The sheer brutality of what happened in Moscow, Idaho, back in November 2022 still feels heavy. It’s one of those cases that just won't let go of the public consciousness. People are constantly searching for the Idaho 4 autopsy report, hoping to find some kind of "why" behind the "how." But here is the thing: the full, unredacted autopsy reports haven't been released to the public. They likely won't be until the trial of Bryan Kohberger actually gets underway. What we do have is a chilling trail of breadcrumbs left in the Latah County Coroner's statements and the probable cause affidavit.
It’s grisly stuff.
When Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt first spoke to the media, she didn't mince words. She confirmed that the four victims—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—were all stabbed to death. Multiple times. It wasn't just a quick thing. This was a sustained, violent attack using a large fixed-blade knife. She specifically mentioned that some of the victims had "defensive wounds," which is a clinical way of saying they fought like hell for their lives.
Understanding the "Defense Wounds" in the Idaho 4 Autopsy Report
When you hear "defensive wounds," your mind probably goes to a movie scene. But in the context of the Idaho 4 autopsy report details we know, it means something much more specific. It means the victims were awake. At least some of them were.
Xana Kernodle, for instance, is widely believed to have been one of the victims who fought back. The affidavit mentions her being found on the floor of her room. Her father, Jeffrey Kernodle, told news outlets shortly after the murders that Xana had bruises and cuts that showed she tried to stop the blade with her hands. That’s a detail that would be meticulously documented in a formal autopsy—the angle of the slices on the palms, the depth of the gashes on the forearms. It tells a story of a struggle that lasted seconds, maybe minutes, but felt like an eternity.
Kaylee Goncalves’ father, Steve Goncalves, has been very vocal about the "large gouges" and the difference in the wounds between the victims. He’s suggested that the injuries weren't identical, which points to a killer who was perhaps more focused on certain individuals or simply getting tired as the attack progressed.
The Physics of the Weapon
The weapon is a huge part of the forensic puzzle. While the police haven't recovered the actual knife, the "sheath" found at the scene—a tan leather Ka-Bar style sheath—gives us a massive clue. Ka-Bar knives are designed for the military. They are thick. They are heavy.
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An autopsy report in a stabbing case like this doesn't just say "stab wound." It measures the width, the depth, and the shape of the entry point. A Ka-Bar leaves a very specific "single-edged" mark. If the blade is serrated near the hilt, that leaves a different kind of tearing in the tissue. Forensic pathologists look at whether the knife was twisted inside the wound. They look for "hilt marks," which happen when the killer plunges the knife so deep that the guard of the handle actually bruises the skin around the wound.
The Mystery of the "Extensive" Injuries
There has been a lot of online chatter, some of it pretty dark, about the extent of the injuries to Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. They were found in the same bed. Think about that for a second. The logistics of attacking two people in a single bed without one of them getting away immediately implies a level of speed and ferocity that is hard to wrap your head around.
The coroner noted that the victims were likely asleep when the attack started. But "started" is the keyword. The Idaho 4 autopsy report would clarify if there was any evidence of strangulation or blunt force trauma before the stabbing began. So far, the official word is just the knife. But the sheer volume of blood mentioned in the house—leaking through the walls to the exterior of the foundation—speaks to the severing of major arteries. We’re talking about the carotid or the femoral.
Why the Public Haven't Seen the Full Documents
In Idaho, autopsy reports are generally not public record during an active investigation. And since there is a non-dissemination order (a gag order) in place, the lawyers, the police, and the coroner can't say a word.
This leads to a vacuum. And vacuums get filled with rumors.
You’ve probably seen the TikToks or the subreddits claiming "inside info" about the state of the bodies. Honestly, most of that is just speculation. The real data—the toxicology reports (which will likely be negative for anything significant), the stomach contents (which help determine the time of death), and the precise number of wounds—is all under lock and key. The defense team, led by Anne Taylor, has access to these reports. They’ve been pouring over them to see if the wounds match the physical capabilities of Bryan Kohberger.
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Timeline Discrepancies and Forensic Pathology
Time of death is rarely an exact science. A coroner looks at rigor mortis (stiffening), livor mortis (pooling of blood), and algor mortis (body temperature). Because the bodies weren't discovered until nearly noon the next day—roughly eight hours after the murders happened—that window for "exact" time of death is a bit wide.
The Idaho 4 autopsy report will have a "window" of time. The prosecution uses the phone data and the "pings" of the white Hyundai Elantra to pin the time to roughly 4:00 AM to 4:25 AM. The medical evidence has to back that up. If the core body temperatures don't align with a 4:00 AM death, the defense is going to have a field day.
The DNA on the Sheath
While not technically part of the autopsy of the victims, the forensic biology report is the sister document to the autopsy. The "touch DNA" found on the button snap of the knife sheath is the linchpin. It’s a tiny amount of skin cells.
Some skeptics argue that touch DNA is unreliable. They say it can be transferred. Like, if Kohberger shook hands with someone who then touched the sheath. But when you combine that DNA with the "pattern of injury" described in the autopsy, it gets harder to explain away. The autopsy shows a "manual" killing. This wasn't a shooting from a distance. This was close, personal, and physically demanding.
What the Autopsy Tells Us About the Killer
Pathologists can sometimes infer things about the perpetrator from the wounds.
- Strength: A knife through a ribcage requires significant force.
- Handedness: The angle of the wounds can suggest if the killer was right or left-handed.
- Height: The trajectory of the stabs can give a rough estimate of the attacker's height relative to the victim.
- Intent: "Overkill"—the act of stabbing far more than necessary to cause death—often suggests a personal connection or a specific psychological state (like a frenzied rage).
In the case of the Idaho 4, the sheer number of wounds suggests someone who didn't just want to kill, but someone who was perhaps "experimenting" or lost in a "manic" state. Or, conversely, someone so clinical that they knew exactly where to strike to ensure no one could scream.
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The Silent Killer Myth
One of the biggest questions people have is: "How did no one hear four people being murdered?"
The Idaho 4 autopsy report might explain this through the "physiological silence" of certain wounds. If a lung is collapsed or the trachea is severed early in the attack, the victim physically cannot scream. It’s a horrifying thought. But from a forensic standpoint, it explains why the surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, didn't hear the kind of blood-curdling screams you’d expect. Dylan did report hearing someone say, "There's someone here," and the sound of crying, but the layout of the house and the nature of the injuries kept the rest quiet.
Distinguishing Between the Victims
There is a rumor that one victim's injuries were much worse than the others. This is a crucial detail for the prosecution. If Kaylee or Madison were "targeted," it changes the motive.
The autopsy will detail every single mark. It will list "incised wounds" (longer than they are deep) and "stab wounds" (deeper than they are wide). If one victim has 30 wounds and another has 10, that’s a massive red flag for investigators. It points to a hierarchy of targets.
Actionable Insights for Following the Case
Since we are waiting for the trial to see the actual documents, here is how you can stay informed without falling for the "fake news" trap:
- Read the Probable Cause Affidavit: This is the most accurate public document we have. It summarizes the findings that would be in the autopsy report.
- Follow Credible Legal Journalists: Look for people like Nate Eaton or the reporters from the Idaho Statesman who are actually in the courtroom.
- Ignore "Leak" Videos on Social Media: Unless it's coming from a verified court filing, it's almost certainly speculation or "fan fiction."
- Understand the Gag Order: Realize that until the trial starts, no official is going to confirm the "leaked" details you see on Reddit.
The trial is where the Idaho 4 autopsy report will finally be laid bare. It will be a "battle of the experts." The prosecution will bring in their pathologist to show how the wounds match the Ka-Bar knife and the timeline. The defense will bring in their own expert to argue that the wounds could have been caused by a different weapon or that the time of death is inconsistent with Kohberger's movements.
Ultimately, these reports aren't just pieces of paper. They are the final testimony of four young people whose lives were cut short. They provide the cold, hard facts that emotion can't blur. When those doors finally open in the courtroom, the forensic evidence will be what speaks the loudest. No amount of internet theorizing can replace the precision of a medical examiner’s scalpel and the data it uncovers. Stay focused on the verified filings, and take everything else with a grain of salt.
Next Steps for Research:
- Review the Latah County Court’s website for any newly unsealed documents regarding the "Motion to Compel" evidence, which often discusses forensic findings.
- Compare the Ka-Bar knife specifications with the reported wound descriptions to understand the physical mechanics of the crime.