The mother of Ethan Chapin, one of four University of Idaho students murdered by Bryan Kohberger in 2022, has broken her silence, saying in post on her Instagram that “the entire situation has been a tough pill to swallow” but that Chapin’s family believes the plea deal that will see Kohberger spend the rest of his life in prison “is the right” outcome.
Chapin died alongside his girlfriend, Xana Kernodle, and two of her roommates, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, on November 13, 2022. After years of hearings and motions and court haggling, Kohberger agreed to plead guilty last month in exchange for four life sentences — to be served consecutively — instead of the death penalty.
Stacy Chapin’s post listed several people and organizations that she called “the true heroes in our lives,” including the Moscow Police Department, prosecutors, staff at the University of Idaho, the media, and her extended family and friends, including her children and close friends of Ethan and his triplet siblings, Hunter and Maizie.
The Chapins opted not to attend Kohberger’s sentencing hearing last week. Familiy members from the other three victims delivered emotional victim impact statements at last week’s hearing.
Other family members had a mix of responses to the plea deal, ranging from the Goncalves family’s outrage and anger to Kernodle’s mother’s calm forgiveness.
“At first, I was upset. I felt like I will never get answers now, but now I really see The Lord’s hand in it,” Cara Northington told Fox News. “I now can see that God is protecting us from further torment and trauma.”
Leander James, the attorney for Mogen’s mother and stepfather, said that they “support the plea agreement, 100 percent.”
The Goncalves family, however, blasted prosecutors for the deal, saying they were “beyond furious at the State of Idaho” who “have failed us.”
