Kaylee Goncalves' Sister Speaks About Her Powerful Victim Impact Statement

July 28, 2025

Bryan Kohberger Is Sentenced For Murder Of 4 University Of Idaho Students
Photo: Pool / Getty Images News / Getty Images

Alivea Goncalves, the sister of Kaylee Goncalves, delivered a powerful victim impact statement during the sentencing of Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to murdering Kaylee, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin while they slept. Alivea said that she memorized her speech to maintain eye contact with Kohberger, whom she called a "delusional, pathetic, hypochondriac loser." She aimed to make him feel small and expressed that her words were not just for Kaylee and her friend Maddie Mogen, but for them.

"I was fueled by seeing the rage on his face," she told ABC News. "Man ... was he mad. That was obviously a big point of why I did what I did -- to make him feel small."

Alivea's statement included pointed questions, such as asking about a second weapon used on Kaylee, highlighting the unique injuries her sister suffered. Despite the graphic nature of the details, Alivea wanted to emphasize that Kaylee fought for her life.

"I had one shot at it and I was gonna make the most of it," she added.

She did make one adjustment to her speech out of consideration for Kohberger's mother and sister, who were present in the courtroom.

"I didn't anticipate his mother and sister being there," she said. "And I had specific lines that were directed towards his relationship with his mother and directed towards the shame that he has caused his family, and how the ultimate move of a coward is for him to sit behind bars while the rest of his family has to bear the real weight, the shame of what he's done."

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