A trailer was released for Amazon’s upcoming true crime documentary, One Night in Idaho: The College Murders, and it looks to be a fascinating, in-depth analysis of the horrifying quadruple murder of four University of Idaho students.
If you, like me, have been watching with horrified fascination as this case has unfolded, One Night in Idaho seems like it will be a revelatory experience. Here’s everything you need to know about this upcoming true crime documentary.
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The Case Is Terrifyingly Strange
On November 13, 2022, four college students — Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin— were stabbed to death in the off-campus rental house that Mogen and Kernodle rented. (Chapin, Kernodle’s boyfriend, was sleeping over at the house, while Goncalves was a former resident of the house who was visiting her friends.) Two other roommates lived in the house and were not attacked.
Based on a combination of DNA and traffic camera evidence, police arrested 28-year-old PhD candidate and teaching assistant Bryan Christopher Kohberger on December 30, 2022.
The Doc Shines a Light on the Families and Friends of the Victims
One Night in Idaho will focus on those close to the victims, featuring exclusive interviews with Stacey and Jim Chapin (parents of Ethan Chapin), and Karen and Scott Laramie (parents of Madison Mogen).
In addition to family members, the true crime docuseries also features interviews with the friends of the victims, some of whom were victims of online harassment and suspicion after the murders. One Night in Idaho looks like it will raise interesting questions about the dangers of amateur sleuthing and the profound impact that social media can have on those adjacent to a tragedy.
The Filmmaking Team Is Top Tier
The directors and producers of One Night in Idaho are extremely experienced in the world of true crime documentaries. Liz Garbus, the Emmy-winning producer behind Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna and Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, directs the doc alongside Matthew Galkin, whose work includes Kevorkian and Murder in Big Horn.
The experience and body of work from these filmmakers suggest that this story will be handled with sensitivity, nuance and respect, while remaining gripping and informative.
In a press release shared by Variety, Garbus and Galkin said, “We are honored that the Chapin and Laramie families have decided to exclusively collaborate with us to shine a light on the personal stories of Ethan and Madison, as well as Xana and Kaylee. Our unparalleled access to the families and closest friends will allow us to paint intimate and authentic portraits of all four victims and their lives at the University of Idaho, which were so tragically cut short.”
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If you’re a true crime fanatic, mark your calendars for July 11, when One Night in Idaho: The College Murders will be released on Amazon Prime Video. A scripted series based on the murders is also in the works.
