Medical examiner Dr. Veena Singh reportedly planned on testifying that three of Bryan Kohberger‘s victims experienced an increased level of pain before their murders.
According to court documents obtained by People on Friday, June 5, Singh found that Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen “endured a high degree of pain and/or suffering prior to their deaths as a result of the injuries.”
The medical professional also found that Ethan Chapin “experienced a high degree of pain and/or suffering prior to his death as a result of the injuries inflicted but to a lesser degree than the other decedents.”
Autopsy reports stated that Goncalves, Mogen and Chapin suffered from fatal injuries while laying in bed asleep, per the outlet. Kernodle, who was not asleep at the time of her death, fought back against her killer as she was stabbed 67 times.
Chapin, Kernodle, Mogen and Goncalves were found dead in their shared home in Moscow, Idaho on November 13, 2022. There were two survivors from the incident: Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke. Weeks later, Kohberger, 31, was arrested in connection with their deaths at his parent’s property in Pennsylvania.
Singh ultimately did not testify in the case because of Kohberger’s plea deal. In July 2025, Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. The arrangement allowed Kohberger to avoid the death penalty and he was not required to reveal details of the murders.
Kohberger was ultimately sentenced to four consecutive life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole, plus ten years for burglary. He has been behind bars at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho, since July 2025.
Goncalves’ parents are still trying to wrap their minds around what happened to their daughter and have unanswered questions for Kohberger.
“I would ask him, ‘Why? Please, please, please. Do you not think that our family has been through enough?’” Kaylee’s mother, Kristi Goncalves, told the Daily Mail in an interview published on Thursday, June 4. “Do you not think what you did to our daughter — when we found out that you stabbed her 38 times with a seven-inch KaBar military model knife, 24 times to her face, to her head, 11 times to her chest and neck, and three defensive wounds as she sat up in that bed, and she fought for her life? … Can you just tell me why? I’m a mother, and you have a mother, too. Can you please just tell me why?”
Kaylee’s father, Steve Goncalves, also wants an explanation.
“That’s all you would have to do. Explain to us how that happened and what other weapon you used,” Steve told the outlet.
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