MOSCOW, ID - While interviewing with the Idaho Statesman, prosecutor Bill Thompson said that investigators cannot rule out the possibility that Bryan Kohberger used a second weapon during the murders of four University of Idaho students.
Thompson said he also believes that Kohberger spared the surviving roommate, Dylan Mortensen because he panicked and fled the scene. He explained that some injuries observed on victim Kaylee Goncalves, 21, appeared to have been caused by something other than the knife used in the attack. He did not, however, confirm that a second weapon was used.
"There were injuries that appear to have been caused by something other than the knife, although it could have been the knife." Thompson said. "I don't think we can exclude the possibility that there was an additional weapon involved."
Court documents show that the November 2022 attack on Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin was extensive. Goncalves endured "more than 20 stab wounds," alongside blunt-force trauma, authorities revealed in recently released Moscow Police Department (MPD) documents, Fox News reported.
Regarding why Mortensen, a surviving roommate, was left unharmed despite encountering Kohberger as he fled the scene through the rental property's sliding door, Thompson said it appeared the killer panicked.
"From what Dylan described, I have a hard time imagining that the killer did not see Dylan," Thompson said.
"At that point, he'd been in the house probably longer than he planned, and he had killed more people than he planned. It wouldn't surprise us that the killer was scared at that point and decided they had to leave, not knowing if law enforcement had already been called," he added.
Thompson also emphasized the critical role DNA evidence played in solving the case. "From our perspective as prosecutors, the DNA was critical to the strength of the case for trial purposes," he said. Without the DNA linking Kohberger to the knife sheath, securing a conviction might have been "insurmountable," Thompson said.
Mortensen shared with authorities that she had noticed an intruder with "busy eyebrows" on the night of the attack, who had told her he was "here to help." James Fry, who was chief of MPD at the time, told ABC News that there are many theories as to why Mortensen survived, including that Kohberger may have been exhausted from the quadruple murders.
"I don't know, only he has that answer," Fry told the outlet.
"He should be ashamed of what he did," Fry said of Kohberger. "He destroyed lives, families, communities. Changed everybody that ever worked that case," he added. "It's not human what happened."
Police reports released by MPD revealed how gruesome the crime scene was. Some of the victims were bathed in so much blood that officers at first could not sort out what additional injuries there might be, and their faces were so badly damaged they were unrecognizable.
Blood was smeared on the walls and floors, a report said, and the coroner determined that "a lot of force was used by the suspect." Judge Steven Hippler acknowledged Kohberger's motive may never be known as he sentenced him to four consecutive life sentences on the four first-degree murder counts and the maximum penalty of 10 years on the burglary count.
On July 2nd, weeks before the trial was set to start, Kohberger pleaded guilty to all counts.
As part of the plea deal, the death penalty was taken off the table.
Thompson said he also believes that Kohberger spared the surviving roommate, Dylan Mortensen because he panicked and fled the scene. He explained that some injuries observed on victim Kaylee Goncalves, 21, appeared to have been caused by something other than the knife used in the attack. He did not, however, confirm that a second weapon was used.
"There were injuries that appear to have been caused by something other than the knife, although it could have been the knife." Thompson said. "I don't think we can exclude the possibility that there was an additional weapon involved."
Court documents show that the November 2022 attack on Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin was extensive. Goncalves endured "more than 20 stab wounds," alongside blunt-force trauma, authorities revealed in recently released Moscow Police Department (MPD) documents, Fox News reported.
Regarding why Mortensen, a surviving roommate, was left unharmed despite encountering Kohberger as he fled the scene through the rental property's sliding door, Thompson said it appeared the killer panicked.
"From what Dylan described, I have a hard time imagining that the killer did not see Dylan," Thompson said.
"At that point, he'd been in the house probably longer than he planned, and he had killed more people than he planned. It wouldn't surprise us that the killer was scared at that point and decided they had to leave, not knowing if law enforcement had already been called," he added.
Thompson also emphasized the critical role DNA evidence played in solving the case. "From our perspective as prosecutors, the DNA was critical to the strength of the case for trial purposes," he said. Without the DNA linking Kohberger to the knife sheath, securing a conviction might have been "insurmountable," Thompson said.
Mortensen shared with authorities that she had noticed an intruder with "busy eyebrows" on the night of the attack, who had told her he was "here to help." James Fry, who was chief of MPD at the time, told ABC News that there are many theories as to why Mortensen survived, including that Kohberger may have been exhausted from the quadruple murders.
"I don't know, only he has that answer," Fry told the outlet.
"He should be ashamed of what he did," Fry said of Kohberger. "He destroyed lives, families, communities. Changed everybody that ever worked that case," he added. "It's not human what happened."
Police reports released by MPD revealed how gruesome the crime scene was. Some of the victims were bathed in so much blood that officers at first could not sort out what additional injuries there might be, and their faces were so badly damaged they were unrecognizable.
Blood was smeared on the walls and floors, a report said, and the coroner determined that "a lot of force was used by the suspect." Judge Steven Hippler acknowledged Kohberger's motive may never be known as he sentenced him to four consecutive life sentences on the four first-degree murder counts and the maximum penalty of 10 years on the burglary count.
On July 2nd, weeks before the trial was set to start, Kohberger pleaded guilty to all counts.
As part of the plea deal, the death penalty was taken off the table.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2025-08-07T19:13-0400 | Comment by: Bill
We can only hope that inmates will end his life sentence early.