Police have released new images of the University of Idaho murder scene, offering the public its most detailed glimpse of the tragic event that unfolded nearly three years ago. The images and surveillance footage reveal chilling details inside and around the off-campus apartment where four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—were brutally stabbed to death on November 13, 2022.
This shocking case has gripped the community of Moscow, Idaho, and drawn national attention as investigators unraveled the crime. Bryan Kohberger, a former doctoral candidate at Washington State University, pleaded guilty recently to the murders and was sentenced to life without parole.
The newly released photographs provided by the Moscow Police Department include nearly 200 obscured and edited crime scene images that capture both the everyday college environment and the horrific aftermath of the killings. Among the ordinary college items visible are red plastic cups, beer cans, and scattered clothing, underscoring the sudden disruption of normal life. Yet, these images also reveal blood splattered on hardwood floors, bedding soaked in blood, and bloodstains covering walls—vivid evidence of the violent attack.
A particularly significant photo shows the sliding glass door police believe Kohberger used to enter the residence. Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s camera captures a white Hyundai Elantra, the same vehicle driven by Kohberger, cruising the neighborhood before quickly leaving the scene. Following the murders, law enforcement had been relatively quiet on details, fueling public frustration and concern among the families of the victims.
The crime itself remains haunting in its savagery. The victims were likely asleep when attacked. Ethan Chapin died from a neck stab wound that severed critical veins and arteries. Xana Kernodle suffered over 50 stab wounds, many defensive, to her heart and lungs. Madison Mogen’s fatal injuries involved lacerations to her liver and lung, while Kaylee Goncalves endured multiple sharp and blunt force injuries, including lung lacerations and severed arteries. The medical examiner reported that the murder weapon was a single-edged, very sharp knife, consistent in size and shape with a KA-BAR knife Kohberger had purchased online.
The investigation was complex and intense. Despite the police’s cautious approach to releasing details, tips and leads continued to pour in. Kohberger was identified as a suspect several weeks after the murders and was apprehended at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania on December 30, 2022. Through months of legal proceedings, he maintained initial innocence before pleading guilty in August 2025, thereby avoiding the death penalty but receiving multiple life sentences.
The released crime scene materials also include images of Kohberger immediately after his arrest, depicting him in handcuffs alongside law enforcement officers. These images add a human element to an otherwise grim case narrative.
This case has left a lasting impact on the University of Idaho community and beyond. Classes resumed at the university after the suspect’s arrest, with students and family members struggling to regain normalcy. Friends and family of the victims continue to seek justice as the community remembers the four young lives lost in this tragic event.
The release of these new images and surveillance footage represents a significant moment in the ongoing public reckoning with the Idaho murders. While the case has moved from investigation to resolution with Kohberger’s sentencing, the detailed visual record offers a somber reminder of the lives cut short and the pain left behind.
For those following this heartbreaking story, the latest police releases mark an important step in transparency, answering some questions while leaving others about motive still unanswered. The community remains vigilant to ensure that the legacy of the victims is honored and that safety is bolstered for all members.
Stay engaged with developments surrounding this case, and share your thoughts or memories of the University of Idaho students whose lives touched so many. Your reflections help keep their stories alive as this chapter closes and healing begins.
