The 28-year-old man suspected of killing four University of Idaho students was reportedly stopped by police twice as he and his father drove from Washington to Pennsylvania prior to his arrest.
The suspect, who will not be named per Daily Wire policy, traveled about 2,500 miles with his father just weeks after allegedly killing Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Madison Mogen, 21, NBC-affiliate KTVB 7 reported. The suspect’s attorney, Jason LaBar, told the outlet that his client was pulled over twice in Indiana during the trip, though it is unclear who was driving at the time.
“I don’t know whether they were speeding or not or if they were even issued a ticket,” LaBar said. “I just know that they were pulled over in Indiana almost back to back. I believe once for speeding and once for following too closely to a car in front of them.”
LaBar also told the outlet that he has been updating his client on what is being said about the suspect online.
“I am giving him updates. I spoke to [the suspect] this morning for an hour last night for 20 minutes, really updating him on some of the allegations that are coming out but mainly allegations that have nothing to do with the facts and evidence in the case but really the cross country trip,” LaBar told the outlet. “You know, just to clarify those types of facts as to why he ended up in Pennsylvania and whether or not he was in Pullman at the time of the acts of … the homicides.”
The suspect, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in criminal justice and criminology at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, worked as a teacher’s assistant and was reportedly a tough grader. That changed in the weeks after the murders, one former student told CNN on Monday.
“Definitely around then, he started grading everybody just 100s. Pretty much if you turned something in, you were getting high marks. He stopped leaving notes. He seemed preoccupied,” the student said. “The couple times that he did come after, or around that time period, he had a little more facial hair, stubble, less well-kept. He was a little quieter.”
The suspect previously studied psychology at DeSales University in Pennsylvania. While at DeSales, the suspect reportedly worked as a student investigator for a survey exploring motives behind crimes. One question in the survey reportedly asked, “Why did you choose that victim or target over others?” Another asked, “After committing the crime, what were you thinking and feeling?”
During a press conference Friday afternoon, Moscow Police Chief James Fry explained the heartache felt by the Moscow, Idaho, community following the murders.
“These murders have shaken our community, and no arrest will ever bring back these young students,” Fry said. “However, we do believe justice will be found through the criminal process.”