Idaho Murderer Bryan Kohberger Stabbed Xana Kernodle Over 50 Times

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More details are coming to light on Bryan Kohberger‘s horrific crimes.

Following the conviction of a criminology student who was handed four consecutive life sentences for the 2022 murders of four college students – Kaylee Goncalves (age 21), Madison Mogen (also 21), Xana Kernodle (20), and Ethan Chapin (20) – the autopsy reports of the victims were made public, offering fresh insights into the heartbreaking manner in which the self-admitted murderer took their lives.

On November 12, 2022, four students from the University of Idaho were tragically discovered deceased in an off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho. Subsequent investigations led police to suspect Brian Kohberger, as they found male DNA matching his on a knife sheath near the bed where one of the victims’ bodies was located, according to NBC News.

It has now come to light, based on autopsy reports from the Moscow Police Department released on July 23 and obtained by NBC News, that Kernodle’s body had over 50 stab wounds. The authorities have concluded that most of these injuries were inflicted as she was attempting to protect herself.

Simultaneously, as reported by the Idaho Statesman after acquiring a police report, Kernodle’s partner, Chapin, tragically lost his life due to severe injuries caused by sharp objects, including a stab wound that pierced his neck and severed the jugular vein.

Mogen suffered fatal wounds inflicted by instruments with sharp edges or points, as detailed in a study published by the National Library of Medicine. These injuries could have been either deep cuts or stabs.

According to an autopsy report obtained by NBC News, Goncalves died due to asphyxiation and also had both sharp and blunt trauma injuries.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Blunt trauma” refers to an injury caused by a strong impact that can lead to fractures, internal or external bleeding due to deep cuts or wounds, and serious head injuries such as severe concussions.

A police report, acquired by The Statesman, indicates that the assault on Goncalves left her nearly unidentifiable, as stated by authorities.

At the beginning of this past month, Kohberger admitted his guilt for taking the lives of all four students. In court, he answered affirmatively when questioned if his actions were carried out “voluntarily, illegally, intentionally, and with premeditation and malice in advance.

Nonetheless, the 30-year-old individual hasn’t disclosed the reasons behind the murders, and authorities have stated that they can’t establish a connection between him and the victims nor provide a plausible motive.

In a court hearing on July 23, as reported by ABC News, Judge Steven Hippler stated: “Although we can now identify who perpetrated these horrific acts of wickedness, there remains a mystery – something we might never uncover – which is the reason behind them. By persistently seeking the answer to why, we unwittingly grant Mr. Kohberger significance, attention, and power that he seems to desire.

As the proceedings drew to a close, I found myself among the group that included one of the survivors’ close companions, Dylan Mortensen, who had the opportunity to address Kohberger about the pain and hardship he had caused them all.

That evening’s events turned out to be a life-altering moment, as Mortensen testified. The loss of four extraordinary, authentic, and caring individuals from our world was due to his actions, seemingly without cause.

She went on sobbing, ‘Everything has vanished. Those who cherished them must now shoulder this burden eternally. It wasn’t only the world that lost them; I did too. They were my friends, they were my sanctuary.

For more on the Idaho quadruple murder case, keep reading.

The following individuals – Kaylee Goncalves (aged 21), Madison Mogen (also 21), Xana Kernodle (just turned 20), and Ethan Chapin (also 20) – were all students at the University of Idaho, residing in an apartment off campus.

On November 12, 2022, just before their tragic discovery, I—an ardent follower of their story—found myself in a parallel universe where Goncalves and Mogen were enjoying a night out at a sports bar nearby, while Kernodle and Chapin were immersed in the festivities of Chapin’s fraternity party. By 2 a.m. on November 13, the four roommates and my dear Chapin had returned to their shared three-story rental house.

Goncalves, a senior student majoring in general studies, was set to graduate from the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences in December. According to her friend Jordyn Quesnell, she had plans to relocate to Austin, Texas for a marketing job following graduation, as reported by The New York Times.

Mogen, a marketing student, had been close friends with Goncalves since the 6th grade. According to family friend Jesse Frost, she intended to relocate to Boise following her graduation. This information was reported by The Idaho Statesman.

At that point, Kernodle was a junior studying marketing, as reported. Kernodle and Chapin, who majored in recreation, sport and tourism management, had been dating since the spring, according to their neighbor Ellie McKnight, who shared this information with NBC News.

Two residents, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, were at home during the reported murders. Text messages, unsealed on March 6, 2025, suggest that Mortensen and Funke attempted to reach their fellow roommates after Mortensen spotted a masked individual moving within their shared residence on November 13th, as suggested by documents acquired by TopMob News.

“No one is answering,” Mortensen texted Funke at 4:22 a.m. “I’m rlly confused rn.”

She persistently contacted her roommates, encouraging them to get back to her. At 4:32 a.m., she messaged Goncalves saying, “Please reply,” and then again at 10:23 a.m., asking, “Are you awake?

11:58 a.m. saw a 911 call being made following the discovery of Kernodle’s unresponsive state, as detailed in extra information acquired by TopMob News. In the log, a woman identified as A1 explained the ongoing situation to the operator.

She mentioned that one of the roommates, who appeared to be very intoxicated from the previous night and hasn’t regained consciousness, she said this over the phone. Also, they claimed to have spotted a stranger inside their home last night.

Bryan Kohberger, who is currently facing charges for four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, was pursuing a doctoral degree at Washington State University. Approximately one month after the deaths of Gonclaves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin were confirmed, Kohberger was apprehended on December 30 in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. He was transferred to Idaho on January 4, 2023.

It was discovered that DNA matching him was present on a knife sheath found at the crime scene, according to court documents from June 2023, as reported by NBC News. In simpler terms, his DNA matched what was found on a knife sheath left at the crime location, which was detailed in court papers from June 2023, according to NBC News.

When the DNA didn’t correspond with anyone in the FBI database, authorities cross-checked it against public ancestry platforms, generating a list of possible suspects based on the documents. Upon discovering that Kohberger had driven to his parents’ residence in Monroe County, local authorities subsequently searched through their trash and found DNA evidence linking him to the one found at the crime scene.

Currently, no specific reason behind the attack has been disclosed, and those connected to the case are bound by a court order to keep silent about it, according to NBC News. Nevertheless, some details have emerged from the released documents regarding their opening statements.

Lawyers for Kohberger have requested, as reported by TopMob News, to dismiss the possibility of capital punishment. This is because, if found guilty on all charges, Kohberger has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). They argue that imposing the death penalty on someone with ASD would go against the Eighth Amendment’s provision which forbids “cruel and unusual punishment.

In simpler terms, the defense contends that Kohberger tends to think in a very fixed manner, repeatedly focuses on certain subjects, approaches information in bits and pieces rather than as a whole, has difficulty planning ahead, and shows limited understanding of his own actions and feelings.

According to the statement, Mr. Kohberger struggles to behave as society typically expects due to his Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This issue poses a grave concern that he might face execution not for his wrongdoings, but because of his disability.

As an ardent follower of this case, I must share that initially, during my May 2023 arraignment, the honorable judge entered a not-guilty plea on my behalf since I chose to remain silent. Despite this, my trial was scheduled for Oct. 2, 2023. However, in an unexpected twist, I decided to waive my right to a speedy trial in August 2023, which has led to some adjustments in the court calendar.

The start of his trial, initially planned for Ada County (over 300 miles away from Latah County, the location of the murders), is now scheduled for August 11, 2025.

In a decision made back in September 2024, Judge John Judge granted a request for transfer made by Kohberger’s legal team, citing concerns about potential bias should the trial continue within Latah County due to presumed prejudice against Kohberger.

In the trial, Judge Steven Hippler of Ada County refused the defense’s attempt to exclude crucial DNA and additional proof, such as cell phone and email correspondence, security camera recordings, purchase history from Amazon, and DNA samples, from being presented as evidence.

On June 30, 2025, the murder trial for Kohberger was unexpectedly halted when he chose to accept a plea bargain offered by prosecutors. In doing so, he consented to admit guilt on all charges, which included four counts of murder and one count of burglary. Furthermore, he relinquished his right to appeal and requested a less harsh prison term.

On July 2, 2025, he admitted his guilt by answering “yes” to the judge’s question about whether he intentionally, illegally, purposefully, and with advance planning, killed all four victims.

A selfie that Kohberger took the day after the murders occurred was presented in March 2025. This image shows him standing near a shower and giving a thumbs up, which lines up with the physical description provided by a witness called “D.M.” in court documents. According to this witness, the suspect had thick, bushy eyebrows.

Steve Gonclaves, Kaylee’s father, subsequently commented on the picture, referring to it as a “trophy,” during an interview on Fox and Friends.

As a devoted fan, I’m well-versed in the timeline of events. I can tell you that he made his way back to the crime scene, and it dawned on me: no one had dialed 911 yet. Gonclaves expressed this as he analyzed the situation.

In simpler terms, he explained that for him, it was a small token signifying, “I managed to escape unnoticed.

2025 Dateline documentary on murders featured a former classmate of Kohberger’s who shared an “odd” message she received from him following their encounter at a party.

Holly explained that she felt somewhat obliged to converse with him, as he appeared a bit uneasy to her. This seemed typical for someone like him, a PhD student who was likely unfamiliar with everyone at the party, possibly making an effort to socialize and form friendships.

The following day, Holly said she received a text from him, which she described as overly formal. 

Hey there! I’ve got a feeling we chatted about our hiking adventures yesterday, right? You know how much I love those treks, so if you’re game, do tell when we can embark on our next adventure together! Much appreciated!

In a different part of the Dateline documentary, it was discovered that Kohberger’s web browsing had contained inquiries about Ted Bundy, Britney Spears’ song “Criminal,” and the phrase “Murders at the University of Idaho.

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2025-07-24 04:47