Gruesome Detail Confirms Victim’s Final Moments—Graphic Image Still Haunts Cops
Nearly two years after the horrifying slayings of four University of Idaho students, investigators have finally answered one of the most disturbing questions from the crime scene: whose blood was seen seeping from the house and dripping down its outer wall.
State Police Lt. Darren Gilbertson, who worked the brutal case in Moscow, Idaho, opened up in a chilling interview with ABC News this past Friday—shedding new light on the grisly details that left an entire community shattered and a nation stunned.
“It was Ethan Chapin’s blood,” Gilbertson revealed. “His body was found in a bed in Xana Kernodle’s room, and the blood was literally leaking through the wall to the exterior of the house.”
📍 The Scene That Gripped the Nation
On a cold November night in 2021, tragedy struck the college town of Moscow, Idaho when Bryan Kohberger, then a 28-year-old criminology Ph.D. student, brutally murdered four students in a shocking and methodical knife attack.
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- Ethan Chapin, 20
- Xana Kernodle, 20
- Kaylee Goncalves, 21
- Madison Mogen, 21
The shocking photo of blood streaks running down the side of the off-campus home went viral just days after the murders. For months, the internet speculated whose blood it was—and what unspeakable horrors occurred inside.
Now, investigators have confirmed that those chilling streaks came from Ethan Chapin, who was found butchered in bed, his life violently taken while staying the night with his girlfriend, Xana.
💔 Found Together in One Room
Gilbertson revealed that Ethan and Xana were both found in the same bedroom, but their final moments were vastly different.
“Xana was found on the floor, also stabbed to death. Ethan was still in bed. The blood came from his body, soaked through the mattress, and eventually leaked out of the house.”
The detail—macabre and heartbreaking—offers a chilling glimpse into just how savage the attack was.
Gilbertson said the violence was so severe, the blood not only drenched the mattress but also seeped through the interior wall, making its way outside—where photographers captured the now-infamous blood trails on camera.
🛏️ Kaylee and Madison: Slain Together, Unique Injuries Found
In another room, best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were found slain in bed together, according to Gilbertson.
While many details of the investigation had previously been revealed during court proceedings and police briefings, Gilbertson shared one particularly harrowing insight: Kaylee had unique injuries.
“Her wounds had a horizontal pattern,” he said—suggesting the killer inflicted targeted or deliberate wounds on her that differed from the others.
The significance of these distinct injuries remains unknown, but some speculate that Kaylee may have been a primary target, while others were collateral victims in Kohberger’s demented plan.
🧠 Bryan Kohberger: A Killer With No Known Motive
Bryan Kohberger, who was studying criminal behavior and had a background in forensics, quickly became a suspect after his DNA matched evidence at the scene and his vehicle was spotted near the home multiple times before the murders.
He was arrested weeks later in Pennsylvania, far from the crime scene, and extradited to Idaho to face charges.
In 2024, Kohberger pleaded guilty to the murders and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. But despite his conviction, his motive remains unclear—and that’s what continues to haunt the victims’ families and investigators.
“We still don’t know why,” Gilbertson said. “There was no note. No manifesto. Nothing that explains why he chose those students, that house, or that night.”
🧬 A Forensic Nightmare Turned Breakthrough
The investigation into the murders was one of the largest in Idaho’s history, involving FBI agents, forensic experts, and hundreds of tips from the public.
Despite Kohberger’s criminal justice background, he left behind critical pieces of evidence—including a knife sheath with DNA at the scene and digital footprints showing his cell phone in the area multiple times before the killings.
Gilbertson says the scene was one of the most horrific and emotionally devastating he’s ever encountered.
“I’ve been a cop for over 20 years. I’ve never seen anything like it. Four young lives wiped out. And the scene itself? Unimaginable.”
🕯️ The Victims: Forever Remembered
- Ethan Chapin was a triplet, remembered by his siblings and parents as the “goofball with the biggest heart.” He was visiting Xana that night, and had only recently begun dating her.
- Xana Kernodle, a fun-loving student with a spark for life, was known for her kindness and energy.
- Kaylee Goncalves was set to graduate early and had just gotten a new car. She had returned home to visit her best friend Madison that weekend.
- Madison Mogen, Kaylee’s lifelong best friend, was funny, fierce, and close with her family.
The four friends were well-known and well-loved around campus. The tragedy left a permanent scar on the University of Idaho and the wider community.
📸 A Photo That Will Haunt History
The photo of blood seeping down the outside wall of the house is now one of the most widely circulated images tied to the crime. The detail that it belonged to Ethan Chapin adds a deeply personal, heartbreaking layer to the already devastating image.
“That picture will live on in infamy,” Gilbertson admitted. “But it’s a grim reminder of the reality we faced behind those walls.”
❓ Still So Many Unanswered Questions
Though Kohberger is behind bars for life, many still demand answers.
- Why that house?
- Why those four students?
- Did Kohberger know any of them?
- What truly drove him to kill?
So far, no evidence has been made public to explain the killer’s mindset. Some experts believe Kohberger may never reveal his motives—locking the truth away forever.
🙏 Final Words
As Lt. Gilbertson shared these painful details, one message was clear: the horror of that night still lingers. From the blood that leaked through the walls to the lives stolen far too soon, the memory of the Idaho college murders won’t fade.
“These kids should still be here,” Gilbertson said, fighting back emotion. “We won’t stop remembering them. Ever.”
What do you think about this haunting new detail in the Idaho college murders? Should the full crime scene footage be made public, or is that too much?
👇 Sound off in the comments and share your thoughts.
🕯️ Stay with The Pop Radar (TPR) for exclusive updates, forensic deep dives, and new details as they emerge.
