Idaho University Murder Victim’s Mom Reveals Last Messages She Sent Just Hours Before Tragic Killing

The mother of slain University of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves said her daughter sent photos to her hours before her death.

“She sent me a couple pictures of her and Maddie and that was on Saturday afternoon around 3,” Kristi Goncalves told Lawrence Jones. Her remarks were made to the anchor of the Fox News program “Lawrence Jones Cross Country” during an episode broadcast Sunday.

University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were murdered November 13 with a knife, according to Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt.

Ms. Goncalves’ mother told Mr. Jones she talked with her daughter on the phone that same day and the two made birthday plans for the coming week.

“Kaylee called me on Saturday, my birthday was earlier in the week,” the slain student’s mother stated. “And said ‘Mom, I’ll be home on Tuesday, and I’m gonna take you out to breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it’s all on me, all on me, and we’ll celebrate your birthday’.”

Mrs. Goncalves informed the Fox host she was excited at the thought of celebrating her birthday with her daughter. The mother told Jones she told her daughter, “that sounds great Kaylee and, and I’ll see you on Tuesday, honey.” She jokingly added she had her doubts about whether her daughter would actually pick up the tab.

Those plans were upended by last Sunday’s massacre in Moscow, Idaho.

Ms. Mabbutt said it appears the victims were asleep when the killer struck. At least one victim awakened enough to fight back based on defensive wounds noted during autopsy, she noted. Each victim was stabbed more than once, she added, opining that the attack seemed personal. Mabbutt added that the autopsies conducted by Spokane County Coroners found no evidence of sexual assault.

Police investigators cleared two surviving female roommates, saying in a statement they are not considered suspects. The report noted they believed the sounds they heard were partying by their friends and they locked their bedroom doors before going to sleep.

Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were at a local bar called The Corner Club at 202 N. Main Street in downtown Moscow between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. November 13, Moscow Police Chief James Fry said at a press conference. Around 1:40 a.m., Mogen and Goncalves were at a local food vendor called the “Grub Truck” at 318 S. Main Street. Their presence was confirmed by video footage secured by law enforcement.

They were driven to their 1122 King Road residence at 1:45 by a private party, according to police who updated their earlier information that said an Uber driver brought them home.

Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were spotted at the Sigma Chi house on the University of Idaho Campus, at 735 Nez Perce Drive, near their apartment. At approximately 1:45 a.m., Chapin and Kernodle returned to their King Road apartment, according to police.

Moscow police officers responded to the King Road apartment after a 911 dispatcher received a report of an unconscious person around noon on November 13. Mogen, Goncalves, Chapin and Kernodle were discovered dead in the residence, police said.