Idaho College Murders: Indiana Officials Reveal New Detail About Bryan Kohberger Cross-Country Road Trip

The two traffic stops involving Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the University of Idaho murders, and his father during their journey to the family's residence in Pennsylvania were determined to be unrelated to the investigation of the November 13 quadruple homicide, according to authorities.

On Dec. 15, 2022, Kohberger, 28, was pulled over twice within 10 minutes along the highway east of Indianapolis, officials said.

The first stop, at 10:41 a.m., was conducted by a Hancock County Sheriff’s deputy, and the second stop was done by an Indiana State trooper, officials said. Both stops were for following too closely and both officers sent the Kohbergers on their way with just a warning.

On Dec. 30, 2022, Kohberger was arrested at his parents’ house in Pennsylvania for the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, as Front Page Detectives previously reported.

Sources claimed law enforcement had been tracking the pair as they drove across the country and the FBI requested the Indiana traffic stops.

However, the FBI denied those reports and Indiana officials now have done the same.

According to the Idaho Statesman, both stops were routine drug interdiction checks.

“His (Sheriff Sgt. Nick Ernstes) only task was to seek out and stop vehicles to look for drug trafficking and other interstate criminal activity,” Hancock County Sheriff’s Captain Robert Harris said, noting that the Kohbergers were in a vehicle with Washington state plates. “He did not see any of the typical indicators to warrant further investigation for illegal drug activity, so he released the suspect with a verbal warning for following another vehicle too closely.”

Harris added that Ernstes was not aware of any “be on the lookouts” for the Kohberger vehicle and he “was not directed to stop the vehicle by anyone.”

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A police report on the second stop stated Kohberger was following a semi-trailer at an “unsafe distance.”

In a press release, state police said: “At the time of this stop, there was no information available on a suspect for the crime in Idaho, to include identifying information or any specific information related to the license plate state or number of the white Hyundai Elantra which was being reported in the media to have been seen in or around where the crime occurred.”

Former New York Times reporter Howard Blum originally published the article on the online site Air Mail regarding the source telling him about the FBI tracking Kohberger. He told the Statesman that he stands by his reporting.