The grieving family of an Idaho murder victim is trying to return more than $85,000 of trial travel donations after killer Bryan Kohberger entered a plea deal many deemed unjust.
Kaylee Goncalves‘ father wants to give back every penny raised for his family – saying he would never cheat generous donors as Latah County prosecutors cheated his family out of a trial.
The heartbroken father, Steve Goncalves, told TMZ people have urged him to keep the money because they are also frustrated Kohberger entered a merciful plea deal.
But Steve confirmed to the outlet he will not ‘bait and switch these beautiful people like [lead prosecutor] Bill Thompson did to our family.’
The fundraiser, started in September 2024, was created for the Goncalves family to be able to attend Kohberger’s trial.
‘We are looking to find an Airbnb or a house for rent that will house all 10 Goncalves family members as well as their small pets for at least those three months,’ the page reads.
The fundraiser was closed before the quadruple-murder entered a plea deal on Wednesday.
This means the family has to independently return the money and cannot do so through GoFundMe.
Kaylee Goncalves, 21, (pictured) was one of the four Idaho college students who were slaughtered in November 2022
Bryan Kohberger, 30, (pictured), pleaded guilty to the quadruple murder on Wednesday
The heartbroken father, Steve Goncalves (pictured), said people have urged his family to keep the money because they are also frustrated with prosecutors
As per the agreement Kohberger made with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to brutally stabbing University of Idaho students Kaylee, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Maddie Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20 inside their off-campus residence.
In exchange for his admission, the 30-year-old was spared the death penalty and will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
The deal has sparked outrage from the young victims’ families, who do not believe this was an adequate for the extent of his heinous crimes.
‘He deserved life on death row,’ Kaylee’s mom, Kristi Goncalves, wrote ahead of his sentencing, which is set for later this month.
‘People say that the Goncalves don’t want justice, they want vengeance.’
She added: ‘[Kohberger] did not show Kaylee ANY mercy…People tell us we should be happy with life in prison without parole as he will never get out (how is that not a win they ask) well the death penalty also means life on death row.
‘We knew it would be decades before he ever would face the firing squad. We knew that his execution was not going to happen anytime soon, BUT his life on DEATH ROW while serving his time would have been much worse than serving his time as life in prison.’
The Goncalves, who have been particularly vocal about their dissatisfaction with Kohberger’s legal fate, have even called upon the public to hold Judge Steven Hippler responsible for the ruling.
Kaylee’s family (pictured) wants to return every penny the received for trial travel expenses
University of Idaho students Kaylee (bottom left), 21, Xana Kernodle (right), 20, Maddie Mogen (top left) , 21, and Ethan Chapin (center), 20 were slaughtered inside their off-campus residence
Hippler, the judge who made the controversial call, has been slammed with angry calls and voicemails ever since.
Angry observers also lashed out at the Latah County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, leaving one-star reviews in protest of the deal.
‘Horrible Horrible people work here!! They all need to be fired for what they did, no justice for any of the 4 college students,’ one reviewer wrote.
‘What part about Bryan Kohberger needs to die do you not understand?’ another fumed.
‘I had a traffic ticket and the prosecutor went after me harder than you went after Kohberger,’ a third person said.
Kohberger will be sentenced for the November 13, 2022 murders on July 23 at Ada County Court.
