Idaho murder victims' families express outrage after crime scene photos accidentally released

WARNING: Graphic Content

Crime country photographs from the 2022 murders of 4 University of Idaho students were accidentally released this week, triggering outrage from victims’ families.

According to household members, the photographs showed the interior of the off-campus Moscow, Idaho, location wherever students Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Ethan Chapin were stabbed to decease connected Nov. 13, 2022.

The household of Goncalves said the vulnerability of the images reflected a lapse successful judgement and basal safeguards, arguing that grounds from a quadruple homicide should ne'er person been made accessible without strict controls.

"Please beryllium benignant & arsenic hard arsenic it is, spot yourself extracurricular of yourself & devour the contented arsenic if it were your loved one," the Goncalves household said successful a statement. "Your daughter, your sister, your lad oregon brother. Murder isn’t amusement & transgression country photos aren’t content."

Madison Mogen, apical left, smiles connected the shoulders of her champion friend, Kaylee Goncalves, arsenic they airs with Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and 2 different housemates successful Goncalves' last Instagram post, shared the time earlier the 4 students were stabbed to death. (@kayleegoncalves/Instagram)

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In earlier tribunal filings, families sought exigency involution to forestall further dissemination of the images.

A question for a impermanent restraining bid was filed Aug. 12, and Judge Megan Marshall granted the petition connected Aug. 15. Court records amusement a imperishable injunction barring further merchandise of definite materials was issued Oct. 1.

A watchman parked extracurricular 1122 King Road connected Dec. 11, 2022, 4 weeks aft 4 students were stabbed to decease inside. A twelvemonth later, the spot is scheduled for demolition. Critics judge it should stay lasting until the fishy goes to trial.  (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)

Attorneys for the metropolis of Moscow told the tribunal that portion they whitethorn personally reason releasing the images, their authorization is constricted by Idaho’s nationalist records law, which mostly favors disclosure and allows lone constrictive privateness exemptions. They described themselves arsenic "middlemen" nether the statute.

The metropolis has already released redacted body-camera footage and photos showing parts of the interior of the location astatine 1122 King Road.

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Bryan Kohberger appears astatine the Ada County Courthouse for his sentencing proceeding connected July 23, 2025 successful Boise, Idaho. Kohberger pleaded blameworthy successful speech for being spared the decease punishment for the stabbing of 4 University of Idaho students astir 3 years ago.  (Kyle Green-Pool/Getty Images)

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The photographs emerged much than 3 years aft Bryan Kohberger was charged successful the killings.

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In July 2025, Kohberger pleaded blameworthy to 4 counts of first-degree execution arsenic portion of a plea statement that spared him the decease penalty. He was sentenced to 4 consecutive beingness presumption without the anticipation of parole and is incarcerated astatine the Idaho Maximum Security Institution.

The Idaho State Police did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital's petition for comment.