Acclaimed author James Patterson will pen a true crime book about the grisly murders of four students in Idaho – and will gather material at the upcoming trial of suspect Brian Kohberger.
Patterson has teamed up with journalist Vicky Ward for the non-fiction work, which will ‘draw from 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 option 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 Idaho murders have captured imaginations all around the world and I’m as caught up in it as anyone else. Because all of this happened in such a small town, there are definitely echoes of In Cold Blood. It’s a compelling challenge, and Vicky and I are both eager to investigate further.’
Kohberger allegedly brutally stabbed to death best friends Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, in the early morning of November 13 in their university home in Moscow, Idaho.
James Patterson, one of America’s most prolific authors, will write a non-fiction book about the grisly murders of four University of Idaho students. The book could also become a docuseries
Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (left) Xana Kernodle (right) and Ethan Chapin (center) – all students at the University of Idaho – were knifed to death on November 13 in the quiet college town of Moscow
In Cold Blood is Truman Capote’s non-fiction novel about the Clutter family murders in Holcomb, Kansas, in 1959. Four members of the Clutter family were killed at their family home by two ex-convicts.
Ward said the intrigue around the ‘chilling’ murders is deepened by the profile of ‘sphinx-like’ suspect Brian Kohberger, who appeared in court on Monday and refused to enter a plea on four counts of murder.
Journalist Vicky Ward will co-author the book
Criminology student Kohberger, 28, had been expected to plead not guilty but instead, chose to use Idaho’s ‘standing silent’ plea which means he has not pleaded either way but can still be tried.
The trial date has been set for October 2. Ward and Patterson will include the trial in their book.
Ward added: ‘The story of the Idaho murders is as fascinating as it is chilling. You have a small town unused to locking its doors.
‘You have a tight-knit group of popular, seemingly happy-go-lucky, good-looking college kids. And you have an alleged murderer, who is sphinx-like and a student of crime.
‘He knows something we don’t. What is it? While taking care not to glorify the alleged killer, how could any investigative reporter not want to unspool this deeply unsettling, horrific mystery.
‘I am privileged to be going on this journey with James Patterson, America’s greatest storyteller. Follow us as we dive-in.’
The book will also detail Kohberger’s upcoming trial, which is set for October 2. He appeared in court on Monday (pictured) but refused to enter a plea
Police apprehended Kohberger during a raid on his parents’ Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania home on December 30 and he was flown back to Idaho in a small Pilatus PC-12 turboprop plane on January 4.
Since being returned to the Gem State, the alleged killer has been locked up at the Latah County Jail, with prison sources telling DailyMail.com he spends his time obsessing over TV coverage of the case and has turned to God – meeting with a local pastor every Sunday.
Monday’s appearance, which saw Kohberger arrive in court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and looking pale, is his first since being formally charged with the killings 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 responding ‘yes’ when asked if he understood repeatedly.
The Moscow, Idaho, home where the murders took place is now boarded up
Best friends Kaylee and Madison were discovered dead in bed next to each other
Ethan and Xana were found on the floor below, with Xana discovered slumped over on the floor of her bedroom in the off-campus home
Then, as the four murder charges and one of burglary were read out by Judge Judge, he sat flicking through his indictment papers and shifting in his seat before his lawyer Anne Taylor told the judge her client would be ‘standing silent’ when asked to respond.
The non-plea now means the case will proceed to trial, with Taylor asking the judge to schedule a six week trial that is now set to commence on October 2.
A title and release date have not yet been announced for Patterson’s book about the case.
The author, whose books have sold more than 425 million copies, has only written two other true crime works previously.
His book Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich was released in 2016 and told the story of the pedophile financier’s yearslong campaign of abuse against young women.
Patterson also co-authored All-American Murder: The Rise and Fall of Aaron Hernandez, the Superstar Whose Life Ended on Murderers’ Row – about the downfall of the former New England Patriots tight end.
