Bryan Kohberger Case: Surviving Roommate Walked Past Xana Kernodle’s Body in Chilling Idaho Murders
The University of Idaho murders in November 2022 shocked the nation, leaving four students-Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves-dead in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. As the investigation unfolded, chilling details emerged, including the harrowing experience of a surviving roommate who encountered the aftermath of the attack.
The Night of the Murders
On the night of November 12, 2022, the victims spent their evening out in Moscow before returning to their King Road residence. Two other roommates, who survived the attack, also went out that night and returned home. The house was still active into the early morning hours. At 4 a.m., Xana Kernodle received a DoorDash order, and shortly after, one roommate heard noises and what sounded like Kaylee Goncalves playing with her dog.
The Surviving Roommate’s Account
One of the surviving roommates was awake and texting around the time of the murders. She reported hearing someone say, “there’s someone here,” and later described seeing a masked figure dressed in black walk past her as she stood in a “frozen shock phase.” The roommate then locked herself in her room.
In the aftermath, it was revealed that this roommate walked past the room where Xana Kernodle’s body was later found. The roommate did not immediately realize the extent of the violence, which contributed to the delay in the 911 call until later that morning. When police arrived, they discovered the four victims stabbed to death, while the two surviving roommates were unharmed but deeply traumatized.
The Investigation and Arrest
The investigation quickly focused on Bryan Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University. Authorities used a combination of DNA evidence, cellphone tracking, and surveillance footage of a white Hyundai Elantra to link Kohberger to the scene. He was arrested in Pennsylvania nearly seven weeks after the murders and extradited to Idaho to face four counts of first-degree murder and felony burglary.
Legal Proceedings
Kohberger has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled to begin in August 2025. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. The surviving roommates’ testimony and the timeline of events have become key elements in the prosecution’s case as the community continues to seek justice for the victims.
This case remains one of the most haunting college campus crimes in recent memory, not only for the brutality of the murders but also for the chilling experiences of those who survived.