A man is detained for the murder of four university students in Idaho

The 28-year-old defendant was accused with first-degree murder in connection with the students' stabbing deaths.

In connection with the stabbing murders of four University of Idaho students more than six weeks ago, a PhD candidate in criminology at Washington State University has been detained and charged with first-degree murder, according to authorities.

According to James Fry, the police chief in Moscow, Idaho, where the institution is located, Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, was detained on Friday in the state of Pennsylvania.

Prosecutor Bill Thompson of Latah County, Idaho, charged Kohberger with felony burglary and four counts of first-degree murder.

The little college town was rocked by the triple murders.

On the morning of November 13, the three female victims' off-campus home, where they lived, was where the four victims—three women and a man in his early 20s—were discovered fatally stabbed. One of the roommates' boyfriend was the fourth person to die.

Unharmed, they appeared to have been sleeping through the deaths were two other female roommates who were present at the time. According to police, when the dead were originally discovered, emergency-911 was called using one of the survivors' cellphones.

In anticipation of a hearing on Tuesday to decide whether he will refuse extradition and return voluntarily to Idaho to face charges in the well-known case, Kohberger remained in jail without bond.

"This investigation is not over yet. In actuality, it's a fresh start, Thompson said at a press conference.

Multiple stab wounds were sustained by the four victims, who were identified as Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Avondale, Arizona; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho.

All four were likely dozing off when they were attacked, according to autopsies. Some had injuries from defense. Police reported there was no evidence of a sexual assault.