Bryan Kohberger victim’s parents slam Lifetime movie on Idaho murders

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(NewsNation) — The parents of a slain Idaho college student aren’t pleased with a new Lifetime movie depicting her killing.

Lifetime is producing a movie about the November 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin — who were killed by Bryan Kohberger, a graduate student at the time at nearby Washington State University. Kohberger pleaded guilty in July and was later sentenced to life in prison.

Some of the movie’s cast members posted now-deleted videos to social media of themselves dancing while in costume and wearing fake blood, which has angered Goncalves’ parents.

“Yes, the case is over. Yes, there is a story behind the case. Yes, Lifetime and its parent company are just trying to make a buck. Yes, the actors and actresses have shown poor taste,” Steve and Kristi Goncalves said in a statement to The US Sun.

“Yes, we are hurt. Yes, we are disappointed. Yes, we miss Kaylee and Maddie every day! Yes, it has been less than six months since the case resolved. And yes, our emotions are still very raw,” the statement continued.

A Change.org petition calling for the movie production to be halted has gathered more than 17,000 signatures.

Image of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle
Bryan Kohberger, a former graduate student in criminal justice at Washington State University, was convicted in the deaths of Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves and Ethan Chapin, who were killed at an off-campus house near the University of Idaho on Nov. 13, 2022. (NewsNation)
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