Bryan Kohberger’s lead prosecutor shares theory on who killer’s ‘target’ actually was

After Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to four terms of life in prison for the deaths of four University of Idaho students, the lead prosecutor on the case has shared his beliefs on who the killer was actually targeting.

Kohberger was sentenced earlier this month for the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, who were killed in their off-campus house on November 13, 2022.

Despite initially proclaiming his innocence, the former criminology student later changed his plea to guilty as part of a deal which took the death sentence off the table.

Kohberger's DNA had been linked to a knife sheath found at the scene, and he confirmed his decision to change his plea was 'because [he was] guilty'.

Despite admitting his role in the murders, Kohberger has never offered up a motive, and investigators have been unable to find any prior links between the killer and his victims.

Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were murdered in their Idaho home (Instagram/@kayleegoncalves)

However, Bill Thompson, the lead prosecutor on the case, has a theory as to who Kohberger was actually intending to kill on the night of the crimes.

Speaking to ABC News after Kohberger's sentencing, he expressed belief that either Kaylee or Maddie was the intended 'target'.

"I personally feel that, for whatever reason, he targeted one of the young women on the third floor," he explained.

Kaylee and Maddie, who were best friends, were both found dead on the third floor of the home, while Ethan and Xana were found on the floor below.

Investigators have released more than 300 documents relating to the case, one of which reveals that Kaylee had reported seeing an 'unknown male' outside the house staring at her weeks before the night of the murders.

Kohberger's phone was detected near the house before the murders (Kyle Green-Pool/Getty Images)

Two other housemates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, had also been in the home on the night of the killings, but were not harmed by Kohberger.

"We are fortunate that he got scared and ran and left without harming Dylan or Bethany," Thompson added.

Alivea Goncalves, Kaylee's older sister, spoke about both Kaylee and Maddie when she delivered a victim impact statement during Kohberger's sentencing.

She said: "I'm not here today to speak in grief, I'm here to speak the truth. Because the truth is, my sister Kaylee and her best friend Maddie were not yours to take.

"They were not yours to study, to stalk or to silence. They were two pieces of a whole, the perfect Yin and Yang. They are everything that you could never be; loved, accepted, vibrant, accomplished, brave and powerful."