Images revealing the crime scene of the Idaho murders emerge for the first time, depicted in their disturbing aftermath following Bryan Kohberger's lethal actions, claiming the lives of four individuals.
In the small town of Moscow, Idaho, the community was shaken by a series of gruesome murders that occurred in November 2022. Four University of Idaho students - Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin - were brutally killed in a property near the campus. The investigation that followed uncovered a chilling sequence of events and raised questions about a possible connection to a previous break-in.
Before the murders, Bryan Kohberger, the eventual suspect, was under scrutiny. On the night of the crime, security footage showed his car on the scene at around 4:20 am, much later than the initial timeline of events. Earlier, between 3:30 am and 3:58 am, Kohberger was seen driving past the home three times.
A thud-like noise and a whimpering sound were detected before a dog started barking repeatedly, according to the security video. This was followed by a 15-minute period of relentless barking. Puzzlingly, the women living in the home reported they had never been threatened by Kohberger.
Inside the home, investigators found two handprints on a window and blood spatters on the white wooden doors. A pink blanket, which was reportedly covering Mogen and Goncalves, was also discovered. Chilling police snaps released later showed pictures from inside the home after the murders, with a pair of shoes and other accessories scattered on the floor.
Some of the victims were stabbed more than 30 times by Kohberger, who used a Ka-Bar blade in the horrific attack.
Interestingly, Kohberger was initially investigated for a break-in that occurred in 2021 in Pullman, Washington, about 10 miles from where the University of Idaho students were later murdered. During this break-in, a knife-wielding assailant wearing a ski mask entered a home, but no one was injured. A witness said she kicked the intruder in the stomach as they fled.
However, authorities later confirmed that Kohberger was no longer a person of interest in the 2021 break-in. Notably, the break-in suspect was described as shorter (between 5'3" and 5'5") than Kohberger, who is about 5'10" tall.
Kohberger was eventually arrested and sentenced to four life sentences without the possibility of parole. His car wasn't spotted on security cameras until 4:20 am, leading to speculation about his movements in the hours leading up to the murders.
The crime scene pictures emerged after Kaylee's dad, Steve, feared the images would surface. Kim Cheeley, Mogen's grandma, spoke about her family living with the "effects of traumatic grief." Kaylee's sister, Alivea, delivered a blistering warning at Kohberger's sentencing hearing.
As the investigation into the murders continues, the community is left to grapple with the tragic loss and the questions that remain unanswered.
- The local politics and general news in Moscow, Idaho, were dominated by the investigation into the November 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, raising questions about the city's crime-and-justice system and its ability to protect its residents.
- Despite the chilling sequence of events surrounding the murders, such as the security footage showing Bryan Kohberger's car at the scene and the discovery of his handprints at the crime scene, it remains unclear whether any political action will be taken to address the community's concerns about crime-and-justice.
