Idaho Murder Perpetrator Bryan Kohberger Receives Four Life Sentences in Prison; Identifying the Slain Victims
In a courtroom in Idaho on July 23, 2023, Judge Steven Hippler handed down a sentence that brought a measure of closure for the families of four university students brutally murdered in Moscow, Idaho, on November 12, 2022. Bryan Kohberger, the man found guilty of the heinous crime, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The victims were Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. Ethan, a 20-year-old student, was the final victim of the tragedy. At the time of his death, he was dating Xana Kernodle, a 20-year-old marketing major who was described by her older sister, Jazzmin, as a role model. Xana received 50 stab wounds, mostly defensive, in the horrific attack. Kaylee Goncalves, also 20, was majoring in general studies and was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. Her mother, Kristi Goncalves, issued a statement at Kohberger's sentencing, shared via a video. Madison Mogen, a senior at the university, was majoring in marketing like Xana. Her mother, Karen Laramie, received a call about a homicide at the King Road house from her daughter's boyfriend, Jake Schriger. The Ethan's Smile Foundation, named in honour of Ethan Chapin, was set up to provide scholarships. The foundation's official website describes Ethan as a storyteller, hard worker, and friend-maker. The foundation was partially funded through fundraising efforts involving the collection and sorting of cans and bottles for recycling money. The victims' lives were cut short, but their stories live on. Jazzmin stated that Xana's story doesn't end with her death but lives through the love she gave and the people she touched. Similarly, the memories of Maddie, Kaylee, and Ethan continue to be cherished by their loved ones and the wider community. Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were the surviving roommates of the victims. They bravely testified during the trial, providing crucial evidence that led to Kohberger's conviction. The tragic events of that fateful night in November 2022 caused immeasurable pain and loss. But with the sentencing of Bryan Kohberger, the families of the victims can now begin the long process of healing, knowing that justice has been served.
