idaho on X)", "url": "https://x.com/uidaho/status/1591925451966283776", "type": "official-social-media" }, { "title": "Idaho college student murders: Summary and timeline (NBC News)", "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/idaho-college-student-killings-summary-timeline-rcna63818", "type": "national-media" }, { "title": "Eerie text University of Idaho issued to students (Tyla)", "url": "https://www.tyla.com/news/crime/idaho-college-murders-prime-video-documentary-university-text-458358-20250715", "type": "national-media" } ], "confidence": "medium", "tags": [ "stabbing", "homicide", "quadruple-murder", "off-campus", "idaho", "moscow", "delayed-notification", "bryan-kohberger", "campus-exodus" ], "dateAdded": "2026-04-04", "lastUpdated": "2026-07-16", "addedBy": "ingestion", "communityResponse": { "sentiment": "negative", "summary": "The initial Vandal Alert (\"Moscow PD is investigating a homicide on King Rd. near campus. Suspect is not known at this time. Stay away from the area and shelter in place.\") was widely described as vague and confusing: it named no victims and gave no count, leaving students and the victims' friends bewildered ([Tyla](https://www.tyla.com/news/crime/idaho-college-murders-prime-video-documentary-university-text-458358-20250715), [KHQ](https://www.khq.com/news/students-at-university-of-idaho-remember-murder-victims-one-year-later/article_f57a353e-8281-11ee-963a-ff87dc5b0034.html)).", "quotes": [ { "text": "It didn't say how many, it didn't say who. Where's Kaylee and Maddy?", "speaker": "Ava Wood, friend and neighbor of the victims", "source": "Tyla", "sourceUrl": "https://www.tyla.com/news/crime/idaho-college-murders-prime-video-documentary-university-text-458358-20250715", "sourceType": "other", "isVerbatimConfirmed": false }, { "text": "when that went out, I remember confusion and taken back cause that doesn't happen in Moscow", "speaker": "University of Idaho graduate, recalling the Vandal Alert", "source": "KHQ (Spokane)", "sourceUrl": "https://www.khq.com/news/students-at-university-of-idaho-remember-murder-victims-one-year-later/article_f57a353e-8281-11ee-963a-ff87dc5b0034.html", "sourceType": "local-media", "isVerbatimConfirmed": false } ], "confidence": "medium" } }