The joke sequence is also still strong in place Bryan Kohberger murder case, but slowly and surely we take a more complete look at what happened the fourth night University of Idaho students were killed in front of off-campus in Moscow.
In the early hours of November 13, roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Magenand Xana Kernodleas well as Xana’s boyfriend Ethan Chapin, was brutally stabbed to death. Two other roommates were also in the house but were unharmed — and didn’t find out about the murder for hours. The murder happened some time around 4 am – but the police didn’t find the scene… until 4 pm! How did that happen?
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Well, first you have tonight…
Did Dylan Hear
We know from the affidavit released by Moscow Police Department in January that all the residents of the house were “sleeping or at least in the room by about 4 am” We know the sound carried through the house – but how can people assume that they heard a murder and not horseplay college??
Officer Brett Payne wrote in the affidavit that he survived Dylan Mortensen hear a voice:
“DM stated that he was originally sleeping in a bedroom on the southeast side of the second floor. DM stated that he was awakened at approximately 4 a.m. by what he said was Goncalves playing with his dog in one of the upstairs bedrooms, which was on third floor. Soon, DM said he heard who he thought Goncalves was talking to the effect of ‘someone is here.’
Dylan told police he looked out the window but saw nothing. Payne writes that another noise disturbs the distraught roommate:
“DM said he opened the door a second time when he heard what he thought was crying coming from Kernodle’s room. DM then said he heard a male voice say something like ‘it’s okay, I’m going to help you.'”
Then came the shocking evidence – that Dylan opened his door and “saw a figure in black clothes and a mask covering his mouth and nose walking towards him.” Payne wrote that Dylan said he was in a “phase of frozen shock” as someone walked past him and into the sliding glass door – so he locked himself in the room.
Now, many who follow the case are wondering, if it was only 4 in the morning, why didn’t they call the police? Yes…
What He Thought
We got an answer to that earlier this week when we learned from a source who spoke to Dylan that he thought the noises he heard coming from outside his room were at a party. In fact, he yelled at his friends to let him sleep. As for the mask figure? He seemed to think it was just a guest – maybe a delivery person DoorDash message? It is not uncommon now for strangers to wear masks in new homes.
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He may have told the police that he didn’t move because he was shocked. And of course pictures of people wearing masks are cool now – but what about because we know what’s going on? Really, put yourself in their shoes – how can they know? A house party where people come and go all the time? Where have the police been called so many times in the last few months about noise complaints? It also seems that he was so tired that he didn’t think to call him.
Call
Dylan didn’t call the police that morning either. As well as other living roommates, Bethany Funke. No, the call was actually placed by a third party. A source explained to NewsNation on Tuesday, early Sunday morning, BFF Ethan Chapin came home to check on his friend before noon. He enters Xana’s room – only to find Ethan with his throat cut. The new source said he took a pulse from the stabbing victim and then called 911 on one of his roommates’ phones. He was the one who spoke to the 911 operator — at about 11:58 a.m., nearly eight hours after the murder.
Why is there a friend? At first we thought it was just to meet his friend. But apparently Ethan’s brother-in-law posted online that Dylan had called a friend because he was scared after what he heard. My sister-in-law said she heard Dylan trying to call his roommate and didn’t get an answer…
So, in the morning, when he didn’t see Xana, Kaylee, or Maddie, he called the friend. And we know people will ask, why didn’t they call the police first? Well, it’s easy to ask in hindsight, but again, put yourself in her shoes. What would you do in the situation – as student at party house? If you don’t know – can’t know – the worst case scenario that happens? People can worry and still not know how to worry.
Police Arrived
This last element of curiosity is not a question of the student’s motivation to fear. This is about the effectiveness of the local police.
OK, remember how the last call was made at about 11:58 am? Well, the police didn’t come until 4:00 PM Four hours later?! How much happened in Moscow, Idaho where it took police four hours to get to the scene of a brutal stabbing??
Well, that’s another question that remains. See, according to records, police responded to a call from an “unconscious person.” We know friends take pulses from Ethan and Xana. Maybe plus the injuries are enough to see them die, right? Why did you order to check the unconscious person instead of a murder? We still don’t know what this friend said to the police officer or how he explained it. Will the phone be released to the public? Moscow Police Chief James Fry toward CREAM back in December that the 911 call tapes would be released “when prosecutors believe we can.”
With the joke order we imagine it will be some time. As slow as the trial will take, it may be some time before we learn every detail about why it took so long to call the police – and how long it took for the police to respond to the call.
[Image via Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram.]