Bryan Kohberger case: 911 audio released in Idaho student murders

In November 2022, a tragic event shook the small college town of Moscow, Idaho, when four University of Idaho students—Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20—were found brutally stabbed to death in their off-campus residence at 1122 King Road. The case sent shockwaves through the community and beyond, as authorities worked tirelessly to uncover the details of the crime. Recently, a 911 call placed on the day of the murders was released to the public, providing a glimpse into the panic and confusion that unfolded as the horrifying discovery was made. The release of this call, along with other previously sealed documents, has shed new light on the events of that fateful day and the ongoing investigation into the suspect, Bryan Kohberger, a then-28-year-old criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University.

The 911 call, placed at 11:55 a.m. on November 13, 2022, was made by a female caller who appeared to be in a state of distress. Sobbing and clearly distraught, she reported that “something is happening” inside the house. According to court documents, the grisly scene was discovered by one of Ethan Chapin’s friends, who then instructed others to contact emergency services. The call captures the chaos and horror of the moment, as multiple individuals can be heard in the background, attempting to make sense of the unimaginable violence that had occurred. The caller described one of the roommates as “passed out” and unresponsive, mentioning that she had been drunk the night before. She also recalled seeing a man in the house the previous evening, a detail that would later become a critical piece of evidence in the case.

The release of the 911 call comes after months of legal battles over public access to case documents. Initially, a gag order had prevented the disclosure of certain records, but after a transcript of the call was leaked, authorities determined that it was no longer exempt from public disclosure. The call paints a vivid picture of the turmoil that ensued as the truth of the situation began to sink in. The dispatcher can be heard asking for the caller’s phone number, which was later redacted from the audio. At several points, the caller pauses to confer with others in the background, prompting the dispatcher to request that the phone not be passed around. Despite the confusion, police arrived at the scene in less than five minutes, a response that underscored the urgency of the situation.

Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of the murders, was identified as a suspect several weeks after the killings. A criminology student with a Ph.D. in the field, Kohberger lived just 10 miles away from the crime scene in Pullman, Washington, where he was studying at Washington State University. Authorities linked him to the crime through DNA evidence, specifically from a knife sheath found at the scene, which was discovered under Madison Mogen’s body. Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022, at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he had traveled for the holidays. The case against him has been built largely on forensic evidence, including DNA, as well as eyewitness accounts from the surviving roommates, who reported seeing a masked intruder with “bushy eyebrows” on the night of the murders.

One of the surviving roommates, identified in court documents as DM, has been particularly instrumental in the investigation. DM, who has been described as the only eyewitness to the intruder, provided a detailed description of the suspect, which was later used to identify Kohberger. Additionally, text messages exchanged between DM and the other surviving roommate, BF, were recently unsealed and revealed the pair’s growing unease in the hours leading up to the discovery of the bodies. Between 4:22 and 4:24 a.m. on the morning of the murders, DM and BF were awake and texting each other, discussing the possibility of a masked intruder in the house. These messages, along with the 911 call transcript, offer a harrowing timeline of the events as they unfolded.

As the case against Bryan Kohberger progresses, legal battles over evidence and testimony have intensified. Kohberger’s defense team has challenged the methods used by the FBI to match the DNA evidence, suggesting that the sample may have been planted and that their client was framed. However, these challenges were ultimately unsuccessful, and the case is set to move forward. Kohberger has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his trial is scheduled to begin on August 11, 2024. Prosecutors have indicated that they will seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted, while the defense plans to argue for leniency by presenting evidence related to Kohberger’s mental health. The release of the 911 call and other previously sealed documents has reignited public interest in the case, as the community and the nation await justice for the four young lives lost.

The murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin have left an indelible mark on the town of Moscow and the University of Idaho. The release of the 911 call serves as a poignant reminder of the terror and anguish experienced by those who discovered the crime and the loved ones of the victims. As the legal process continues, the community remains hopeful that justice will be served and that the families of the victims can find some measure of closure. The case also raises important questions about safety, accountability, and the complexities of the criminal justice system, sparking conversations that extend far beyond the borders of Idaho. In the end, the story of these four students and the events of that tragic day will forever be etched in the collective memory of those who followed the case, a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring impact of violence.