A newly released image from the crime scene where four University of Idaho students were murdered provides insight into how Bryan Kohberger is believed to have accessed the off-campus residence.
Kohberger, aged 30, is currently serving four life sentences after confessing to the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen that occurred in November 2022.
The former criminology student admitted to fatally stabbing the four victims. Investigators concluded that Kohberger’s DNA matched a sample found on a knife sheath at the crime scene.
Although Kohberger did not appear to have any previous connection to the victims, Bill Thompson, the lead prosecutor, suggested that either Kaylee or Maddie was the intended target.
Thompson stated to ABC News, “I personally feel that, for whatever reason, he targeted one of the young women on the third floor.”
Kohberger is alleged to have encountered Xana on the stairs, Ethan on the second floor, and the best friends Kaylee and Maddie on the third floor.
A Freedom of Information Act request by 7-Investigates led to the release of crime scene photos that provide more detail about the events on the night of the murders.
One particular image shows how Kohberger is believed to have gained entry: through a sliding glass door.
The photo reveals the door ajar, leading to a patio just meters from a neighboring house. Nearby, footprints can be seen in the snow, and crime scene tape surrounds the area.
Despite pleading guilty to the murders, Kohberger has not explained his reasons for the killings or why two other roommates were spared.
Dylan Mortensen, one of the surviving roommates, claims she saw Kohberger inside the house.
Moscow Police officer Mitch Nunes reported: “She peeked out of her bedroom and observed a male described as approximately six-feet tall, slim build, with a black ski mask leave the second-floor patio area.”
Although Kohberger has not disclosed his motive, Thompson offered his thoughts to the Idaho Statesman on why Dylan was spared. He remarked, “From what Dylan described, I have a hard time imagining that the killer did not see Dylan. At that point, he’d been in the house probably longer than he planned, and he had killed more people than he planned.”
“It wouldn’t surprise us that the killer was scared at that point and decided they had to leave, not knowing if law enforcement already had been called.”