Parents of University of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves desperate for trial date to be set as case returns to court (2024)

The family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of four students killed in the University of Idaho murders, is desperate for a trial date to be set as the case returns to court Friday.

Goncalves, 21, one of five siblings in a close-knit family, was killed in November 2022, just weeks before she was set to graduate college early and move to Texas to start her career.

Parents of University of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves desperate for trial date to be set as case returns to court (1)

The family is "in limbo" until a trial begins, Kaylee's mom, Kristi Goncalves, told ABC News. She said Kaylee's siblings don't want to take new jobs, move away and risk missing the proceedings.

The high-profile case has also largely been veiled in secrecy due to a gag order in place -- and the Goncalves family thinks more information needs to be revealed.

Parents of University of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves desperate for trial date to be set as case returns to court (2)

"It keeps being locked away from the people, and it encourages -- it, pretty much, manifests -- an environment where speculations and rumors and conspiracies thrive," said Kaylee's dad, Steve Goncalves.

In the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022, roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, as well as Kernodle's boyfriend Ethan Chapin, were stabbed to death in the girls' off-campus home. Two other roommates survived.

Steve and Kristi Goncalves said there was an indication their daughter fought for her life.

The way the bedroom was set up, Steve Goncalves said, if someone came in, "You can't get out of that room."

"Completely, totally trapped," Kristi Goncalves said. "The bed was the entire room -- could barely open up the door without swiping the foot of the bed."

Parents of University of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves desperate for trial date to be set as case returns to court (4)

MORE: Kohberger lawyer wants the public to see request for the judge to rethink dismissing charges

The suspect, Bryan Kohberger, who was a criminology Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University at the time of the gruesome crime, was arrested weeks later. He has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.

The house where the four students were killed was demolished on Dec. 28, 2023, despite objections from the Goncalves and Kernodle families.

The Goncalves said knocking down the house would "destroy one of the most critical pieces of evidence in the case" before a trial date was even set.

Parents of University of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves desperate for trial date to be set as case returns to court (5)

"Jurors are notoriously unpredictable and they tend to make decisions on a variety of facts and circ*mstances," the family said in a statement last month. "It would be foolish of us to try and foresee what they will want or need to make a just verdict in this case."

University president Scott Green said in December, "It is time for its removal and to allow the collective healing of our community to continue. After the trial was delayed earlier this fall, both the prosecution and defense asked for access to the house and have both gone into the house in the last two months. Neither has asked for the house to be retained."

Chapin's family also supported the demolition.

MORE: Idaho college murders: House demolished despite some families' objections

Kristi Goncalves said that when university officials notified her via email that the house would be demolished over winter break, she "lost it."

Then, on the morning of Dec. 28, "I was waiting for a Hail Mary," she said. "I was in denial. ... and I turned on the TV -- and the house was being torn down."

Parents of University of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves desperate for trial date to be set as case returns to court (6)

The equipment was "actually taking a swipe at Kaylee's room right when I turned on the TV," she said. "It was horrible."

The Goncalves are hoping a trial date will be set Friday. At a Friday court appearance, there will be arguments over Kohberger's requests for Judge John Judge to reconsider his decision not to toss out the charges.

Kohberger's defense had previously made two different attempts to get the indictment dismissed. In one, the defense argued that the grand jury was given inaccurate instructions -- that they used the wrong standard of proof. In the other, the defense argued that prosecutors withheld evidence that might aid Kohberger in defending himself, and biased the grand jury. The judge denied both in December.

Parents of University of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves desperate for trial date to be set as case returns to court (7)
MORE: University of Idaho murders 1 year later: Where the case stands

"We got to get this case over," Steve Goncalves said. "Let's do it. Let's stop playing these delay tactics, let's just get it done."

If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty.

Kristi Goncalves said, "Justice is such a hard word for me because ... there is no justice -- him dying is not gonna bring her back."

"This is like a book," Kristi Goncalves added. "That chapter will be closed, but the book never will be," she said.

Parents of University of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves desperate for trial date to be set as case returns to court (8)

ABC News' Sasha Pezenik contributed to this report.

Parents of University of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves desperate for trial date to be set as case returns to court (2024)

FAQs

Why was Kaylee moving to Texas? ›

Kristi and Steve Goncalves told Dateline that their daughter, 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves, was due to graduate from college early and had lined up a job with an IT firm in Austin, Texas. Kaylee Goncalves had just moved out of the house she shared with her longtime best friend, 21-year-old Madison "Maddie" Mogen.

Who is the family of Kaylee Goncalves? ›

Also interviewed were Kaylee Goncalves' parents, Kristi and Steve Goncalves, and Kaylee's sister, Alivea Goncalves. "We're not going to just sit back and cross our fingers and pray we're going to get justice," Steve Goncalves said.

Where was Kaylee Goncalves going to work? ›

She was set to graduate in December and planned to move to Austin, with one of her close friends in 2023. The friend, Jordyn Quesnell tells The New York Times, Goncalves had secured a position with a marketing firm in the capital city.

Were Madison Mogens and Kaylee Goncalves related? ›

Steve and Kristi not only lost Kaylee on that awful November day, they also lost Madison Mogen. She lived at the King Road house, and was also one of the four victims. Mogen was Kaylee's best friend and like a daughter to the Goncalves'. She and Kaylee met in the 6th grade and the two were inseparable ever since.

What were Kaylee's injuries? ›

The knife slashed open Kaylee Goncalves' liver and lungs, he said.

Who is the mother of Kaylee Goncalves? ›

Kristi Goncalves: I was really hoping that, um, we could get this show on the road because the not knowing … it's just, it's agony. It's agony. Steve and Kristi, the parents of Kaylee Goncalves, haven't left anything to chance.

How many siblings does Kaylee goncalves have? ›

Kaylee Gonzalves was set to graduate in December. Her 4 siblings will be accepting her posthumous degree.

Why was Kaylee moving out of Idaho House? ›

Kaylee, 21, had moved out of the off-campus home weeks before she was murdered, but returned to Moscow to visit her childhood best friend Maddie Mogen, also 21, and show off her new Range Rover. The parents of Kaylee told Dateline that their daughter was set to graduate early and move to Texas for an IT job.

Where did Kaylee Goncalves go to high school? ›

We were six. After much convincing of her parents, Kaylee went to Lake City High School before attending the University of Idaho with Maddie.

What happened to Kaylee in Idaho? ›

In the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022, roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, as well as Kernodle's boyfriend Ethan Chapin, were stabbed to death in the girls' off-campus home. Two other roommates survived.

Was Kaylee visiting Maddie? ›

Then, on the weekend of 12 November, she decided to go back to the college town to visit her best friend Madison Mogen. The two young women had been inseparable since meeting in the sixth grade and Goncalves wanted to show Mogen her new Range Rover that she had saved up for and bought.

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