Ep 12. The Idaho Student Murders

The episode The Idaho Student Murders from season 35 of the primetime news show 48 Hours takes an in-depth look at the shocking murders of two young college students in Boise, Idaho. The episode features interviews with law enforcement officials, family members, and friends of the victims, as well as footage from crime scenes and courtrooms.

On the night of October 22, 2016, 22-year-old Boise State University student Sierra Bush and her 18-year-old friend, Angellika Arndt, were enjoying a night out at a local bar in downtown Boise. The two women left the bar around 2:00 a.m. and were never seen alive again.

The following day, friends of the women became worried when they failed to show up for a planned hiking trip. Upon investigation, their bodies were discovered in a remote field near the small town of Caldwell, Idaho, about 20 miles west of Boise. Both women had been shot multiple times at close range.

Law enforcement officials quickly launched an investigation into the double homicide, but struggled to find any leads or suspects in the case. It wasn't until ten months later, in August 2017, that a break in the case came from an unlikely source -- a 21-year-old man named Jonathan Llana.

Llana, who was originally from California but had been staying in Boise, walked into a local TV station and confessed to the murders of Bush and Arndt. He claimed that he had acted alone and that the killings were the result of a botched robbery attempt. However, as investigators delved deeper into Llana's background, they discovered a disturbing pattern of violent behavior and connections to a number of other unsolved crimes in the area.

In the episode, 48 Hours delves into the intricacies of the investigation, including the painstaking process of sifting through hundreds of leads and tips, and the emotional toll the case took on the victims' families. The episode also explores the legal proceedings that followed Llana's confession, including his trial and eventual sentencing.

Throughout the episode, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in solving a high-profile murder case, and the dedication that law enforcement officials exhibit in their pursuit of justice for the victims and their families. The Idaho Student Murders is a gripping episode that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end.