A former roommate of a slain University of Idaho student broke his silence Tuesday to commemorate the 18-month anniversary of the bloody incident, revealing the last message he sent to his late friend.
“Are you OK?” Ashlyn Couch texted Madison Morgen shortly after receiving an alert from her alma mater about a murder on the same road as her former college home. He told Spokane-based KXLY-TV.
Until he graduates and moves out in May 2022, Couch will be living with Morgen Gonsalves and Kaylee Gonsalves, both 21, at 122 King Road in Moscow, keeping the remainder of his lease and his old bedroom. It was given to Zana Kernodol (20 years old).
The three girls and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, were murdered in their second-floor bedroom around 4 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2022, after a night on the town.
The next day, the university sent out a text alert to the community informing them of a suspected murder on King Road, sending an inexplicable sense of anxiety through Couch’s heart.
“I remember when I got the second alert, or I was driving home, I texted a group of friends and said, ‘Has anyone heard from Maddie?'” Couch said in tears. He said this while holding back.
That’s when Couch quickly sent a text message to Morgen himself. This message will never be answered.
“I feel like I knew right then and there that something was wrong.”
Ms. Morgen and Ms. Gonsalves (whom Ms. Couch said were “like sisters”) were in the same bed when she was stabbed to death by the alleged killer, Brian Koberger.
Kernodle and Chapin were brutally murdered in bedrooms across the hall. It was the room where Couch had lived just six months ago.
Her name was still on the contract.
“It just crossed my mind that something like that could have happened while I was there. And you never know how long someone’s been watching your house. ” Couch lamented.
This terrifying thought caused Couch panic during the two weeks following her friend’s murder, and continued even after Coburger was handcuffed for the crime.
“For several months after the incident, I couldn’t even walk to my car in the dark. I just want to be at least a little bit safer,” Couch said.
Her grief has inspired her to start a new foundation in honor of her friend that will focus on raising awareness and educating students about social media safety.
The Made with Kindness Foundation is committed to teaching students how to protect themselves at home, especially since they cannot control the actions of others.
“Terrible people are going to do what they’re going to do. It’s not something they can do. They’ve done nothing wrong,” Couch said.
Despite the efforts of grieving friends, the hole they left in their hearts did little to fill.
“I wish I could say goodbye. And that’s one thing I wish I could at least do one more time: give[Morgen]one last hug so I could say goodbye.” Please,” Couch said.
The Moscow house, which once held many happy memories, has since been demolished by the university, a controversial decision that the victims’ families claimed ended any potential hopes of finding additional forensic evidence.
Koberger, who has been charged through his lawyer with four counts of murder and one count of robbery, said he was not near the university building during the recent brutal murders, but was a 40-minute drive away. He claimed he was driving alone in a remote area.
He is scheduled to reappear in court for a hearing on May 14, but the judge ordered a closed hearing.
