The Idaho Four College Murders

The Idaho Four College Murders

Author: Mamamia Podcasts August 13, 2025 Duration: 1:04:59

What began as a typical game day celebration for University of Idaho students would end in unimaginable horror on Saturday, November 12, 2022. 

Xana Kernodle, a marketing junior, spent the day with friends, including her boyfriend Ethan Chapin and housemates Dylan, Bethany, Kaylee and Maddie at their shared home on 1122 King Road. After parties and celebrations, the group returned home in the early hours of Sunday morning.

At around 4am, Dylan heard disturbing sounds. When she cracked her door open, Dylan saw a masked man with bushy eyebrows holding what looked like a vacuum cleaner. The next day, when upstairs roommates wouldn't answer their phones, friends discovered the bodies of Xana, Ethan, Kaylee and Maddie - all brutally stabbed to death.

Vicky Ward, co-author of The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy, joins Claire to explore this devastating case. You can find her book here

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

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CREDITS 

Guest: Vicky Ward

Host: Claire Murphy

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

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Gemma Bath hosts True Crime Conversations, a podcast from Mamamia Podcasts that delves into infamous criminal cases from Australia and around the world. Rather than just recounting facts, each episode is built around a direct conversation with someone who has a unique, often personal connection to the story. You might hear from a detective who worked the case, a journalist who covered the trial, a family member seeking answers, or a forensic expert who examined the evidence. This approach brings a tangible, human dimension to stories that can sometimes feel distant or sensationalised. The tone is engaging and thoughtful, focusing on the nuances and the people affected, rather than just the shock value. It’s for anyone who appreciates a deeper, more conversational entry into the true crime genre, where the emphasis is on understanding the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ from those who were actually there. Listening to this podcast feels like being part of a serious, yet accessible, discussion about some of the most compelling and complex crimes in recent history.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

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