The family of Idaho murder victim Kaylee Goncalves have spoken out after the release of leaked crime scene images reignited online conspiracies about the violent killings. The photos relate to the November 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students (including Kaylee, 21) who were stabbed to death inside their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. Bryan Kohberger later pleaded guilty to the killings and is now serving multiple life sentences. The release of the graphic images led to renewed conspiracy theories that the wrong man was convicted, leading to the Goncalves family urging the public to remember the victims, rather than treating the case as the source of some kind of macabre true crime entertainment. (Picture: AP)
Nearly 3,000 previously unseen images were briefly released online last month after being uploaded online by Idaho State Police. The files were swiftly removed, but not before being downloaded and shared. The photographs offered the most detailed look yet inside the house on King Road where the four students were killed. They show blood soaked into bedding and smeared across walls, furniture and personal items including phones and laptops. Signs of struggle are visible, suggesting desperate attempts by the victims to defend themselves during the attack. (Picture: Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram)
The sudden appearance of the images prompted a reaction from the Goncalves family. A post on The Goncalves Family Page on Facebook, attributed to the victim’s mother Kristi Goncalves by Daily Mail, read: ‘FU BK!!!!! I wish Steve (Kaylee’s father) could have one minute in that cell with him. One min, that’s all it would take.’ Another post on the same page, from January 20, addressed the publication of the photos, saying the family were called and told the photos would be released online that afternoon but ‘by the time the call ended (12 minutes later) the photos had already been released’, adding: ‘That’s the “heads up” we received.’ (Picture: Idaho State Police)
They then made an emotional appeal for compassion. Addressing those viewing or sharing the images, they wrote: ‘Please be kind & as difficult as it is, place yourself outside of yourself & consume the content as if it were your loved one. Your daughter, your sister, your son or brother. Murder isn’t entertainment & crime scene photos aren’t content. In addition, we know so many of you arm chair detectives will turn this into your show (profits) zooming into things, “analyzing blood splatter”, suggesting that things “don’t add up” yada yada yada. It’s disrespectful and gross.’ (Picture: Idaho State Police)
The family explained why they felt compelled to speak out. ‘We choose not to engage with the negativity we encounter daily. However, when we saw Kaylee’s murderer being defended repeatedly and the conspiracies grow, we felt compelled to share the truth.’ They added: ‘Some of you may have seen some of the DISGUSTING individuals making comments. Some even made more ugly content regarding our stance.’ (Picture: Idaho State Police)
Daily Mail reports Kristi Goncalves also defended her family’s belief in the investigation and outcome of the case. ‘Kaylee is my DAUGHTER! I gave birth to her… We promised to always protect her and keep her safe, and we will NEVER stop doing just that.’ She stressed that they would never support a wrongful conviction. ‘We would NEVER EVER allow an innocent person go to prison for taking Kaylee’s life… We are not blind! We are not deaf and we are not stupid either.’ (Picture: Monroe County Correctional Facility via Getty Images)
Kaylee Goncalves was killed alongside Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin on November 13, 2022. After a seven week investigation, police linked DNA found on a knife sheath at the scene to Kohberger, a criminology student at Washington State University. He was arrested in December 2022. In July 2025, he pleaded guilty as part of a deal to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to multiple life terms. (Picture: Ian Fox)
More recently, Kristi Goncalves shared the painful task that her family has begun undertaking at home. She said that they’ve started to go through Kaylee’s belongings, many of which have remained untouched since her death. ‘Note: this is not all of it, this is JUST the beginning. There are boxes and boxes and boxes. I’m just starting here. I am looking for several items, such as her orange Sublime T-shirt, her grey sublime crew neck, black Death Row Records shirt, and the outfit she was wearing out that night. Wish me luck. There’s no turning back now.’ (Picture: DailyMail)
In a later post, Kaylee’s family ended with a message to all of the people and supporters who have reached out to help them, saying: ‘Thank you so much for all the love, support, and prayers. Love you all, from the bottom of my heart.’ (Picture: ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
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