A newly released Idaho State Police interview involving Peter Elgort Riaga, a close friend of Ethan Chapin and former boyfriend of Xana Kernodle, is generating fresh discussion about the final hours before the tragic murders of the four University of Idaho students.
The interview, obtained through public records requests and recently shared online, provides additional insight into the timeline surrounding Ethan and Xana on the night of November 12-13, 2022. According to Peter, he was among the last people to see the couple alive before they returned to the King Road residence.
Peter explained that he spent part of the evening with Ethan and Xana at a Sigma Chi fraternity event. After the gathering ended around 1 a.m., the group briefly stopped at his apartment before returning to the fraternity lodge. He recalled Ethan collecting a few personal items, including his formal jacket, before he and Xana left. Peter estimated the couple departed around 1:30 a.m. and said he never saw them again.
One aspect of the interview attracting attention is the absence of any discussion about a rumored altercation that has circulated online since the early days of the investigation. Various internet theories have suggested Ethan may have been involved in a dispute at Sigma Chi prior to the murders. However, during the interview, investigators never directly referenced any fight, and Peter did not mention any conflict involving Ethan or Xana.
This omission has fueled renewed speculation among online observers. Some believe the alleged altercation may never have occurred, while others question why investigators did not explore the topic if it had been considered a significant lead. To date, no official evidence has publicly confirmed that a fight played any role in the case.
The interview also highlights Peter’s close relationship with both victims. He described knowing Xana since his freshman year and stated that he was particularly close to both her and Ethan. Yet some viewers noted that the conversation never explicitly focused on his previous romantic relationship with Xana, prompting further curiosity among those following the case.
Another point generating discussion is Peter’s description of the victims’ final movements. According to his account, Ethan and Xana never arrived at a neighboring fraternity house where some friends later gathered. That detail appears consistent with the known timeline placing the couple back at the King Road residence during the early morning hours.
The interview also touches on Peter’s familiarity with the other victims. He stated that he knew Maddie Mogen somewhat but was not especially close to her. He also indicated that he did not know Kaylee Goncalves particularly well, a statement that mirrors comments made by several other individuals interviewed during the investigation.
For many followers of the case, the newly released interview provides another piece of the puzzle while simultaneously raising additional questions. Although it does not appear to reveal any major breakthroughs, it offers a clearer picture of the final interactions between friends during the hours before the murders occurred.
As more police interviews continue to emerge through public records requests, independent analysts and members of the public are carefully examining every detail in hopes of better understanding the events surrounding one of the most closely followed criminal cases in recent American history.
Whether Peter’s account ultimately answers lingering questions or simply adds new ones remains a matter of debate. What is certain is that interest in the Idaho 4 case remains intense, and every newly released document continues to draw significant public attention.
