Washington police have released documents detailing an unsolved home invasion that took place in Pullman, Washington, just a few miles from the crime scene of the Idaho students’ murders. The incident, which occurred in October 2021, involved a masked intruder with a knife who targeted a woman in her basement bedroom. The victim described waking up to find the intruder in her room, wearing a full-face burgundy ski mask and holding a knife in their right hand.
According to police reports, the victim managed to kick the intruder in the stomach before they fled the scene, and she was left shaken after the encounter. The officer responding to the call told the victim and her roommates to remain in a locked vehicle as police conducted a sweep of the house and surrounding area. The officer later noted that such violent incidents were rare in Pullman, highlighting the unusual nature of the assault.
Although the case was initially reported, it was marked as ‘inactive’ and remained unsolved until the release of police files following Bryan Kohberger’s arrest in the Idaho killings. The suspect in the Pullman case was described as between 5-feet, 3-inches and 5-feet, 5-inches tall, wearing a maroon mask, and authorities have yet to identify them. However, police suspect a neighbor, Jose Anibal Cruz, and investigated potential links to Kohberger, ultimately ruling him out as a suspect.
The similarities between the Pullman home invasion and the Idaho murders have raised questions about the possibility of a connection, despite the lack of evidence. The case highlights the ongoing investigation into the Idaho crime scene, where Kohberger was arrested and later sentenced last month to life in prison without parole. The police report from Pullman revealed a pattern of unlocked doors and windows, raising concerns about security and the potential for similar incidents to occur in the future.
Experts in criminal justice have noted that Kohberger, who studied crime scene cleanup, may have taken steps to avoid detection, though the DNA left on the knife sheath ultimately led to his identification. The case underscores the importance of forensic techniques and investigative methods in solving such crimes, even when the evidence is not immediately clear.