Newly released autopsy findings have shed disturbing light on the brutality of the University of Idaho murders, revealing that victim Xana Kernodle was stabbed over 50 times during the November 2022 attack that shocked the nation.

According to official reports, Kernodle, a 20-year-old junior at the university, suffered deep and repeated wounds, primarily to her upper body and neck, indicating a prolonged and frenzied assault. Forensic pathologists described the injuries as “defensive in nature,” suggesting Xana fought desperately for her life.

Bryan Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University, has been charged with the murders of Xana Kernodle and her three housemates — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, and Ethan Chapin. Investigators say Kohberger entered the rental home in the early hours of the morning and carried out the attack with a fixed-blade knife.

The new autopsy revelations have intensified public outrage and sparked fresh debates around motive, mental health, and the ongoing judicial process. Legal experts believe this level of violence may play a key role in the prosecution’s pursuit of the death penalty.

The trial is expected to be one of the most closely watched in recent years, with prosecutors arguing premeditation and extreme cruelty. Kohberger has pleaded not guilty, and his defense team has raised concerns about the investigation’s handling and the media’s portrayal of their client.

As the Kernodle family and the broader Moscow, Idaho community continue to grieve, the chilling details of this case serve as a grim reminder of the horror that unfolded that night — and the justice yet to be delivered.