Family of Kaylee Goncalves Speaks Out on Legal Developments

The youngest sister of Kaylee Goncalves has shared her thoughts publicly following a significant legal development involving the man who confessed to killing Goncalves and three other University of Idaho students. This comes after Bryan Kohberger, who had previously confessed to the murders, requested to retract his guilty plea and pursue a trial.

Aubrie Goncalves, 20, expressed her reasons for speaking out during an August 4 appearance on TODAY. She decided to break her silence nearly four years after her sister’s tragic death at the age of 21 in an off-campus residence alongside her friends Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Madison Mogen, all of whom Aubrie considered ‘family.’

“When everything happened, I was a sophomore in high school,” she reflected. “I was only 16 years old, and at the time I kind of just decided no words are going to bring back either one of my sisters, so I didn’t feel like saying anything.”

As Aubrie matured, she realized the importance of keeping her sister’s memory alive. “Nearly four years have passed, and I realized still that no words are going to bring back my sisters, but words are going to keep their memories alive,” she continued. Although she is not one to seek such public attention, she felt compelled to keep the names of Maddie and Kaylee alive.

On July 27, amidst these turbulent developments, Aubrie issued a statement on Facebook, corresponding with Kohberger’s filing for post-conviction relief in the Ada County District Court in Idaho. Kohberger aims to withdraw his guilty plea, demanding a trial on the charges.

Kohberger had previously admitted to the 2022 murders in 2025, foregoing his right to both appeal and trial to avoid a potential death penalty, leading to him receiving four life sentences.

Aubrie responded to the plea reversal, stating:

I wasn’t planning on saying anything today, but after seeing that the man who admitted in court to murdering four innocent people now wants to withdraw his guilty plea, I couldn’t stay silent.

For Aubrie, the legal maneuvers represent another day without her sister rather than a mere legal process. Kohberger’s plea reversal also coincided with the upcoming release of a Netflix documentary titled “The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare,” in which the Goncalves family participated.

Why should the person convicted of taking their voices continue to have one?

She emphasized that her ordeal is neither entertainment nor a conspiracy theory, but her reality. Each time the case resurfaces with new filings or theories, her family has to relive its worst memories.

During her TODAY appearance, Aubrie, supported by her parents Steve and Kristi, shared cherished memories of Kaylee.

I think you could see how Kaylee was as a person just by looking at pictures of her. She was like the bubbliest human ever. She was always down to have a fun time, she was always looking at the positives, she was one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met.

Older sibling Alivea Goncalves, in a video interview, expressed frustration over Kohberger’s actions, highlighting the pain of allowing someone behind bars to continually impact their lives.

The fact that someone locked behind bars still has the ability to revictimize their victims, that’s something that isn’t just very easy to get over. This will never be over for us until the defendant is no longer breathing on this earth.

Kohberger has now claimed in a handwritten petition that he was misled into making a false plea. He insists on withdrawing the plea based on what he describes as ‘false promises and blatant disinformation.’

Despite reaching out to Kohberger’s former and current public defenders, as well as the families of the other victims, there has been no response.