Acclaimed author James Patterson will write a true-crime book about the gruesome murders of four Idaho college students — and will gather evidence during the upcoming trial of suspect Brian Kohberger.
Patterson is teaming up with journalist Vicky Ward on the non-fiction work, which “will draw on dozens of exclusive interviews, extensive on-the-ground reporting, and copious court transcripts.”
Publisher Little, Brown and Company announced the project and Skydance Television, the production company, also plans to pick up the rights for a docuseries.
Patterson said, “The last time a true crime story haunted me this deeply was when I covered Jeffrey Epstein in Filthy Rich. The murders in Idaho have captivated the world’s imagination, and I’m as concerned with them as anyone else. Since this all happened in such a small town, there are definitely echoes of In Cold Blood. It’s an exciting challenge and Vicky and I are both eager to explore further.’
Kohberger allegedly brutally stabbed to death his best friends Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, in the early morning of Nov. 13 at their college home in Moscow, Idaho.
James Patterson, one of America’s most prolific authors, is set to write a non-fiction book about the gruesome murders of four University of Idaho students. The book could also become a docuseries
Maddie Mogen (above) Kaylee Goncalves (left) Xana Kernodle (right) and Ethan Chapin (center) – all students at the University of Idaho – were stabbed to death on Nov. 13 in the quiet college town of Moscow
In Cold Blood is Truman Capote’s non-fiction novel about the murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, in 1959. Four members of the family were murdered at home by two ex-convicts.
Ward said the intrigue surrounding the “chilling” murders is deepened by the profile of “sphinx-like” suspect Brian Kohberger, who appeared in court Monday and declined to enter a plea to four murders.
Journalist Vicky Ward co-authored the book
Kohberger, 28, was expected to plead not guilty, but instead opted to use Idaho’s “still” plea, meaning he didn’t plead either way, but could still be tried.
The date of the trial is set for October 2. Ward and Patterson will include the process in their book.
Ward added, “The story of the Idaho murders is as fascinating as it is chilling. You have a small town that is not used to locking its doors.
‘You have a close-knit group of popular, apparently cheerful, good-looking students. And you have an alleged killer, who looks like a sphinx and is a crime student.
“He knows something we don’t. What is it? While careful not to glorify the alleged killer, how could an investigative reporter not unravel this deeply disturbing, horrifying mystery.
“I am privileged to go on this journey with James Patterson, America’s greatest storyteller. Follow us as we dive in.”
The book also addresses Kohberger’s upcoming trial, which is scheduled for Oct. 2. He appeared in court on Monday (pictured) but refused to enter a plea.
Police arrested Kohberger during a raid on his parents’ home in Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania on December 30 and he was flown back to Idaho on January 4 in a small Pilatus PC-12 turboprop plane.
Since returning to Gem State, the alleged killer has been incarcerated in the Latah County Jail, according to prison sources who tell DailyMail.com he spends his time obsessing over TV coverage of the case and has turned to God-encounter with a local pastor every Sunday.
Monday’s appearance, in which Kohberger arrived in court wearing an orange prison suit and looking pale, is his first appearance since he was formally charged with the murders in early January.
Kohberger sat silently as Judge John Judge read his rights and reiterated that he faces the death penalty if found guilty of any of the murder charges before answering “yes” when repeatedly asked if he understood.
The home in Moscow, Idaho, where the murders took place is now boarded up
Best friends Kaylee and Madison were found dead next to each other in bed
Ethan and Xana were found on the floor below, while Xana was discovered slumped on the floor of her bedroom in the off-campus house.
When the four murder charges and one burglary charge were read by Judge Judge, he flipped through his indictment papers and shifted in his seat before his attorney Anne Taylor told the judge that her client would “stand still” if asked to respond. .
The non-plea now means the case will go to trial, with Taylor asking the judge to schedule a six-week trial that now begins Oct. 2.
A title and release date have not yet been announced for Patterson’s book on the case.
The author, whose books have sold more than 425 million copies, has previously written only two other true crime works.
His book Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich came out in 2016 and told the story of the pedophile financier’s years of campaigning against young women.
Patterson also co-authored All-American Murder: The Rise and Fall of Aaron Hernandez, the Superstar Wise Life Ended on Murderers’ Row – about the demise of the former tight end of the New England Patriots.