Idaho Murder Case Update
The younger sister of Ethan Chapin, one of the victims in the Idaho murder case, has shared the last text message he sent her before his tragic death on November 13, 2022. Ethan was a University of Idaho freshman, and the news surrounding his murder remains incredibly poignant.
Brian Coberger, the accused perpetrator, recently entered a plea agreement. This agreement comes after he admitted to murdering 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves and 20-year-old Xana Kernodle, among others.
On the night before the incident, Mazzy Chapin, Ethan’s sister, attended her sorority’s formal and invited Ethan to join her. She reflected on this in a new documentary series available on Amazon Prime titled “One Night in Idaho: College Murder.” She mentioned that usually, she wouldn’t invite anyone, but since some of Ethan’s friends were going and he wasn’t, she thought, “Okay, you can be my date.” She described it as a fun evening.
After the formal, some students headed to the fraternity house, but Mazzy decided to stay behind. She recalled that Ethan kept texting her to hang out, and unfortunately, she fell asleep. She expressed regret over not saying “I love you” in her last exchange with him.
The next morning, Ethan was found dead along with his girlfriend, Xana, and two other friends, all of whom were stabbed in their off-campus residence. The shocking nature of their deaths reverberated throughout the community.
Fast-forward two and a half years, on July 1, Coberger signed a confession as part of his plea deal, which notably helped him avoid the death penalty. He confessed to breaking into the home and killing the four students that fateful night.
Ethan’s mother, Stacey, was present in court at the time Coberger pleaded guilty. She described his demeanor in court as cold and robotic, which left her expecting some sort of remorse, but found none. “It felt like an automated phone message,” she said.
The families affected by this tragedy have had mixed reactions to the plea deal. While the Goncalves family expressed disapproval, the Chapin and Morgen families seemed to support it. Nonetheless, all families were caught off guard by the suddenness of the deal.
Stacey reported that, after discussing with the prosecutors, they agreed that taking the plea was a better option, especially since it meant no long appeals process and guaranteed punishment. Coberger is set to serve four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus an additional ten years—a resolution, perhaps, to a chapter that began with devastating loss.
