The loved ones of four University of Idaho students murdered on November 13, 2022 spoke out about the impact the killings had on their lives just before Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to life without parole.

At a sentencing hearing on July 23, multiple individuals read victim impact statements to those packed into the Boise County courthouse, including Kohberger, who previously pleaded guilty to murdering Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Madison Mogen. Many of the statements included heart-wrenching details about their personal fears and struggles in the wake of the killings, while others directed their anger at the 30-year-old. 

Following the victim impact statements, Kohberger was given the opportunity to address the court, but he told the court that he “respectfully” declined.

Kohberger accepted a plea deal that removed the possibility of a death sentence just weeks before he was set to face trial on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. 

Kohberger, who waived his right to post-conviction appeals as part of the plea deal, said at a July 2, 2025 court hearing that he “willfully, unlawfully, and deliberately with premeditation and malice of forethought” murdered the students at their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022. 

Read on to learn what the victims’ loved ones and surviving roommates stated in court. 

Kaylee Goncalves’ mother, Kristi Goncalves

Kaylee’s mother, Kristi Goncalves, spoke directly to Kohberger, calling him “devoid of humanity” and “pathetic.” 

“You stole my peace. You’ve altered my every waking moment; every sleepless night; the way I view the world, people, safety, trust — it’s all been changed by your cruelty,” she said. 

Kristi said she was “disappointed the firing squad won’t get to take their shots at you,” but that she was comforted by the fact that he will spend the rest of his life in prison, remembered as a “loser, absolute failure.”

“May you continue to live your life in misery. You are officially the property of the state of Idaho,” she continued. 

Kaylee Goncalves’ dad, Steve Goncalves

Steve Goncalves, Kaylee’s father, moved the podium to address Kohberger directly, telling the 30-year-old that he does not believe Kohberger deserves to live, disagreeing with the plea deal that spared the killer a death sentence.

“Today, we are here to prove to the world that you picked the wrong families, wrong state, the wrong police officers, the wrong community,” he said. “You failed.”

Steve added that he is united with investigators and others “in our disgust” for Kohberger. “None of us are divided. We are united in our disgust and our love for our children,” he said.

Kaylee Goncalves’ sister, Alivea Goncalves

Kaylee’s big sister said she was in court to speak for her sister, as well as victim Madison Mogen. “My sister Kaylee and her best friend Maddie were not yours to take; they were not yours to study, to stalk or to silence,” Alivea Goncalves said.

Alivea described how kind and warm the two victims were, telling Kohberger, “If you would have approached them in their everyday lives, they would have given you directions, thanked you for the compliment, or awkwardly giggled to make your own words less uncomfortable for you. In a world that rejected you, they would’ve shown mercy.”

She further described the anger she feels toward Kohberger, who showed no reaction.

Alivea added that she did not wish to show him her emotions on purpose. “Disappointments like you thrive on pain, on fear, and on the illusion of power. I will call you what you are: sociopath, psychopath, murderer,” she said.

“You want the truth? Here’s the one you’ll hate the most: if you hadn’t attacked them in their sleep in the middle of the night like a pedophile, Kaylee would’ve kicked your f–king ass,” Alivea said.

Madison Mogen’s grandmother, Kim Cheeley 

Kim Cheeley shared the joy she experienced as Madison’s grandmother, remembering how Madison called her “deedle-deedle” as a toddler. Later in life, Cheeley said, Madison gave her a necklace engraved with “deedle and Maddie” on it. “It’s one of my treasured possessions,” she said. 

Cheeley shared that she continues to struggle in the aftermath of the killings. “In the past two and a half years, my family has lived with grief, with the effects of traumatic grief, of which I was blissfully unaware before all of this,” she said. 

She expressed sympathy to the other families, including the Kohbergers.  

Cheeley completed her statement by saying, “Going forward, we Mogens are choosing to put our energy and our focus into honoring Maddie’s too-short life.” 

Madison Mogen’s father, Ben Mogen 

Madison Mogen’s father, Ben Mogen, thanked the authorities and prosecutors for “bringing this to a close” before describing his remorse that he didn’t spend more time with his daughter. 

“She was the only great thing I ever did; the only thing I was ever really proud of. I thought we would have the rest of our lives together,” he said through tears.  

He shared that she was his “favorite” person, remembering how much he enjoyed going to concerts with Maddie. “We got to see some fun shows together,” he said, adding that his “favorite” memory was attending a Mac Miller concert with Madison and her friends.  

Ben also reflected on the support Maddie offered him in difficult times.  

“She did encourage me not just to do my best, but to live on. I went through a lot of issues with addiction and substance abuse, and when I was not wanting to live anymore, she was what would keep me from not caring anymore,” he said. “Knowing that she was out there and that she was just a beautiful person kept me alive.” 

Xana Kernodle’s sister, Jazzmin Kernodle

Jazzmin Kernodle said she wanted to take her time to honor her sister Xana and the other victims instead of addressing Kohberger’s crimes.

“There’s no way to ever fully describe the weight of losing my sister, my best friend,” she said. “No sentence, no punishment will ever come close to the justice Xana, Ethan, Kaylee, and Maddie deserve.” 

Jazzmin described how much she “looked up” to her little sister, saying, “She truly did live every day to the fullest.” 

She cried as she described all the life events Xana will miss out on, but vowed to “live in her honor, fight to be the best kind of woman, someone she’s proud of.” 

Xana Kernodle’s dad, Jeff Kernodle

Xana’s father, Jeff Kernodle, detailed how much he missed his daughter and the impact she had on his life. He remembered how Xana called him to see how he was doing and check in on him, which he didn’t realize he’d miss until she was gone.  

The Kernodle family patriarch also shared his regrets that he didn’t go to check on Xana that night. He said that Xana told him not to come and visit because he had been drinking. “I really wish I would’ve drunken drove, because they would’ve had a chance, all four of them,” he reflected. 

Xana Kernodle’s aunt, Kim Kernodle 

Kim Kernodle, Xana’s aunt, said in her statement that she’s trying to find the “positive” in the situation. 

Addressing the defendant, she said, “You united us with your actions. We’re united now and we’re stronger than ever. We have family and friends now that we never knew we had.” 

Kim also told Kohberger she has “forgiven” him, adding, “Anytime you want to talk and tell me what happened, get my number. I’m here, no judgement. Because I do have questions that I want you to answer. I’m here and I’ll be the one to listen to you.” 

Survivor Bethany Funke

One of the victims’ two surviving roommates, Bethany Funke, had a friend read her victim impact statement to the court on her behalf. In her statement, she expressed that she still wonders why she survived when her four friends were killed that night.

“I hated and still hate that they are gone, but for some reason, I am still here, and I got to live,” Funke’s written statement read. “I still think about this every day. Why me? Why did I get to live and not them? For the longest time, I could not even look at their families without feeling sick with guilt.”

Survivor Dylan Mortensen

Dylan Mortensen — another one of the surviving roommates in the Moscow home where the massacre took place — attended the hearing in person, reading her impact statement as she sat in a prosecutor’s chair. She cried as she explained the debilitating anxiety she experiences to this day, detailing how she often makes an escape plan when she’s in unfamiliar places. “Sometimes, I drop to the floor with my heart racing,” she said.

Nonetheless, Mortensen said she will persevere. “Living is how I honor them. He may have taken so much from me, but he will never get to take my voice,” she said.

This story is developing.