Idaho family recounts daily grief as killer seeks to undo plea

During an interview on a prominent radio program, Kristi Goncalves shared that her mornings start with thoughts of whether the pain will ever end, while Steve Goncalves said his wife prays each night for a dream in which they can speak to their lost daughter, Kaylee Goncalves. Kaylee was one of four University of Idaho students murdered in November 2022. Bryan Kohberger entered a guilty plea in July 2025, securing four life terms without parole and avoiding the death penalty.

He has since filed a post-conviction motion to withdraw that plea, alleging poor legal representation and a misunderstanding about prison conditions. The Goncalves family finds the motion distressing but believes it may give prosecutors another chance to pursue capital punishment. They voiced confidence that a higher power is watching over them and that the correct outcome will eventually be reached.