How the Idaho Murders Shattered a Safe College Town

Our country loves a mystery. Millions of us are captivated by true crime. We hang on to every headline, every breaking news update, every tidbit we can get our hands on. But eventually the news cycle moves on — and so do we, oftentimes forgetting the very real human impact of true crime.

But there are some stories that we just can't move on from. And one of those stories happened one Awful Night in Idaho — that awful night when four college students, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Maddie Mogen, went to sleep at a home just steps from their university campus, and were brutally murdered in the early morning hours.

That one awful night led to weeks of fear and a nationwide manhunt, and the eventual arrest of Bryan Kohberger. That one awful night forever changed four families, countless friends, and rocked an entire community.

A full year after Bryan Kohberger stood in that courtroom and entered a plea deal in the murders of these four college students, there are still so many questions left unanswered. Most importantly — why?

Our guest has followed this story from that one awful night in Idaho through the manhunt, the arrest, and the plea deal. She's helping us understand not only what happened, but what questions may never be answered. Reporter Amanda Roley joins Laura on this episode of Following Leads: The Podcast.

Following Leads is a weekly video podcast hosted by Laura Hettiger that follows the stories everyone is talking about—and the people living through them. From missing-person cases and major investigations to high-profile trials and national tragedies, each episode goes beyond the headlines to explore the questions, consequences, and human experiences at the center of the story.

Through interviews, analysis, and powerful storytelling, Following Leads uncovers the connections between crime, justice, family, and community. Because the most important lead is often the one that reveals how real lives are changed forever.

A production of The Following Leads Podcast Network & Gray Media

Executive Producer/Creator: Wade Smith

Host/Co-Creator: Laura Hettiger