The families of four University of Idaho students murdered in November 2022 have filed a lawsuit against Washington State University (WSU), alleging the institution failed to act on repeated complaints about Bryan Kohberger's behaviour before the killings.
The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, accuses WSU of gross negligence, wrongful death and violations of Title IX. It claims administrators ignored numerous reports that Kohberger, then a graduate student and teaching assistant, was stalking and harassing women in the months leading up to the murders.
Kohberger pleaded guilty in July to fatally stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The families' attorneys said investigative records released after sentencing revealed a pattern of institutional failure. The lawsuit states that during Kohberger's one semester at WSU, at least 13 formal complaints were filed against him, but the university did not act urgently.
A WSU spokesperson said: 'Our hearts remain with the families and friends impacted by this horrific tragedy. Because this is a legal matter, we are declining further comment at this time.'
The families are seeking unspecified monetary damages. The lead plaintiffs include Kaylee Goncalves' father Steve Goncalves, Madison Mogen's mother Karen Laramie, Xana Kernodle's father Jeff Kernodle and Ethan Chapin's mother Stacy Chapin.
