THE mother of Idaho murder victim Kaylee Goncalves has broken down in tears as a tragic reminder of her daughter’s death approaches.

Kristi Goncalves pleaded for suspect Bryan Kohberger to be sentenced to death nearly one year after the four students were found fatally stabbed in a Moscow home.

On November 13, 2022, police discovered the bodies of Kaylee and her best friend Madison Mogen, both 22, as well as Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, both 21 in the off-campus house where a few of them were living.

The victims, who were all students at the University of Idaho, had been brutally slaughtered with a military-grade knife after a shadowy figure broke in late that night, two surviving roommates said.

Six weeks later, officials announced the arrest of Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old criminology graduate student at nearby Washington State University.

Prosecutors say there was DNA on a knife sheath recovered from the scene that was a near-perfect match to his, but he has pleaded not guilty.

Kohberger’s been charged with four counts of murder and could face the death penalty if he’s found guilty.

Speaking with NewsNation, Kaylee’s mom Kristi made an emotional plea for prosecutors to keep seeking the maximum penalty against the man who allegedly stole her daughter’s life.

“It’s just so real sometimes… and it’s just the worst that somebody could do this to somebody’s family, so many families,” she said, fighting tears while her husband rubbed her shoulder.

The mom and dad brought up other murder cases where a killer would get a life sentence and enjoy special treatment in prison by other inmates.

They fear that Kohberger, if he’s found guilty, could be admired for his intelligence.

“We don’t want that,” the mom said.

The killing has left Kristi so heartbroken that she said she can’t even bring herself to go into her daughter’s old bedroom.

“I’ve only been up to Kaylee’s room twice, and neither time was for any amount of time,” she said.

“It was like in and out.”

GRUELING PROCESS

The Goncalves family is anxious for justice after the judge announced that Bryan’s trial, which was supposed to begin on October 2, would be pushed indefinitely.

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Prosecutors requested the delay in the trial to give themselves time to create 3D models of the crime scene, according to a statement from the university.

FBI investigators revisited the Moscow house on October 31 and November 1 to conduct further investigations.

Kaylee’s mourning family said the slow court process has been brutal, but hopes the prosecution is getting all the evidence they need.

They were actually part of the reason why the home wasn’t bulldozed down by university officials who considered removing the off-campus blight.

The family felt that it could be a source of evidence in the future, and were vindicated once the modeling process began.

“I knew in my heart what was best for those girls… I knew it was to keep that around until they did more,” Kaylee’s father Steve said.

“There will be a point when I’ll let it go.”

Now, they say it will be “very emotional” when the home is demolished as they hold on to positive memories of Kaylee’s life before the dark day.

“We have pictures of them in the house… My daughter had a happy life there,” Kristi said.

“When that house goes, it’s gonna be hard. I don’t want to go in. I’ve never even been to the house.

“I’ve never drove by it. I don’t want to.”

University officials confirmed that the home will not be torn down this semester even after the defense and prosecution both voted to demolish it.

TRIAL PROCEEDS

Bryan’s team scored a major court victory when the judge told the prosecution they had until December 1 to turn over DNA evidence linking him to the crime.

Prosecutors say they were able to identify him as the subject through genetic genealogy which uses databases like Ancestry.com and 23andMe to gain genetic information.

However, in court filings, the defense has voiced suspicion about their methods and plans to dispute them when the trial begins.

Investigators say Kohberger allegedly visited the home 12 different times leading up to the murders and had tried to message some of the victims on social media.

In an arrest warrant, the detective said he also allegedly had his phone turned off during the hours the crime is believed to have taken place.

In May, a not-guilty plea was entered on Kohberger’s behalf.

The motive behind the crime, if any, remains a mystery