New Details Emerge from Court Documents on Idaho Student Murders
Recently released court documents provide a shocking account of the stabbings and the last moments of four University of Idaho students who were killed by Brian Koberger.
According to unsealed autopsy results, Kaylee Gonsalves, Madison Morgen, Zana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were stabbed a combined total of 150 times.
The report indicates that Koberger inflicted wounds on Gonsalves, stabbing her around 38 times. Morgen was stabbed 28 times, Chapin 17 times, and Kernodle endured 67 stabs in an attack that took place at his off-campus residence in Moscow.
It appears Kernodle struggled during the attack, moving around her bedroom as she faced off against Koberger.
Gonsalves and Morgen were found together in Morgen’s bedroom. The injuries they sustained came from multiple sharp objects.
The report revealed that Gonsalves had 24 stab wounds on her scalp, face, and neck, alongside 11 on her chest and three on her arms. Other factors contributing to her death included blunt force trauma and asphyxiation. The autopsy noted severe damage to her skull and internal bleeding.
Morgen suffered 13 stab wounds to her neck and face, five to her chest, and ten cuts on her upper legs. Her injuries also included damage to vital organs.
Chapin and Kernodle, who were in a relationship, were found deceased in Kernodle’s room. Chapin remained in bed while Kernodle was located on the floor.
Chapin had one stab wound to his chest and multiple others to his neck and limbs. He, too, had significant injuries to major arteries and veins.
The attack was particularly brutal, as Chapin, Morgen, and Gonsalves were likely taken by surprise while sleeping, offering little opportunity to defend themselves. In contrast, Kernodle managed to fight back during the assault.
Kernodle sustained numerous injuries, including 23 stab wounds and a variety of bruises. She also had dangerous punctures throughout her body, showcasing the violent nature of the attack.
Interestingly, she had blood on her feet, suggesting she moved around during the struggle, indicating that she fought hard against her assailant.
Koberger’s weapon of choice was a Ka-Bar knife he had ordered online, with his DNA found on the sheath he left behind. This evidence played a crucial role in linking him to the crime.
Two other roommates were present in the house but were not attacked. One of them, Dylan Mortensen, later described encountering a man with “bushy eyebrows,” which helped investigators identify Koberger.
A significant number of documents from the Idaho State Police were recently released, revealing grim details about the killings but were shortly taken down from their website.
In July, Koberger received a life sentence for the murders that occurred on November 13, 2022. A controversial plea deal allowed him to sidestep the death penalty, a decision that sparked anger among the victims’ families, who wished for a trial to reveal the circumstances behind this horrific act.
He is currently incarcerated at the Idaho Maximum Security Institute in Kuna.
