Confusion and fear gripped the aftermath of the University of Idaho murders, leaving questions about a delayed 911 call.
Quick Takes
- Four University of Idaho students were murdered in mid-November 2024.
- A survivor’s delayed 911 call occurred eight hours after the incident.
- Suspect Bryan Kohberger was charged with first-degree murder and burglary.
- The trial is scheduled for August 11, 2025, with the prosecution seeking the death penalty.
The Incident and Immediate Aftermath
In mid-November 2024, a brutal tragedy occurred in Moscow, Idaho, when four University of Idaho students were found dead in an off-campus residence. The victims, residents Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, suffered fatal stab wounds inflicted with a believed fixed-blade knife.
DNA evidence linked suspect Bryan Kohberger to the crime scene, culminating in his arrest nearly seven weeks later. Kohberger, a doctoral student in criminal justice, faces charges of first-degree murder and burglary in Pennsylvania, where police apprehended him.
https://t.co/RocbLOioHK
Kohberger Case: Roommate’s Texts Reveal Terror on Night of KillingsNew court documents from the ongoing Kohberger case provide shocking insights into the moments leading up to the tragic murders at the University of Idaho. Text messages between two…
— USLive (@uslivecom) March 10, 2025
Delayed 911 Call by Survivors
Additional scrutiny arises from the eight-hour delay in reporting the murders to emergency services. Surviving roommates Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke locked themselves in a room, initially mistaking the scene as involving intoxicated housemates. Throughout the night, they exchanged anxious messages and unsuccessfully attempted contact with the victims before realizing the gravity of the situation.
Mortensen’s fear intensified after encountering a masked intruder, which heightened the roommates’ confusion. It wasn’t until 11:56 a.m. the following morning that the police were alerted, as Mortensen reached out to a friend who subsequently called 911, resulting in a dynamic scene involving multiple people’s accounts.
Trial and Legal Proceedings
Kohberger’s upcoming trial is set to commence on August 11, 2025, in Ada County, Idaho, following a venue change. Prosecutors aim to secure a death penalty verdict, alleging “aggravating circumstances.” Defense attorneys counter, citing Kohberger’s autism spectrum disorder diagnosis as a reason against capital punishment. Throughout, the trial’s duration is projected at three months, including possible penalty deliberations.
Genetic genealogy is central to the prosecution’s strategy, yet the defense points to blood of an unknown male found at the scene. Amid these complex legal orchestrations, the FBI’s 3D crime scene model aims to illuminate events for jurors, underlining a gripping national interest in the trial’s resolution.
