The parents of Idaho murder victim Kaylee Goncalves have issued a chilling warning to suspect Bryan Kohberger as his legal team battle to spare him from the death penalty.
Bryan Kohberger, 29, is accused of brutally murdering University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves in their off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022.
Kohberger is being held without bail after being charged in 2023 with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary.
On the second anniversary of their murder a local news network sat down with Kristi and Steve Goncalves who sternly warn Kohberger that he will ‘burn in hell’.
Kristi Goncalves, Kaylee’s mother, told KHQ: ‘It’s been very hard, and I don’t know if it’s just the accumulation of the trial or if it’s just missing Kaylee or if it’s just being strung through all these disastrous procedures, but it’s been really hard.’
Through tears she added: ‘I’ve been missing her so much, just dying to hear her voice, just to, you know, walk in the door. Just, constantly looking at pictures… I found some baby pictures of her.’
Parents of Kaylee Goncalves issue a stern warning on the second anniversary of the Idaho murders that suspect, Bryan Kohberger, will ‘burn in hell’
The victims (pictured left to right) Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle were killed in their off-campus home while attending the University of Idaho in 2022
‘I understand the argument,’ he said. ‘It’s falling about as flat as you would expect it to fall,’ said Judge Steven Hippler in response to arguments to dismiss the death penalty
The grieving parents said that the battle for justice had gone on for ‘way too long’ but remained hopeful about the newly appointed Judge Steven Hippler.
Kristi added that if Judge Hippler had been appointed from the beginning that ‘we would be way ahead of the game at this point’.
When asked if the death penalty should remain on the table, Kaylee’s parents were ‘100 percent’ adamant and found the claims of Kohberger’s ‘anxiety and fear’ were ‘absolutely ridiculous’.
‘Did my daughter know the way she was gonna go? Did Maddie know? Did any of the kids know the way they were gonna go? Did they know they had two hours left, one hour left, five minutes left,’ Kristi asked.
The pair were then asked what the motive behind the senseless murders could be.
‘If you wanna make an impact, if you wanna make a brutal, raw statement and try to get people’s attention cuz nobody pays attention to you. Those beautiful four people would make a heck of a statement,’ Kaylee’s father Steve Goncalves told KHQ.
Kristi added that they believed the murders were acted out of ‘total jealously’, Steve said: ‘You picked the wrong family.’
Kristi then sternly warned Kohberger: ‘You will burn in hell.’
Kohberger has maintained his innocence since his arrest and filed his alibi in 2023 as ‘late night drives’
Just days ago, Kohberger and his legal team argued in court to keep Kohberger from the death penalty. His attorney, Anne Taylor, argued that death row in Idaho would be ‘dehumanizing’ as ‘Idaho does not have a current, real means of executing anybody’.
Taylor also argued that the ‘anxiety and fear’ of not knowing how he will die should be a factor in ruling out the death penalty from Kohberger’s case.
As his defense issued their final arguments, stating that the death penalty does not reflect international law and modern-day standards of decency – Judge Hippler wasn’t convinced.
‘I understand the argument,’ he said. ‘It’s falling about as flat as you would expect it to fall.’
His defense team had successfully argued that Kohberger’s trial should be held outside of Moscow, Idaho, where the murders took place due to strong emotions and extensive media coverage
Kohberger’s trial is set begin with jury selection on July 30, 2025, in Ada County after the successful argument to move it out of Moscow, Idaho, where the murders took place
His defense team had successfully argued that Kohberger’s trial should be held outside of Moscow, Idaho, where the murders took place due to strong emotions and extensive media coverage.
Now, his trial – scheduled to begin with jury selection on July 30, 2025 – is being heard in Ada County in Boise in hopes of a more favorable jury.
Prosecutors have claimed that Kohberger’s DNA was found on a Ka-Bar knife sheath found at the victim’s off-campus home, though no murder weapon was ever found.
Officials have also claimed that cell phone data and surveillance put Kohberger’s car at the crime scene.
Kohberger was a PhD criminology student and teaching assistant at Washington State University’s Pullman campus, a 15-minute drive from Moscow, Idaho.
Kohberger has maintained his innocence since his arrest and filed his alibi in 2023 as ‘late night drives’.
The Goncalves said they wanted to thank everybody for their help and support and added that the GoFundMe to support them was helping them through the legal process.
