Decoding the Idaho Murder Scene: Why Are Evidences of Resistance Key?

Bryan Kohberger stabbed his four victims at least 150 times in total, according to newly unsealed court records obtained by PEOPLE

Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves; Bryan Kohberger.Credit : Instagram; Zach Wilkinson-Pool/Getty

New details have emerged about the final moments of the four University of Idaho students murdered by Bryan Kohberger.

Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were stabbed at least 150 times in total on the night of November 13, 2022.

Goncalves was stabbed at least 38 times, Mogen 28 times, and Chapin 17 times. Kernodle was stabbed 67 times.

This is according to a newly unsealed supplemental filing from prosecutors in the case regarding expert testimony that was obtained by PEOPLE.

The report does not contain the full autopsy reports for the four victims, only key findings.

Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.Kaylee Goncalves Instagram

Goncalves and Mogen were found together in Mogen’s bedroom.

The autopsy report determined that both young women died from multiple sharp force injuries, with additional contributors to Goncalves’ death including blunt force injuries of the head and asphyxial injuries.

She had at least 24 stab and incised wounds of the scalp, face and neck; 11 stab and incised wounds of the chest; and three stab and incised wounds of the upper extremities.

There were also punctures on the outer table of the skull, injuries to the teeth and tongue, and a hemorrhage into the chest cavities, according to the filing.

The blunt force injuries suffered by Goncalves include scalp lacerations, bleeding around the brain, nasal fracture, bruising around the eyes, and patterned bruising extended across the lower face.

Mogen suffered 13 stab incisions to the scalp face and neck; five stab wounds of the chest; and 10 incised wounds of the upper extremities, per the court filing.

The report states there were also wounds to the lung and liver, perforations of the subclavian vein, artery, and blood vessels of the chest wall, and an incision of the nasal septum.

Xana Kernodle.Xana Kernodle/Instagram

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Chapin and Kernodle were found in Kernodle’s room, with Ethan in the bed and Kernodle on the floor.

The cause of death for the couple was also multiple sharp force injuries.

Chapin had one stab wound of the upper chest; four stab and incised wounds of the scalp face and neck; six incised wounds of the upper extremities; and six stab and incised wounds of the lower extremities.

He also had perforations of the jugular vein, subclavian vein, and subclavian artery.

Those three victims were attacked as they slept and never stood up or had the chance to fight back, but Kernodle fought back.

She had abrasions and contusions of the head, torso and extremities along with: 23 stab and incised wounds of the scalp face and neck; seven stab wounds of the chest; four stab wounds of the abdomen; three incised and puncture wounds of the back; 25 incised wounds of the upper extremities; and five incised wounds of the lower extremities.

There were also punctures on the outer table of the skull; perforation of  the jugular vein, heart, lung, and pulmonary blood vessels; hemorrhage into the chest cavities; wounds extending into the bones of the right hand; and scrapes and bruises on the face, torso and extremities.

Kernodle also had blood on the bottom of her feet from moving around during her attack.

Kevin Fixler of the Idaho Statesman was the first to share the unsealed court filing.

Ethan Chapin.Courtesy Chapin family

It was while examining the bodies that investigators found the evidence that broke the case open — the KA-Bar knife sheath Kohberger left behind likely because Kernodle caught him in her roommate’s room.

That sheath would provide the trace DNA used to link Kohberger to the crime scene.

After murdering his four victims, Kohberger exited the home but he did not go unnoticed.

The killer locked eyes with one of the surviving roommates and the lone eyewitness in the case, Dylan Mortensen.

That eyewitness and his forgotten sheath are likely why Kohberger entered a guilty plea to four charges of first-degree murder back in July as part of a last-minute deal that allowed him to avoid the death penalty.

Kohberger stood in front of the court and told the judge he was entering a guilty plea before confessing to the murder of each of the four victims.

Kohberger is now serving four life sentences for those murders.