In July 2025, new autopsy findings were introduced during the sentencing of Bryan Kohberger, the man charged in the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students.
The reports confirmed that Xana Kernodle sustained more than 50 stab wounds, many of which showed signs of defensive struggle.
Kohberger, a former doctoral student at Washington State University, pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
He was sentenced to four consecutive life terms plus an additional 10 years, avoiding the death penalty as part of a plea deal.
Investigators stated that the attack appeared frenzied and violent, with evidence of blunt-force trauma and extensive blood patterns at the scene.
The victims included Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, and Ethan Chapin.
Emotional statements were delivered during the sentencing by families of the victims and surviving roommates.
One roommate, Dylan Mortensen, who had previously avoided the public spotlight, gave a personal account of the emotional toll the case has taken.
Although substantial forensic and digital evidence linked Kohberger to the crime, including DNA, surveillance footage, and cellphone data, the motive behind the killings remains unclear.
The case has drawn nationwide attention and continues to leave a lasting impact on the victims’ families and the Moscow, Idaho, community.
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