When Alivea Goncalves stepped up to the podium at Bryan Kohberger’s sentencing hearing on July 23, 2025, the courtroom fell silent. Her voice was steady but heavy with grief, as she addressed the man convicted of killing her younger sister, Kaylee Goncalves, and three of her closest friends in the now-infamous Idaho murders.
“You didn’t just kill my sister,” she said, her words carrying through the packed room. “You destroyed a part of all of us. But her story doesn’t end here.”
It was a powerful moment, emblematic of the Goncalves family’s enduring fight to keep Kaylee’s memory alive one that has resonated with thousands of people across the country still haunted by the murders that rocked the small college town of Moscow, Idaho.
A Family Forever Changed
Kaylee Goncalves, 21, was a senior at the University of Idaho with her whole life ahead of her. She was one of the four victims, along with Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, brutally stabbed in their off-campus home in the early hours of November 13, 2022.
The murders, often referred to in the media as the “Idaho 4” case, sent shockwaves through the nation. Students withdrew from campus housing in record numbers, and applications for personal safety devices among college students surged by over 40% in the months following the attacks, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
For the Goncalves family, the pain has been a daily reality. Kaylee’s parents, Steve and Kristi, have been outspoken in demanding accountability, while Alivea, the eldest sibling, has emerged as the family’s steady voice advocating for justice, honoring her sister’s legacy, and working to turn grief into meaningful action.
Alivea’s Fight for Justice
Throughout the investigation and trial, Alivea became one of the most public-facing figures in the Goncalves family. She regularly attended hearings, gave interviews, and served as a bridge between the legal process and a public hungry for updates.
Her determination reflects the resilience of a family unwilling to let their loved one’s story fade into obscurity. In statements to the press, she has often described Kaylee as “fearless, fiercely loyal, and someone who lived every day like it was a gift.”
At the sentencing, Alivea called Kohberger “a coward who will die in prison, nameless and forgotten.” She also emphasized that the focus must now shift from the killer to the victims: “We will not let his actions define her. Kaylee was more than this tragedy.”
A Legacy Beyond the Courtroom
The Goncalves family has been instrumental in creating memorials and scholarships in Kaylee’s name. The Kaylee Goncalves Memorial Scholarship, established at the University of Idaho in 2023, provides financial aid to students pursuing studies in communications a nod to Kaylee’s dream of working in marketing and media. The scholarship has raised over $250,000 to date, funded largely by grassroots donations from people across the U.S.
In addition, the family has worked closely with organizations advocating for improved campus safety. According to the Clery Act reports, college campuses saw a 19% increase in safety audits nationwide after the Idaho murders, with schools implementing measures such as improved security lighting, increased patrol presence, and mandatory safety workshops for students.
Alivea has become a sought-after speaker at college events and victim advocacy panels, where she shares her family’s story in the hope that other students can be spared similar tragedies. “If telling Kaylee’s story makes just one person feel safer or take precautions, then that’s a victory,” she said during a recent address at a campus safety summit in Boise.
Balancing Grief and Public Life
Alivea has acknowledged the emotional toll of her advocacy work. “There are days when it’s hard to get out of bed,” she admitted in a recent interview. “But I know Kaylee wouldn’t want me to stop. She’d want me to keep fighting for her and for the others.”
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Social media communities dedicated to honoring the Idaho murders victims frequently share Alivea’s statements, and posts featuring her speeches often go viral, amassing hundreds of thousands of likes and comments. Many call her an inspiration for families who have lost loved ones to violent crime.
Healing Through Action
Mental health experts stress that turning grief into purposeful action can be a vital part of the healing process. According to the American Psychological Association, families who engage in advocacy or memorial activities for lost loved ones often report higher levels of long-term resilience.
For Alivea, keeping Kaylee’s memory alive is both a personal mission and a means of coping. She often recalls her sister’s adventurous spirit, contagious laugh, and close bond with family and friends. In interviews, she emphasizes that Kaylee’s legacy is about more than the tragedy that claimed her life it’s about the vibrant young woman she was and the future she deserved.
A Community That Refuses to Forget
The city of Moscow has taken steps to ensure the victims’ memories endure. The rental house where the murders occurred was demolished in 2023, replaced by a memorial garden dedicated to Kaylee, Madison, Xana, and Ethan. Vigils are still held each November, drawing attendees from across Idaho and beyond.
Local businesses and student groups have rallied to support the victims’ families. Donations to memorial funds have surpassed $1 million, according to the University of Idaho Foundation, underscoring the depth of national support for those affected.
Looking Ahead
Even with Kohberger’s sentencing four consecutive life sentences without parole and an additional 10 years for burglary Alivea and her family know that healing is a lifelong journey. “Closure isn’t something that just happens,” she said in her statement. “We learn to live with the loss, but the love we have for Kaylee will always be stronger than the pain.”
Her words reflect a broader sentiment shared by many victims’ families: that while justice offers some measure of resolution, true peace comes from preserving and celebrating the lives of those who were taken.
Keeping Kaylee’s Story Alive
For Alivea Goncalves, each speech, scholarship, and memorial is an act of defiance a refusal to let her sister’s life be defined solely by its tragic end. Through her tireless efforts, she has transformed her grief into a powerful force for change, inspiring a nationwide conversation about safety, justice, and remembrance.
As the courtroom chapter of this case closes, Alivea’s mission carries on: ensuring that Kaylee’s laughter, dreams, and boundless energy continue to echo far beyond the walls of that Idaho home. “We’ll carry her with us,” she said, “and make sure the world remembers who she was not what happened to her.”