In a small town like Moscow, Idaho, names usually stick to the people you grew up with. But sometimes, a name becomes part of a much larger, darker narrative. That's exactly what happened with Eric Gower. If you’ve spent any time digging into the tragic 2022 University of Idaho homicides, you’ve likely seen his name pop up in court documents or late-night message board theories.
He wasn't a suspect. He wasn't a student involved in the drama. Honestly, he was just a guy doing his job on a night that changed the town forever.
The Uber Driver in the Spotlight
When the news first broke about the four students killed on King Road, the internet went into a frenzy. People wanted answers immediately. In the vacuum of official information, digital sleuths began dissecting every second of the victims' final hours.
Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were seen at a food truck—the "Grub Truck"—just hours before the tragedy. They were seen getting into a vehicle. For weeks, the question "Who drove them home?" echoed across TikTok and Reddit.
That driver was Eric Gower.
What the Court Documents Actually Say
Let’s look at the facts. In April 2025, the State’s Exhibit List for the trial of Bryan Kohberger (Case No. CR21-22-2805) explicitly listed items related to Gower. These weren't "gotcha" pieces of evidence. They were foundational pieces of the timeline.
- Exhibit S1-83: Text messages between Eric Gower and Kaylee Goncalves starting at 8:40 p.m.
- Exhibit S1-84: A final text exchange at 1:45 a.m.
- Exhibit S1-85 through S1-87: Photos of Gower's car, a Toyota Prius.
The Latah County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed an exigent preservation request for location data associated with Gower’s phone and Uber account. Why? Because in a high-stakes murder investigation, you have to rule out everyone. You verify the driver's route, their timing, and their digital footprint to ensure the victims were safely dropped off.
Basically, Gower’s cooperation provided the "all-clear" for that specific window of time. It confirmed that the girls arrived home safely around 1:56 a.m., narrowing the window for when the actual crime occurred.
Clearing the Air on the Rumor Mill
There was a lot of noise early on. Some people tried to link the "private party" driver to the crime. It’s a classic case of how a normal person can get caught in the crosshairs of a viral investigation.
Gower was a "private party" driver in the sense that the girls had used him before or reached out directly, which is common in small college towns where Uber drivers are few and far between. Police cleared him almost immediately. He wasn't some mysterious figure; he was a documented witness who provided crucial timeline data.
The Reality of Being a Witness in Moscow
Moscow is a tight-knit place. When a name like Eric Gower starts appearing in "Supplemental Reports" and "Exhibit Lists," it can feel heavy.
The sheer volume of data collected from him is staggering. Investigators didn't just look at his texts; they looked at his car from every angle—front driver's side, passenger side, the works. It shows the level of scrutiny everyone near the inner circle of this case faced.
Actionable Insights for Following the Case
If you are following the legal proceedings in Latah County, it is easy to get overwhelmed by names. Here is how to keep the facts straight:
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- Trust the Affidavits: Always go back to the Latah County Sheriff’s Office Public Record Affidavits. They are the only source of truth in a sea of speculation.
- Verify Exhibit Lists: Names like Gower appear on exhibit lists because they represent a link in the "chain of custody" for the victims' final movements. It does not imply guilt.
- Distinguish Roles: Understand the difference between a "Person of Interest" and a "Witness." Gower has consistently been treated as a witness whose digital and physical data helped establish the timeline.
The story of Eric Gower in Moscow, Idaho, is ultimately a reminder of how ordinary lives intersect with extraordinary tragedies. He was the person who ensured two of the victims got home that night, and his digital records became a silent witness in the pursuit of justice.
Following the official court portal is the best way to see how these testimonies and exhibits are used as the trial progresses toward a final verdict.