The University of Idaho announced on Thursday that the home where four students were brutally murdered over a year ago will finally be torn down. The three-story house on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, will begin demolition on December 28th, after more than 13 months since the tragic event took place. The victims, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, were found stabbed to death inside the residence on November 13th, 2022.

University President Scott Green addressed the decision in a school-wide memo, acknowledging that the house serves as a grim reminder of the heinous act that occurred there. While he expressed understanding for the emotional connection the victims' families may have to the property, he emphasized the importance of removing it to allow for the community's collective healing to continue.

Since early 2023, the house had been scheduled for demolition after the owner donated it to the university. However, officials hesitated to set a specific date due to the pending trial of Bryan Kohberger, who stands accused of carrying out the quadruple murder. Despite the absence of a court date for Kohberger, the university decided to proceed with the demolition during winter break, in order to minimize the impact on students residing in the area.

Kohberger, a former criminology student, was arrested in December 2022, just weeks after the slayings occurred. The arrest came after authorities allegedly found his DNA on a knife sheath discovered at the crime scene. While Kohberger's defense team was granted a final opportunity to search the property for evidence, including photographs, measurements, and drone footage, the demolition plans moved forward regardless of the victims' families' pleas to preserve the house until after the conclusion of the trial.

Shanon Gray, an attorney representing the Goncalves family, expressed concern over the demolition, citing the home's enormous evidentiary value and its significance as a crucial piece of evidence in the case. Gray lamented the university's dismissal of the victims' families' opinions and its pursuit of self-interests. The families intend to release a statement regarding the official demolition date on Friday.

The university expects the demolition process to span several days, as it carefully clears the site. Meanwhile, a trial date for Kohberger has yet to be established. The suspect was apprehended in Pennsylvania on December 30th, 2022, and in May, he was indicted on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.

As the University of Idaho prepares to demolish the house, it also plans to construct a healing garden in its place. The decision to create this space was announced in February, with hopes that it will foster a sense of peace and provide solace for the community after the tragedy that unfolded within the walls of the home.