Idaho State Prosecutor Bill Thompson mentioned that investigators can’t completely dismiss the idea that Brian Coberger used a second weapon during the murders of four University of Idaho students. He also suggested that the killer likely managed to evade the surviving roommate, Dylan Mortensen.
Thompson indicated that some injuries observed on victim Kaylee Goncalves, 21, seemed to have resulted from something other than the knife used in the attack, although he stopped actively searching for that secondary weapon.
“There was an injury that appeared to be caused by something besides a knife, but it could still be from a knife,” Thompson told lawmakers. “We can’t rule out the possibility of more weapons being involved.”
Court documents have laid bare the brutality of the attacks on Goncalves, along with Madison Morgen, Zana Carnodal, and Ethan Chapin, which took place in November 2022.
According to a recently released police report, Goncalves suffered “over 20 stab wounds” in addition to blunt force trauma.
Thompson remarked that Coberger seemed to panic when realizing that Mortensen was unharmed, despite her having encountered him as he fled through the rental property’s sliding doors.
“From what Dylan described, it’s hard to imagine the killer didn’t see her,” Thompson said. “He likely stayed longer than intended, killing more people than he anticipated. It seems he was startled that she wasn’t attacked and decided to escape without knowing if the authorities were alerted.”
Mortensen shared with law enforcement that she noticed an intruder with a “bulging brow” the night of the incident at 1122 King Road in Moscow.
James Fry, then the chief of Moscow police, speculated that many theories exist regarding why Mortensen survived, including the possibility that Coberger was simply exhausted from the violent act.
“I can’t say for sure; he’s the only one who knows,” Fry commented.
Thompson also stressed the key role DNA evidence plays in building the case.
“From our standpoint as prosecutors, DNA is crucial for solidifying our case as it heads to trial,” he explained. “Without the DNA linking Coberger to the knife sheath, establishing a strong case could be nearly impossible,” Thompson conveyed to lawmakers.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office for further comments.
