The Ada County court has unsealed the autopsy reports for the University of Idaho student victims. This follows the case’s transfer after Bryan Kohberger’s successful request for a venue change. The autopsies were conducted by Dr. Veena Singh, Spokane’s chief medical examiner, who was expected to testify during the penalty phase before the suspect pleaded guilty.

The victims included Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and other housemates. Goncalves shared their final photo on Instagram before the tragic incident in November 2022.

The reports reveal that all victims suffered injuries from a weapon like the “Ka-Bar Full Size US Marine Corps Fighting Knife,” identified as the suspected murder weapon. It’s noted that different parts of the weapon may have caused some of the wounds.

Dr. Singh’s findings indicate that each victim endured multiple sharp-force injuries, resulting in significant pain and suffering, particularly as three of the four victims were asleep during the attack on November 13, 2022, around 4 a.m.

Kaylee Goncalves, 21, also experienced blunt-force trauma to her face and had an “unidentified object” over her mouth, hinting at attempted asphyxia.

Kernodle, unlike the others, was not in bed, sustaining defensive injuries on her hands and arms. Law enforcement found a leather Ka-Bar sheath with Goncalves and Mogen, later confirmed to hold Kohberger’s DNA.

The investigation included genetic genealogy, which identified Kohberger as a suspect while he studied criminology at Washington State University, ten miles from the crime scene. He was arrested at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania on December 30, 2022.

Newly unsealed court documents provide further insights as the case continues to unfold. Kohberger accepted a guilty plea last year to avoid the death penalty and is now serving multiple life sentences with an additional 10 years. His initial prison experience involved food complaints and negative interactions with other inmates.