The house located on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, where the murders of four University of Idaho students took place in November 2022 was torn down Dec. 28, 2023.

The students, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen, were killed inside the home Nov. 13, 2022. Bryan Kohberger, a former graduate student at WSU, was arrested early last year in connection with the killings. The trial is currently ongoing.

The house was donated to the university by the owner following the homicides in early 2023, Jodi Walker, UI executive director of communications, said.

The house was supposed to be torn down in July before the start of the fall semester, according to CNN, but the plan was delayed.

“Since the university acquired the King Road house, we have not made it a secret that we intended to demolish that home,” Walker said. “It is just a daily reminder of the horrific acts that happened there.”

As the trial proceedings continued, it became clear that both the prosecution and the defense had obtained as much evidence from the house as they needed, Walker said. In addition, the jury would not be able to enter the house for purposes of the trial even if they were to request to do so.

“With winter break approaching and knowing that our students would be gone from campus and we could do this in a way that would create another visual for them, we decided to take that time and go ahead and break that house down,” Walker said.

Walker said the public should not be worried about the role of the house in terms of evidence for the ongoing case.

“We had many conversations with the prosecutor, just before the demolition, where they released the house, saying that they had everything from it, would not have any further use for it, and by Idaho code, would not be able to take a jury in there,” she said.

The university recognizes that the demolition of the house is an emotional and sensitive topic for the families of the victims, she said.

“We have been in conversations and communication with the families from the beginning, and there was never any secret that our intention was to demolish that house,” she said. 

Valerie Burdge, WSU senior biology major on the pre-med track, said that she understands why the university went through with the demolition of the house.

“I’ve seen a lot of true crime and a lot of the time those places turn into spectacles,” she said. “I’m sure with the amount of people who have been talking about it over the internet, the ideas and stories people have created surrounding [the house] are very harmful, especially to the victim’s families who have to see all that, and to know that it’s being treated as some sort of landmark for people to come visit and look at.”

Burdge said she could understand both the university’s decision as well as empathize with the concerns of those who were against the demolishing of the house.

“It really depends on how the victim’s families feel, but I would really hope that the university is having some sort of remembrance or something for those students,” she said. “Because they were students.”

Walker said that the university is aware of the importance of remembering the students whose lives were lost, but also believes that the demolition of the house will help the community heal from the tragedy.

“While we know it’s emotional for everyone involved and we certainly will never forget the memory and legacy of those four students who lost their lives there, we also know that it’s our job as a university to help our community to heal and to move forward,” Walker said.

Some students at UI have designed a project in order to honor all former students whose lives were lost during their time at the university, Walker said.

“It will be a healing garden and memorial,” she said. “Within that garden will be a specific memorial that will be for the four that we lost in November 2022.”

There are no plans at present for the site where the house once stood, Walker said. It will currently remain as an empty lot.