The brutal murder of four University of Idaho students in November 2022 continues to cast a long and painful shadow — especially now, as newly leaked crime scene photos have resurfaced the horror. These images, quietly posted and then quickly removed from the Idaho State Police website, have stirred deep emotional reactions from the victims’ families and the public alike.
Leaked Photos Show Chilling Details of Crime Scene
Nearly 3,000 previously unseen crime scene photos briefly appeared online earlier this week, offering a haunting look inside the off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, where Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were killed.
The images, obtained by Daily Mail before being scrubbed, show the full horror of what happened inside the house that night.
The photos reveal blood covering nearly every corner of the victims’ bedrooms — splattered on walls, floors, sheets, mattresses, and furniture. One image shows what appears to be smeared bloody fingerprints on a nightstand, while others display blood dripping down the walls and pooling on the floors.
Among the scenes of chaos are everyday college belongings — laptops, mobile phones, shoes, and personal items — now stained and damaged, providing a disturbing contrast to what should have been a normal student home.
Remnants of a Party, Now a Scene of Tragedy
Other images from the scene show signs of a typical college party: red Solo cups, beer cans, and a folding table set up for beer pong. These reminders of youthful fun only amplify the grim nature of the crime, as they sit beside the evidence of an unthinkable act of violence.
The home, once filled with laughter and life, now serves as a haunting symbol of loss.
Family Response: “Murder Isn’t Entertainment”
Kaylee Goncalves’ family responded swiftly and emotionally to the release of the images. In a public Facebook statement, they urged people to approach the situation with empathy and humanity.
“Please be kind & as difficult as it is, place yourself outside of yourself & consume the content as if it were your loved one,” the family wrote.
They were notified about the photo release just minutes before they became public. “That’s the ‘heads up’ we received,” the family added, expressing deep disappointment over how the situation was handled by authorities.
Their message was clear: murder is not entertainment, and sharing graphic images of crime scenes, especially without proper warning or consent, can reopen wounds for grieving families.
Bryan Kohberger: The Man Behind the Murders
Bryan Kohberger, now 31, pleaded guilty to the killings last July in a surprise plea deal. The agreement allowed him to avoid the death penalty, sparking outrage among some of the victims’ families who had hoped for a full trial and a clearer explanation for why he committed the crime.
Kohberger is now serving four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. To this day, no clear motive has been made public, leaving many questions unanswered.
Why Were the Photos Released?
It’s still unclear why the crime scene photos were uploaded to the Idaho State Police website in the first place — or why they were quickly removed. The department has yet to release a formal statement addressing the situation, despite public concern and media inquiries.
