Bodycam footage released this week showed an Idaho sheriff’s deputy pulling over future killer Bryan Kohberger, who cordially answered questions nearly three months before slaughtering four college students and launching a nationwide manhunt.
Kohberger was going at least 42 mph in a 35 mph zone near West Pullman and Farm Roads at about 11:40 p.m. on Aug. 21. 2022, according to an incident report written by Latah County Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Duke.
The deputy asked Kohberger if he was wearing his seatbelt and the motorist copped to it.
“Were you wearing your seat belt when I stopped you?” the deputy inquired.
“No,” he answered. “Just being honest with you.”
“I appreciate that,” the deputy responded.
After running Kohberger’s name through the system, the deputy let him off for the speeding but wrote a ticket for failure to wear seatbelts.
Kohberger appeared to be slightly annoyed about being ticketed, after answering the deputy’s seatbelt question.
The deputy explained seatbelts were a departmental enforcement emphasis and he had no real choice but to cite him for the $10 infraction.
The Washington State University doctoral student was allowed to drive away in his white Hyundai Elantra that evening.
That vehicle played a key role in the search for and eventual arrest of Kohberger on Dec. 30 back in his native Pennsylvania.
Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in the deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, at an off-campus house.
Kohberger admitted to the killings and waived his right to appeal in exchange for prosecutors’ agreeing not to seek a death sentence. The deal prevented a trial that had been set to start in August.
Shanshan Dong and Austin Mullen contributed.
