Idaho Murders Autopsy
Newly Released Autopsy Report Details Brutal Sharp-Force Injuries in Idaho Student Murders
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Newly unsealed autopsy records show the four University of Idaho students killed in November 2022 sustained a combined total of more than 150 stab wounds, according to Court TV. The records, released June 4, 2026, offer the most detailed public account yet of the attack at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho — where Bryan Kohberger murdered Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022.
Kohberger, a former criminology PhD student at Washington State University, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to four counts of first-degree murder. He is now serving four consecutive life sentences without parole. The motive for the killings has never been publicly disclosed.
Autopsy Records Reveal Over 150 Wounds Across Four Victims
Xana Kernodle suffered the most severe injuries of any victim — 67 wounds in total, including 25 to her arms and hands. Court TV reported that forensic death investigator Joseph Scott Morgan called the scene "overkill," noting that the number of wounds on Kernodle suggests she was standing and fighting back during part of the attack.
Kaylee Goncalves sustained 38 stab wounds, with 24 concentrated on her scalp, face, and neck. The report noted she suffered a broken nose and a knocked-out tooth. Madison Mogen was stabbed 28 times, mainly in the chest and upper body. Ethan Chapin sustained 17 wounds; a single stab under his left collarbone severed a major artery and vein, according to Biography.com.
DNA From a Knife Sheath Cracked the Case
Investigators broke the case using a technique called Investigative Genetic Genealogy. Authorities found a Ka-Bar knife sheath at the scene and recovered a "touch" DNA sample from its snap. That DNA was matched to genetic material pulled from Kohberger's father's trash in Pennsylvania, according to Wikipedia.
Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022 — about six weeks after the murders. During his PhD studies, he had written an essay about how investigators use "fiber-free" gear to avoid leaving DNA at crime scenes, skills he allegedly tried to apply himself, FOX News Digital reported.
Guilty Plea Spared Death Penalty, Angered Victims' Families
Kohberger entered a surprise guilty plea on July 2, 2025. In exchange, prosecutors removed the death penalty from the table. He was sentenced three weeks later to four consecutive life sentences plus 10 years for burglary, and ordered to pay $290,000 in restitution, according to FOX 13.
The Goncalves family called the deal a "betrayal" and said the system "failed us" by not requiring a full confession. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson defended the deal as a "judgment call" to spare families a decades-long appeals process, 48 Hours reported. At sentencing, Kohberger spoke only three words when asked if he wanted to make a statement: "I respectfully decline."
Motive Still Unknown, Legal and Ethical Debates Continue
No motive has ever been made public. Legal analyst James Alan Fox told Northeastern Global News that while victims' families were "furious" about not being consulted on the plea deal, it is "normal and appropriate" for the state to weigh broader public interests in capital cases. Judge Steven Hippler said at sentencing that continuing to seek an explanation gives Kohberger "power and control."
A separate controversy emerged in May 2026 when Kohberger's former defense expert, criminologist Brent Turvey, published a book titled *Broken Plea* claiming there were "foundational flaws" in the DNA evidence. The defense team accused Turvey of violating confidentiality. Meanwhile, the house where the murders occurred was demolished in late 2023, and a memorial garden is in the final stages of planning, according to Biography.com.
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