Crime

7 notable crime stories from Idaho in 2025, including prison criticism

Stories by Idaho Statesman journalists, with AI summarization

Idaho has seen several significant crime stories in 2025. The Bryan Kohberger trial continued to advance, with prosecutors presenting a lengthy expert witness list and newly released texts and 911 call details shedding more light on the University of Idaho homicides. A Boise man was sentenced to life in prison for a fatal Nampa stabbing, with the judge stating that he would "die in prison" for the crime.

Another story focused on prison conditions, as the family of an incarcerated person killed by his cellmate criticized the Idaho corrections system, calling out a lack of safety. Lawmakers also responded to the ambush escape from a Boise hospital by pushing for cellphone jamming in prisons after discovering a contraband phone aided the plan.

By all accounts, Milo Warnock was a hard worker, curious, kind-hearted, funny, intelligent and intellectual, someone who reveled in deep thoughts and deep discussion about deep ideas. He was killed by a fellow prisoner on Dec. 10 at the Idaho State Correctional Center.

NO. 1: IDAHO PRISONER ACCUSED OF BEATING CELLMATE TAKES PLEA DEAL. FAMILY CRITICIZES PRISON SYSTEM

“I believe the very lowest expectation we should have of our prisons is to keep its residents safe,” the man’s sister said. “That means safe from each other and safe from themselves.” | Published January 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee

The Ada County Courthouse in Boise, April 1, 2024.

NO. 2: ‘JUST A MATTER OF TIME:’ BOISE MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON AFTER SHOOTING ANOTHER MAN

“This is not the first time that the defendant has been drunk, angry and introduced a firearm. This event has been in the works for years.” | Published January 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee

Canyon County Courthouse, pictured Feb. 22, 2024.

NO. 3: ‘YOU’RE GOING TO DIE IN PRISON:’ JUDGE HANDS DOWN LIFE SENTENCE FOR FATAL NAMPA STABBING

The prosecution said the Boise man discussed the murder with “disturbing indifference” in recorded jail calls. | Published January 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee

Ingrid Batey, an Idaho special assistant attorney general, addresses Judge John Judge during a hearing Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow.

NO. 4: IDAHO PROSECUTORS REVEAL SOME EXPERT WITNESSES FOR BRYAN KOHBERGER’S BOISE MURDER TRIAL

State attorneys will call as many as 25 witnesses from a variety of expertise areas to try to prove the suspect’s guilt at trial in the Idaho student murder case. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kevin Fixler

Four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death Nov. 13 at this home on King Road in Moscow. By Angela Palermo

NO. 5: TEXTS, 911 CALL UNSEALED IN KOHBERGER’S CASE REVEAL NEW DETAILS ABOUT IDAHO HOMICIDES

“They saw some man in their house last night,” one of the callers told 911. | Published March 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee Kevin Fixler

Three Idaho Department of Correction officers were shot at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise early Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Boise police said they arrested two suspects in connection to the attack. By Sarah A. Miller

NO. 6: CELLPHONE AIDED PRISONER IN BOISE HOSPITAL AMBUSH. IDAHO’S SENATORS TAKE AIM AT PROBLEM

“Idaho has seen firsthand the grave danger contraband cellphones pose to the public, correctional officers, and inmates,” said U.S. Senator Jim Risch. | Published March 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee

A private security firm is now tasked with the duty of protecting the crime scene at a home in the 1100 block of King Road in Moscow, Idaho. Police found the bodies of four University of Idaho students, who were stabbed to death, at the home on Nov. 13. By Angela Palermo

NO. 7: HOURS AFTER KILLING OF 4 IDAHO STUDENTS, 911 CALL WAS MADE IN MOSCOW. LISTEN TO IT HERE

The phone call the morning of Nov. 13, 2022, prompted police to respond to an off-campus home on King Road, where they found four students dead. | Published March 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kevin Fixler

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.