Cold case files are being examined by investigators in Pennsylvania counties where Bryan Kohberger, the prime suspect in the Idaho killings, attended college.
Kohberger, 28, had attended Northampton Community College and DeSales University, both in Pennsylvania, before being apprehended in December in connection with the stabbing murders of four University of Idaho students.
“Your natural question is to start wondering, ‘Is this guy wanted?’” Terence Houck, the district attorney for Northampton County, said.
Although officials had previously said that Kohberger had no prior convictions, Houck claimed he had instructed his team to look into any potential connections between the suspect and any nearby cold cases.
Kohberger’s height, weight, technique, and other features were searched for in unsolved cases using a crime information center by Northampton County officials, but no matches were discovered.
“In fact, nothing with respect to Kohberger has come about in our investigations of cold cases or unsolved cases to this point, but we always continue to investigate and pursue leads.
Houck’s actions were similar to those of Jim Martin, the district attorney for Lehigh County, whose jurisdiction includes the vicinity of DeSales University.
“The first thing I did after Kohberger’s arrest was ask the director of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center to see if we had any contact with Mr. Kohberger,” Martin said in an interview.
Martin’s investigation, however, only uncovered a 911 call Kohberger made when his vehicle was immobilized behind a bike trail fence.
For the stabbing killings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on November 13, Kohberger was apprehended on December 30 at his parents’ Albrightsville home.
No explanation for the killings has been given.
He had a history of heroin addiction, according to previous friends, and one former FBI agent blamed his alleged actions on having a “incel complex.”
