Survivors Awake and Texting During Tragic University of Idaho Home Invasion
In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that two housemates in an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho, were awake and texting each other during a tragic home invasion that claimed the lives of four of their friends in November 2022. The incident occurred at 4 a.m., resulting in the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, following a night out with friends just before Thanksgiving break.
The source of this information is a leaked report from grand jurors involved in the case. Although Kaylee Goncalves’ father received the information and shared it in a lengthy Air Mail story, neither Goncalves nor his attorney have commented on the matter, likely due to a court-issued restrictive gag order.
Steve Goncalves and his attorney have not responded to questions regarding these claims, instead labeling them as a “very poor attempt at getting attention” and “obviously fictional.”
Awake and Texting During Tragedy
According to the report, the two survivors were not only awake during the fatal incident but also communicated via text messages as the attacker moved through the house. Court documents revealed that one of the survivors noticed something suspicious around 4 a.m. This housemate initially believed the sounds were from Kaylee Goncalves playing with her dog on the upper floor but later heard Goncalves say, “There’s someone here.” When she checked, she saw nothing unusual.
Around the same time, Xana Kernodle was alive and using the TikTok app on her phone. The survivor then heard crying from Kernodle’s room, located on the same floor. Overhearing a male voice reassuring Kernodle, the housemate “opened her door for the third time” and spotted a masked man leaving through a rear sliding door. This man was described as “not very muscular but athletically built.”
A Horrific Discovery and Delayed 911 Call
Police believe that the victims had all been repeatedly stabbed before 4:25 a.m. However, a 911 call was not made until around noon the following day, originating from one of the survivors’ phones. Yet, the identity of the caller remains undisclosed.
At the crime scene, a crucial piece of evidence was found next to Madison Mogen’s body: a Ka-Bar knife sheath containing Bryan Kohberger’s DNA, as authorities allege.
The second surviving housemate, who is briefly mentioned in court documents, eventually agreed to an interview with Kohberger’s defense team in April after resisting a subpoena.
Legal Proceedings and Future Court Date
The prosecution’s case relies heavily on evidence such as the sheath, the suspect vehicle, and phone records. The Air Mail story alluded to the existence of a secret informant who would provide undisclosed testimony.
Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson has expressed the intention to seek the death penalty should Kohberger be convicted. Kohberger faces four charges of first-degree murder and a felony burglary count.
Kohberger, who was pursuing a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University at the time of the murders, is currently held without bail at the Latah County Jail in Moscow, Idaho.
The case continues, with the next court appearance scheduled for October 26. At that time, arguments will be heard regarding the defense’s request to dismiss the indictment.