Xana Kernodle fought brutally for her life as Bryan Kohberger stabbed her 67 times, autopsy shows

Newly released autopsy findings reveal that Xana Kernodle, one of the four University of Idaho students killed in November 2022, fought back during the brutal attack carried out by Bryan Kohberger.

According to court documents referenced in the autopsy report, Kernodle suffered multiple defensive wounds, indicating she was awake and attempted to resist her attacker. The findings support investigators’ long-held belief that Kernodle encountered the suspect while he was inside the off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho.

Kernodle, 20, was found in a bedroom on the second floor of the house alongside her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, who was also killed in the attack. Unlike the other victims, who are believed to have been asleep at the time, evidence suggests Kernodle was alert and actively tried to protect herself.

The autopsy report noted injuries consistent with a struggle, reinforcing investigators’ conclusion that she “kept fighting” during the assault. Authorities previously stated that Kernodle had been awake shortly before the attack, having received a food delivery earlier that night.

Bryan Kohberger, a former criminology graduate student, was charged in connection with the murders of Kernodle, Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, and Madison Mogen, which took place in the early hours of November 13, 2022. The case has remained one of the most closely followed criminal investigations in recent U.S. history.

The newly revealed autopsy details offer a heartbreaking glimpse into Kernodle’s final moments and underscore the violence of the attack, while also highlighting her bravery in attempting to defend herself.

As legal proceedings continue, the revelations have renewed public attention on the case and intensified calls for justice for the four victims whose deaths shocked the nation.