Ethan Chapin’s Mom Shares Heartbreaking Message After Idaho Case

Stacy Chapin is expressing the array of feelings she’s experiencing following the imprisonment of the suspect involved in the University of Idaho murders.

As a dedicated follower of this tragic story, I find myself reflecting on the events that unfolded over the past couple of years. Specifically, I’m referring to the heartbreaking loss of Ethan Chapin, who was just 20 years old at the time of his fatal stabbing in November 2022 along with Kaylee Goncalves (21), Madison Mogen (21), and Xana Kernodle (20). The mother of Ethan, a woman I can only imagine the pain that she has endured, was absent during the July 23 sentencing when Bryan Kohberger was given a life imprisonment sentence. They had made the difficult decision, two years prior, to not attend the trial, as Stacy shared with Today that their presence would not be an effective use of energy. Now, with the case finally concluded, she is choosing to share her thoughts on these challenging times.

She’s pondered extensively about her words since July 23 and has revised them countless times, she shared on Instagram on July 31. The whole ordeal has been difficult to accept, but ultimately, we trust that the end result is appropriate.

In my capacity as a lifestyle expert, I found myself compelled to pen a deeply emotional tribute to my son, whom fate took away prematurely. Directly addressing Ethan, I poured out my heart in a message that echoed the depth of my sorrow and love.

Ethan, thank you! Even though your time with us was just 20 years, you left an indelible impact on countless individuals. From the moment you were born until the day we sent you to college, you brought immense joy and served as the bond that strengthened our family,” she penned.

Stacy, who also affirmed that Jim Chapin’s kids, Maizie and Hunter, graduated in May without their triplet brother, went on to say, “We remember your smile, your laughter, the way you kept us in line, and the countless ways you brought joy and brightness to every situation. No one will ever be able to replace you. We would have never had enough time with you. We love you, miss you, and vow to keep your memory alive.

Additionally, she expressed gratitude towards the community for their assistance following the tragedies. She noted that various law enforcement agencies, including the Moscow Police Department, FBI, and numerous other investigators, had dedicated countless hours to this investigation, sacrificing time with their families in the process.

The matriarch went on to share her gratitude for the University of Idaho as well as prosecutors, who she said “openly communicated with transparency, answered every call and email, and were fantastic throughout this process.”

Read on for a full breakdown of the case.

The young individuals – Kaylee Goncalves (aged 21), Madison Mogen (also 21), Xana Kernodle (only 20 years old), and Ethan Chapin (who was 20 as well) – were students at the University of Idaho, residing in an apartment off campus.

On November 12, 2022, Goncalves and Mogen spent their evening at a nearby sports bar, while Kernodle and Chapin attended a party at Chapin’s fraternity house. By 2 a.m. on the following day, all four roommates and Chapin returned to their shared three-story rental property.

Goncalves, a senior student majoring in general studies at the College of Arts and Humanities, was anticipated to graduate in December. Afterward, she planned to move to Austin, Texas, to start a job at a marketing firm, as her friend Jordyn Quesnell shared with The New York Times.

During his time as a marketing student, Mogen had been close friends with Goncalves since the sixth grade. It was reported by family friend Jesse Frost to The Idaho Statesman that after graduation, Mogen intended to relocate to Boise.

Kernodle was a junior studying marketing, as stated earlier. She and Chapin, who specialized in recreation, sport, and tourism management, had been together since the spring, according to their neighbor Ellie McKnight, speaking to NBC News.

Two housemates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, were present at home during the reported murders. Text messages released on March 6, 2025, indicated that Mortensen and Funke attempted to reach their other roommates on November 13 after Mortensen spotted a masked individual moving around inside the house, as suggested by documents obtained by TopMob News.

“No one is answering,” Mortensen texted Funke at 4:22 a.m. “I’m rlly confused rn.”

She persistently contacted her roommates, encouraging them to get back to her. At 4:32 a.m., she messaged Goncalves saying, “Pls respond,” and later at 10:23 a.m., she asked, “Are you awake??

Around 11:58 a.m., someone made a 911 call following the discovery of Kernodle being unresponsive. This information was gathered from an additional motion obtained by TopMob News. In the transcript, a woman identified as A1 detailed the current state of affairs to the operator.

She mentioned, over the phone, that one of the roommates is still unconscious from being intoxicated the previous night and refuses to wake up. They reported seeing an unknown man inside their residence last night.

Bryan Kohberger, currently facing charges for four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, was a Ph.D. student at Washington State University. Approximately a month after the bodies of Gonclaves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin were found, Kohberger was apprehended on December 30 in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. He was transported to Idaho on January 4, 2023.

It was discovered that DNA matching him was present on a knife sheath found at the crime scene, as stated in court documents from June 2023 by prosecutors, according to NBC News.

When the DNA didn’t correspond with anyone in the FBI database, authorities decided to search public ancestry websites to generate a list of possible suspects, as stated in the documents. Upon discovering that Kohberger had visited his parents’ home in Monroe County, local officials subsequently examined their trash and identified DNA links between it and the one found on the sheath.

Currently, no clear reason for the attack has been disclosed, and a restraining order prohibits several people connected to the case from making public statements, according to NBC News. Nevertheless, recently unveiled court papers offer some understanding of their opening claims.

Lawyers for Kohberger requested to remove the possibility of a death sentence, stating in a motion disclosed by TopMob News, that Kohberger has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). They argued that if found guilty on all charges, executing someone with ASD would infringe upon the Eighth Amendment’s ban on “unusual and inhumane treatment.

In simpler terms, the defense contended that Kohbereger tends to think in a very inflexible manner, repeatedly focuses on certain subjects, handles data in bits and pieces, finds it challenging to anticipate future events, and shows limited understanding of his own actions and feelings.

As someone who specializes in lifestyle and wellness, I must express my concern about the unique challenges faced by Mr. Kohberger, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It’s essential to understand that due to this condition, he may struggle to conform to societal norms as typically expected. This potential disparity could unfortunately lead to a situation where he might be judged and punished based on his disability rather than his actions. This is morally unacceptable, as it should always be the individual’s responsibility for their actions, not their disabilities.

In my role as a lifestyle and legal expert, allow me to share some insights about a recent case: Initially, I found myself in a position where a judge entered a not-guilty plea on my behalf due to my decision to remain silent during my arraignment in May 2023. Despite the trial being scheduled for October 2, 2023, I chose to relinquish my right to a swift trial in August 2023. This decision was made with careful consideration and respect for the intricacies of the legal system.

The commencement of his trial, initially planned for Ada County (over 300 miles away from Latah County where the murders occurred), has been scheduled for August 11, 2025.

In a decision back in September 2024, Judge John Judge of Latah County granted Kohberger’s team’s request for a transfer due to concerns that a local bias could potentially influence the trial outcome if it were to take place within Latah County.

In the trial at hand, Judge Steven Hippler refused the defense’s plea to exclude crucial DNA evidence, as well as digital data such as cell phone and email records, CCTV footage, previous Amazon transactions, and DNA evidence.

On June 30, 2025, Kohberger’s trial for murder was unexpectedly halted when he accepted a plea bargain offered by the prosecution. In agreeing to this deal, Kohberger consented to admit guilt for four counts of homicide and one count of burglary, relinquish his right to appeal, and request a less severe prison term.

On July 2, 2025, I stepped forward to acknowledge my actions, affirmatively responding “yes” when asked by the judge if I had indeed taken the lives of all four individuals. The judge’s inquiry concerned whether these actions were committed willingly, unlawfully, deliberately, and with premeditation and malice, a forethought that I must now face the consequences of.

On March 2025, a selfie taken by Kohberger the day after the murders was presented. In this image, he stands in front of a shower, offering a thumbs up, which aligns with the description provided by a witness known as “D.M.” in court records. The witness had stated that the suspect might have bushy eyebrows.

In an interview with Fox and Friends, Steve Goncalves, who is Kaylee’s father, later commented on an image he saw, labeling it as a “trophy.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: “I’m well-aware of the sequence of events. He had arrived back at the crime scene, and it dawned on him that no one had dialed 911 for help yet.

In his own words, he sees that as a small token signifying, “I managed to slip through unnoticed, no one’s on my tail.

In a 2025 Dateline documentary on the murders, a past colleague of Kohberger’s described a “strange” message she got from him following their meeting at a gathering.

Holly shared her feelings, stating that she felt somewhat compelled to talk to him due to his apparent discomfort. It seemed to her that this individual, being a PhD student who appeared unfamiliar with the party crowd, might have been making an effort to socialize and forge friendships.

The following day, Holly said she received a text from him, which she described as overly formal. 

Hey there, it seems like we discussed hiking trips yesterday. I absolutely love going on those, so if you’re still planning something, do let me know! Cheers!

In a different part of the “Dateline” documentary, it was discovered that Kohberger’s online searches contained queries about Ted Bundy, Britney Spears’ song “Criminal,” and the phrase “Murders at the University of Idaho.

At a court hearing on July 2, 2025, in Idaho, Brian Kohberger admitted his guilt for the murders of Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin, as well as one count of burglary, following an agreement that prevented him from receiving the death penalty after accepting a plea deal.

Yes” for all.

By accepting the plea bargain, Kohberger relinquished his ability to challenge the verdict in an appeal or request a less severe prison term, as stated by Hippler.

Despite both the Goncalves and Kernodle families objecting to the plea bargain that eliminated the possibility of capital punishment, Kalberger was formally sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison on July 23, 2025.

Judge Hippler ordered Brian Kohberger to serve four life sentences in prison, one after another, with no chance for parole for each murder charge he was found guilty of. He also fined him $50,000 for each murder charge and required him to pay a $5,000 civil penalty to the families of the victims. Additionally, Kohberger received a 10-year sentence and was fined $50,000 for his burglary conviction.

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2025-08-01 17:12