Idaho State Police have released hundreds of additional crime scene photos from the student murders, offering a chilling glimpse into the lives of the victims and the abrupt end to their college experience. These images capture the remnants of a normal college life, with fast food bags on the counters, keys hanging near the door, and a pair of boots kicked off in the living room. String lights and a neon sign reading ‘Good vibes’ were left on, creating an eerie contrast to the violence that occurred just days before. Many of the photos are close-up views inside and outside the home at 1122 King Road, which has since been demolished. Several show a set of tire marks on the pavement outside, hinting at the suspect’s means of travel.
Inside the home, a sign hanging in the kitchen over a sealed window, marked with red tape, read, ‘This is our happy place.’ Beneath it were some unwashed bowls in the sink, an uneaten bag of popcorn, and a stick of butter, all signs of a life interrupted by tragedy. Police found the refrigerator fully stocked and the dishwasher loaded, indicating that the home had been recently used. A single cigarette butt outside the back door and an undeveloped disposable Kodak camera were also discovered, adding to the sense of an interrupted routine.
Several photos showed handprints on the windows, though these were not believed to have been useful to investigators. The eventual identification of the suspect was made possible through investigative genetic genealogy techniques, which traced a DNA sample left on a knife sheath recovered from the scene to generate a tip that led to the killer. Bryan Kohberger, 30, is now serving four consecutive life sentences without parole, plus another 10 years, for the murders he committed inside. Around 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022, he entered the house with a large knife and killed four of the six students inside. The victims were Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. Three of them were attacked in their sleep and killed in bed.
The release of these photos has been met with mixed reactions, as some argue that they serve as a crucial part of the investigation, while others have raised concerns about the potential violation of the victims’ privacy. A judge in Moscow, Idaho, issued a temporary injunction barring the release of pictures that could potentially violate the privacy of the victims as their parents continue to grapple with the impact of public records requests. Kohberger pleaded guilty in July, weeks before he would have gone to trial and potentially faced the death penalty, agreeing to waive his rights to appeal and seek a future sentence reduction under Idaho law.
Despite the legal challenges and the ongoing emotional impact on the families, the release of these crime scene photos has provided the public with a tangible connection to the tragedy, allowing them to understand the circumstances and the abrupt end to the lives of these young students. The photos serve as a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the lasting impact of such a violent crime.