The parents of Kaylee Goncalves have shared heartbreaking details about their daughter’s final moments and responded to criticism following Bryan Kohberger’s guilty plea in the murders of four University of Idaho students.
Kohberger admitted to killing Kaylee, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen in November 2022. He was arrested in December and recently accepted a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, receiving life sentences without parole and additional time for burglary.
Kaylee’s parents took to Facebook to express their frustration that Kohberger would not face execution. They challenged those who say life imprisonment is justice, emphasizing the violence Kaylee endured.
They wrote: “He doesn’t deserve life in prison. He deserved death row. If your daughter was stabbed many times and beaten while fighting, what would you want? Justice? Vengeance? Maybe both.”
They also spoke about the pain of being judged by people who haven’t experienced their loss.
The family added: “BK was afraid to die but not to kill. He wanted a plea deal and got one. Kaylee was shown no mercy. The state showed BK mercy, but BK showed Kaylee none.”
Their words reflect the deep sorrow and complex feelings families face in the wake of tragedy.
