The sister of Kaylee Goncalves, who was murdered in her off-campus apartment while a student at the University of Idaho, has paid heartbreaking tribute to her sister on what would have been her 22nd birthday.
Gonclaves was stabbed to death last November alongside three other students in a brutal attack that shocked the nation.
The suspect, Bryan Kohberger, 28, is in custody and is due to stand trial in October.
In the emotional Instagram post dedicated to her sister, Autumn Gonclaves wrote: ‘Happy birthday sissy. I love you so so much. I wish I could feel one more hug, see one more smile & hear one more “I love you”’ alongside a sweet family photograph.
‘You deserved your life more than anyone I know’ the post continued, ‘You worked so hard for everything you had, and you LOVED your life. You appreciated all the little things and that’s a big deal.’
Kaylee Goncalves’ sister Autumn paid heartbreaking tribute to her sister on her 22nd birthday
Gonclaves was stabbed to death last November alongside three other students in a brutal attack that shocked the nation
Adding: ‘Learning to live without you is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Something I should have ever had to do.’
Autumn wished her beloved sister a happy birthday and expressed her joy at the idea of meeting her again one day: ‘Meeting you again is something that never leaves my head. There is so much I have to tell you, so much I need to ask you.
‘Seeing your smile again, hearing your laugh. It keeps me going each and every day. I know we will meet again but we should have never had to part like this.’
Best friends Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, died in the horror attack, which was so brutal, blood could still be seen dripping down the walls of their rental home days after the killing.
Kaylee and Madison were discovered dead in bed next to each other, while Ethan and Xana were found on the floor below, with Xana discovered slumped over on the floor of her bedroom.
Kohberger, a criminology PhD student at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, was arrested after a six-week manhunt and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary.
Police tied him to the gruesome quadruple murder of four college kids after tracking his white Hyundai to the scene.
They also matched his DNA to a sample that was left on a knife sheath found at the scene. The murder weapon was not recovered at the house.
Best friends Kaylee and Madison were discovered dead in bed next to each other
Bryan Kohberger, 28, appeared in court in Moscow, Idaho, where he ‘stood silent’ while entering a plea. The judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf over the murders of four University of Idaho students
Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (left) Xana Kernodle (right) and Ethan Chapin (center) – all students at the University of Idaho – were knifed to death on November 13 in the quiet college town of Moscow
Ethan and Xana were found on the floor below, with Xana discovered slumped over on the floor of her bedroom in the off-campus home
This is the murder house where four students were stabbed to death. The home is now boarded up and is slated for demolition
Officers also seized three knives from Kohberger’s parents’ property, including one in another sheath.
Police also seized a ‘black mask’, which is not dissimilar to the black ski mask described by the surviving roommate who saw the murderer leave the scene on November 13.
All together 63 items were seized from Kohberger’s parents’ house, including multiple items of clothing, books, documents, bills and prescriptions.
Police had been watching Kohberger for days before they raided the house in the early hours of December 30.
Survivors Mortensen and Bethany Funke said they heard noises on the night of the attack, with Mortensen telling cops she heard Kaylee say ‘there’s someone here’ at approximately 4am.
Ten minutes later, she heard a thud and crying from Xana’s room and a male voice saying ‘it’s ok, I’m going to help you’.
At 4.17am, a dog was captured barking loudly on a neighbor’s security camera.
Around the same time, Mortensen said she opened her bedroom door again and saw a tall male with bushy eyebrows leaving through the sliding glass doors at the back of the home.
She described how she had been ‘frozen in shock’ as the black-clad male walked towards her and said she locked herself in her room after he left.
Kohberger appeared in court on Monday 22 May, where he entered a ‘not guilty’ plea by staying silent.
The suspect chose to use Idaho’s ‘standing silent’ plea which means he has not pleaded either way but can still be tried.
The appearance, which saw the 28-year-old arrive in court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and looking pale, was his first since being formally charged with the killings in early January.
Kohberger sat silently as Judge John Judge read his rights and reiterated that he faces the death penalty if found guilty of any of the murder charges before responding ‘yes’ when asked if he understood repeatedly.
Then, as the four murder charges and one of burglary were read out by Judge Judge, he sat flicking through his indictment papers and shifting in his seat before his lawyer Anne Taylor told the judge her client would be ‘standing silent’ when asked to respond.
The non-plea now means the case will proceed to trial, with Taylor asking the judge to schedule a six week trial that is now set to commence on October 2.
Looking on were Madison’s dad Ben Mogen and Kaylee’s parents Steve and Kristi, both dressed in black, who looked sad and serious as their daughters’ names were heard in the packed courtroom.