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Police share ingenious way they tracked down suspect accused of killing friends

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Bryan Kohberger has been charged in connection with the killings (Image: ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)
Bryan Kohberger has been charged in connection with the killings (Image: ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

The suspect accused of murdering four students in their beds was tracked down using genealogy databases, police have revealed.

Law enforcement sources said Bryan Kohberger was tracked down by linking DNA evidence from the crime scene to genealogy database.

Kohberger, who has since been charged with the murders, was arrested on Friday December 30, six weeks after four students were stabbed to death in their Moscow, Idaho, US, rental student home.

The bodies of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20 and Ethan Chapin, 20, whose bodies were found stabbed to death in their beds.

The suspect has been charged with four counts of first degree murder and felony burglary. He was arrested in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, where he had been celebrating Christmas with his family.

Man who 'killed 4 students' was 'creepy' regular at brewery and 'harassed women' eiqrkirrittprwMan who 'killed 4 students' was 'creepy' regular at brewery and 'harassed women'
Police share ingenious way they tracked down suspect accused of killing friendsThe final photo of the victims, taken just hours before they were killed: Madison Mogen, 21, top left, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, bottom left, Ethan Chapin, 20, center, and Xana Kernodle, 20, right

He currently awaits extradition to Idaho with his hearing expected at 8pm GMT Tuesday January 3. He expected to waive his right to contest extradition.

Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar, who is representing the suspect, has said Kohberger "is eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible."

Kohberger is a PHD student studying at nearby Washington State University.

Police share ingenious way they tracked down suspect accused of killing friendsBryan Kohberger's arrest mugshot (Monroe County Correctional Facil)

He is based at the uni's Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology in Pullman, Washington, according to the department's website.

Pullman is just a 15-minute drive from the home where the four students were butchered.

He graduated this year from DeSales University in Pennsylvania, which the university has confirmed. He received a bachelor's degree in 2020 and completed graduate studies in June 2022.

His keen interest in criminology has added a sinister turn to the already grim case.

On December 7, investigators asked the public for help in finding a white Hyundai Elantra sedan seen near the Moscow student home around the time of the killings.

Police share ingenious way they tracked down suspect accused of killing friendsA photo taken from Bryan Kohberger's social media

By the next day the police department had to direct tips to a special FBI call centre because so many were coming in. By mid-December, investigators were working through nearly 12,000 tips and had identified more than 22,000 vehicles matching that make and model.

NBC News have reported that a white Hyundai Elantra was towed from the Albrightsville house where Kohberger was arrested.

Husband and wife enjoy Xmas dinner days before she's charged with his murderHusband and wife enjoy Xmas dinner days before she's charged with his murder

Moscow Police Chief James Fry said that within an hour of Kohberger being identified as the person arrested over the killings, the Moscow Police Department's tip line was flooded with more than 400 calls.

Charlie Jones

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