The family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the four victims murdered in Idaho in November 2022, has shared their agony after discovering the frantic texts sent from her phone shortly after her brutal death.
These heartbreaking details are the latest revelation in an ongoing case that has rocked the small town of Moscow, Idaho.
The Tragic Murders of Four University Students
On November 13, 2022, Kaylee Goncalves, her best friend Madison Mogen, roommate Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle’s boyfriend Ethan Chapin were murdered in a shocking stabbing spree inside the off-campus home where they lived.
The attack left the home, shared by the women and two other roommates, stained with violence and grief.
The accused, Bryan Kohberger, a 30-year-old criminology PhD student, now faces multiple charges, including murder, and may be sentenced to death when his trial begins in August 2025.
Terrifying Moments Captured in New Court Documents
In newly unsealed court documents, a chilling account of what transpired that night has come to light.
Among the most gut-wrenching revelations are the panicked texts sent by surviving roommates Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke in the aftermath of the killings.
Mortensen, who was on the second floor of the house, reportedly encountered a masked intruder just hours after the murders.
The details of her terror, revealed for the first time, have left Goncalves’s family devastated.
Mortensen’s Desperate Attempts to Reach Her Roommates
According to the documents, at around 4 a.m., Mortensen was awoken by sounds of distress from the upper floors of the house.
She heard whimpering and a man’s voice saying, “It’s ok, I’m going to help you.”
When Mortensen opened her door, she allegedly saw a masked man with bushy eyebrows dressed in black, moving towards the back of the house.
In a panic, she tried reaching out to her roommates Kaylee, Madison, and Xana, as well as Funke, sending frantic texts that went unanswered.
Her growing confusion and fear were evident in the messages: “No one is answering,” “I’m really confused right now,” and “What’s going on?”
The Startling Details of the Early Morning Hours
Mortensen’s exchange with Funke further painted a terrifying picture of the chaos inside the home.
Mortensen described the masked man as wearing something over his head and mouth, resembling a ski mask. She texted Funke, “I’m not kidding, I’m so freaked out.”
Funke, equally alarmed, urged Mortensen to run downstairs to her room on the first floor.
Eventually, Mortensen left her room and joined Funke. The two women tried to sleep, unaware of the horrific scene unfolding upstairs.
The Hours After the Murders and the Disturbing 911 Call
The following morning, Mortensen continued reaching out to her roommates, sending texts to Kaylee and Madison asking if they were awake.
Meanwhile, Funke eventually placed a 911 call around 11:50 a.m. after a neighbor discovered Xana Kernodle’s body in the home.
In the call, the frantic callers reported that Kernodle was unresponsive, and they also referenced Mortensen’s earlier sighting of the masked man inside the house.
The Search for the Killer and Kohberger’s Arrest
As the investigation unfolded, authorities quickly focused on Bryan Kohberger as a prime suspect.
The key evidence linking him to the murders was a brown leather knife sheath found near one of the victims, which contained DNA matching Kohberger.
Further investigation revealed that his white Elantra had been spotted near the scene at the time of the murders, and cellphone data placed him close to the house during the attack.
Kohberger’s Defense and Continued Legal Battles
Despite the mounting evidence, Kohberger’s defense team has made several attempts to have certain evidence excluded from the trial, including DNA obtained through investigative genetic genealogy.
His legal team is also fighting to remove the death penalty as an option, citing his autism as a factor that could influence jury decision-making.
Meanwhile, Goncalves’s family continues to publicly advocate for the death penalty, with her father pushing for Kohberger to face a firing squad if convicted.
What Lies Ahead in the Case
As Kohberger’s trial approaches, with the next court appearance set for April, the family of Kaylee Goncalves remains consumed by grief and uncertainty.
The newly released details, including Mortensen’s texts and the distressing 911 call, have only added to their heartache.
For now, they hold onto the hope that justice will be served, but the emotional toll of reliving those tragic moments remains a heavy burden to bear.