The judge overseeing Bryan Kohberger’s murder trial has released chilling new details about the final hours of the four University of Idaho students who were brutally stabbed to death on November 13, 2022. These details come from the testimony and text messages of the two surviving roommates, who were present with victims Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen before the fatal attack.
Surviving Roommates Reveal Texts and Conversations Before Murders
According to a court order by Judge Steven Hippler, the four victims spent the evening together before their tragic deaths. At around 2 a.m., Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin met up in Kaylee’s bedroom to chat, while Xana and Ethan were out together. The surviving roommates, D.M. and B.F., discussed going out to grab a late-night snack, texting an Uber driver to check if he was available, but ultimately deciding to stay in for the night.
Fateful Turn of Events: Kohberger’s Masked Intruder
As the night progressed, the situation took a dark turn. Around 4 a.m., D.M. heard strange noises and cries coming from the bathroom. When she went to investigate, she saw a masked intruder dressed in black, walking past her bedroom door.
D.M. immediately texted all four roommates, but only B.F. responded. They both discussed their fears over the strange occurrence, before D.M. made the crucial decision to leave her room and join B.F. in hers. In her haste, D.M. unknowingly saw Xana’s lifeless body lying on the floor, mistaking her for being drunk due to her position.
Survivors Lock Themselves in Room for Safety
The two surviving roommates locked themselves in B.F.’s room, unable to contact their three roommates for hours. They attempted to reach out but could not get through. A 911 call was later made at noon, revealing the dire situation they had been facing since the early morning.
Court Decision on Evidence in Kohberger’s Trial
The court order also included the prosecution’s request to admit certain text messages, testimony, and a 911 call into evidence, with some of the survivors’ accounts being deemed hearsay and excluded. Kohberger’s defense filed a motion to block these evidentiary pieces, but the judge allowed most of the information to remain, believing it to be crucial for the case.
Kohberger Faces Trial in Murder of Four University of Idaho Students
Bryan Kohberger is accused of the brutal murders of Mogen, 21; Goncalves, 21; Kernodle, 20; and Chapin, 20, who were found stabbed to death inside their shared home. Kohberger’s defense team has insisted that while he was out driving that night, he did not commit the murders.
Authorities have linked Kohberger to the killings through DNA traces found on a knife sheath, cell phone tracking, and surveillance footage showing a vehicle similar to his near the crime scene. Kohberger faces four counts of murder, with a trial set to begin on August 11, 2025, in Boise County after the defense successfully moved for a change of venue.
If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty. He has maintained his innocence and declined to enter a plea when formally charged.
