The families of the University of Idaho murder victims have filed a lawsuit against Washington State University, alleging that WSU did not take adequate action against Bryan Kohberger prior to the murders.
The lawsuit was filed in Skagit County, Washington, on Jan. 7, by plaintiffs Steve Goncalves, Karen Laramie, Jeff Kernodle and Stacy Chapin. The plaintiffs are the parents of Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, respectively, who were murdered just off the UI campus on Nov. 13, 2022, by Kohberger. Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison on July 23, 2025, after pleading guilty to four counts of murder and one count of burglary.
On Jan. 27, the case was moved from Skagit County to the U.S. District Court’s Western District of Washington in Seattle. WSU filed its response to the lawsuit on Feb. 11…