Newly released text messages have shed light on the tragic case of four University of Idaho students who were fatally stabbed in their home in November 2022. The messages, sent by the two surviving roommates, show their growing concern on the night of the murders.
According to court records, one of the surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen, texted Bethany Funke at 4:22 a.m. on November 13, 2022. “No one is answering,” she wrote. “I’m rlly confused rn.” The messages were included in a motion filed by prosecutors, arguing that they are important evidence and should be used in the trial against the accused killer, Bryan Kohberger.
The Tragic Night
The victims, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, were killed in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. Goncalves had moved out of the house but had returned that night to attend a party. Chapin was visiting his girlfriend, Kernodle.
Court documents reveal that someone, whose name has not been disclosed, told Funke and Mortensen to call 911 after finding Goncalves’ body. A transcript of the 911 call shows the caller saying, “Something happened in our house. We don’t know what.” The caller also mentioned that one of the roommates was unresponsive and that they had seen a man in the house the previous night.
Suspicious Messages
Before calling 911 at 11:58 a.m., the two surviving roommates became increasingly worried. Mortensen sent multiple messages to Goncalves, asking, “Pls answer” at 4:32 a.m. and again at 10:23 a.m., followed by, “R u up??”
Another text included in the court filing references a person in a “ski mask” or something covering his head. In grand jury testimony, Mortensen stated that she had heard strange noises in the house and saw an unknown man inside.
Who is Bryan Kohberger?
Kohberger, a doctoral student studying criminal justice at Washington State University, was arrested on December 30, 2022, six weeks after the murders. He is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
A judge entered a not-guilty plea on Kohberger’s behalf, and his trial is scheduled to begin on August 11. Prosecutors have announced they will seek the death penalty. Kohberger is currently being held without bond in Ada County, Idaho.
The new text messages provide chilling insight into the fear and confusion of the surviving roommates on the night of the murders. As the case moves forward, these messages may play a crucial role in the trial. The tragedy has deeply affected the University of Idaho community, and many hope that justice will be served.
