On the night of November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were brutally stabbed to death in their shared off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. Newly released court documents provide insight into the moments leading up to the tragic attack, including desperate text messages exchanged between the surviving roommates.
A Tragic Night Unfolds
The four victims—Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Madison Mogen—arrived home at around 1:45 a.m. after a night out. Meanwhile, one of their surviving roommates used Uber to return home from a bar at 2:10 a.m., while the other was awake and texting.
At 4:00 a.m., Kernodle received a DoorDash delivery. Around the same time, one roommate thought she heard Goncalves playing with her dog. Moments later, she reportedly heard someone say, “There’s someone here.”
At 4:17 a.m., a security camera near Kernodle’s room picked up sounds of a barking dog, muffled voices, and a loud thud. Just before 4:30 a.m., the two roommates were exchanging texts, growing increasingly worried when their messages and calls to their housemates went unanswered.
Frightening Texts and a Mysterious Intruder
One roommate, identified as “D.M.” in court documents, texted the other roommate, “B.F.”:
- “No one is answering. I’m really confused.”
- “Kaylee, what’s going on?”
- “I’m freaking out.”
D.M. also mentioned seeing someone in “a ski mask.” B.F. initially dismissed it, but when D.M. insisted, saying, “I’m not kidding, I’m so freaked out,” B.F. urged her to “Come to my room. Run.”
According to earlier court documents, D.M. opened her door after hearing crying from Kernodle’s room. She then heard a man’s voice say, “It’s okay, I’m going to help you.” When she looked out again, she saw a man dressed in black with a mask covering his face walking past her. She stood frozen in fear as he left through the sliding glass door.
She later described him as 5’10”, not very muscular but athletic, with bushy eyebrows.
The 911 Call
Surprisingly, no one called 911 until 11:58 a.m., nearly seven hours after the attack. One of the surviving roommates called emergency services, saying, “One of our roommates is passed out and not waking up.” They also mentioned seeing a man in the house the night before.
As the call continued, someone on the scene suddenly realized the gravity of the situation and told dispatch, “I think we have a homicide.”
The Arrest of Bryan Kohberger
Police arrested Bryan Kohberger, a criminology student, in December 2022 after a six-week investigation. He was later indicted for four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. Kohberger declined to enter a plea, so the judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.
If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty in Idaho. His trial is scheduled to begin in August 2024.
