91 pages • 3-hour read
The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy
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PrologueChapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide features discussion of death and alcohol use.
Prologue, Chapter 1 Summary: “Wenatchee, Washington: November 13, 2022”
While driving back to Moscow, Idaho, from the nearby state of Washington, Moscow police chief James Fry learns of the murders of four young people at 1122 King Road. Fry knows that this investigation will be too large for his department to handle and that they’ll likely need to call in the state and the FBI. He trusts that his captain, Tyson Berrett, is doing everything right at the crime scene. He confirms that Berrett has reached out to Bill Thompson, the county prosecutor.
Fry knows that his officers will need mental health support. He asks about Brett Payne, the department’s detective corporal, who will head the investigation. Driving home, Fry speaks to many others on the phone. These include Dr. Rand Walker, a local therapist, and Chief Gary Jenkins, head of the Washington State University police. Jenkins offers assistance, but Fry says it’s not needed at this time. Berrett shares with Fry that a sheath for a knife has been found at the crime scene.
Prologue, Chapter 2 Summary: “One Hour Later”
Chief Fry dreads giving death notifications. Student deaths are not unusual—in 2013 he’d had to notify the parents of a college student, Joseph Wiederrick, who’d frozen to death outdoors while intoxicated—though murders are. Fry is proud of his efforts to protect the local youth from “over-the-top college drinking” (10). He has worked hard to create a good relationship between the police and the community and knows that his message is more important than ever: “The Moscow police, on his watch, are to be trusted, not feared” (11).
Prologue, Chapter 3 Summary: “1122 King Road: Moscow, Idaho: Two Hours Earlier”
Officer Nunes radios Sergeant Shaine Gunderson, who drives to King Road. On his way, Gunderson calls Captain Tyson Berrett, who says he’s already sent patrol officers to secure the crime scene. Berrett is experienced, having worked Moscow’s previous famous homicide, in which John Lee shot and killed three people, including his adoptive mother. Upon arriving at the King Road house, Berrett begins the checklist of things necessary to begin the investigation and secure the crime scene. The officers begin asking questions of the people there, starting with Hunter Johnson. The first emergency vehicle to arrive is an ambulance, which stays only a few minutes before being sent away by the police as unnecessary.
Prologue Analysis
By narrating the actions and thoughts of the Moscow Police Department as the news of the murders comes in, the Prologue establishes the small-town setting and introduces key characters. Chief Fry and his officers are portrayed as skilled professionals who follow protocols and lay a strong foundation for the work to come as larger law enforcement organizations get involved in the case. By foregrounding the Moscow Police Department’s work at the outset, the authors dispel any suspicion that the local police were incompetent or sloppy with their work, accusations that will be leveled against them as the media frenzy around the case intensifies. References to previous deaths and murders in the area provide evidence that the police department is not wholly without experience in solving serious crimes.
The discussion of Wiederrick’s death provides characterization for Fry, establishing his deep sense of compassion and concern for his community. The efforts Fry takes to curb out-of-control college drinking demonstrate that Fry is responsive to the needs of the area and deploys his resources in a way that is constructive rather than punitive. Altogether, the Prologue introduces the reader to the Moscow Police Department, provides assurance that the police will approach the case carefully and knowledgably, and reveals the significance of these events to the community.
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