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The Ada County court has unsealed the autopsy reports for the University of Idaho student victims, following the case’s relocation after Bryan Kohberger’s successful request for a change of venue.
The autopsies were conducted by Dr. Veena Singh, the chief medical examiner from Spokane. Prosecutors had anticipated that Dr. Singh would be a key witness during the trial’s penalty phase; however, this was preempted by Kohberger’s guilty plea.
The reports, which do not include photographs, reveal additional details about the victims’ injuries, many of which had already been publicized.
Dr. Singh’s findings indicate that all victims suffered injuries consistent with a “Ka-Bar Full Size US Marine Corps Fighting Knife,” the weapon believed to have been used in the crime. She noted that some of the wounds might have resulted from different parts of the knife.
Tragically, all four victims were killed by multiple sharp-force injuries. The report highlights that they “endured a high degree of pain and/or suffering” during the attack, which occurred around 4 a.m. on November 13, 2022, as three of the victims were asleep.
She noted that Kaylee Goncalves, 21, had also suffered blunt-force injuries to her face and that an “unidentified object” appeared to have been used to cover her mouth. She also showed signs of asphyxia.
The victims were Goncalves, her 21-year-old best friend, Madison Mogen, 20-year-old Xana Kernodle, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin.
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Kernodle was the only one not in bed when Kohberger attacked — suffering defensive wounds on her hands and arms.
Police found a leather Ka-Bar sheath in the bed with Goncalves and Mogen that prosecutors later said had Kohberger’s DNA on it.
Investigators used investigative genetic genealogy to come up with leads about the suspect, and discovered a potential match in Kohberger, who had been attending classes 10 miles from the crime scene. He was arrested at his parents’ house in Pennsylvania on Dec. 30, 2022.
The reports were included in a batch of newly unsealed court filings as the court continues to make more information in the case available to the public.
Kohberger, who was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at the neighboring Washington State University, pleaded guilty last year to avoid death by the firing squad.
He is serving four consecutive life sentences plus another 10 years.
His early weeks in prison were marked with complaints about the food and mistreatment by fellow inmates.
