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The sister of Idaho murder victim Ethan Chapin has recounted the eerie final text message sent to her just hours prior to his tragic death. This shocking revelation sheds light on the last moments of Ethan’s life before he and three of his friends were murdered near the University of Idaho campus on November 13, 2022.
The convicted murderer, Bryan Kohberger, who is now 30 years old, recently entered a plea deal. He confessed to killing Ethan, along with Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, and Xana Kernodle, during a violent home invasion that resonated throughout the community.
Memories of a Formal Night
In a poignant documentary series titled One Night in Idaho: The College Murders, Ethan’s sister Mazie Chapin reflects on the evening before the murders. She invited Ethan to join her at her sorority formal after he did not have a date and his friends were attending.
“I don’t usually invite anyone to formals, but since some of Ethan’s friends were going, I thought, ‘OK, you can just be my date,’” Mazie recalls. The night was filled with joy, marking a memorable occasion in the lives of the young students.
An Unusual Goodbye
Following their formal, they parted ways around 9 p.m., while many students headed to the fraternity house for an after-party. However, Mazie chose to go home and rest. “For some reason, I stayed and went to bed,” she shares. Throughout the night, Ethan texted her, urging her to join him, but she remained unresponsive.
Her last message from Ethan was particularly striking. He texted, “I love you,” a phrase they rarely exchanged. “It was weird because we don’t say that to each other,” Mazie mentioned, highlighting the unusual nature of Ethan’s message.
The Devastating Discovery
The next morning, tragedy struck when Ethan was discovered dead alongside his girlfriend Xana, and their friends Kaylee and Madison at their rental home situated steps away from the campus. The brutal attacks occurred in the early morning hours of November 13, and the scene shocked the community to its core.
As investigations progressed, it was revealed that Kohberger, with the intent to murder, broke into the four students’ home. He ultimately admitted to stabbing Ethan, Xana, Kaylee, and Madison during the attack, a heinous act that would lead to years of legal turmoil.
Kohberger’s Plea Deal
On July 1 of this year, Kohberger signed a confession as part of a plea agreement, aiming to avoid the death penalty. This decision came after a prolonged period of legal proceedings stemming from the tragic event that forever altered the lives of many.
During Kohberger’s court appearance, Ethan’s mother, Stacy Chapin, grappled with emotional complexity upon witnessing him plead guilty. She described the moment as “cold and calculated,” expressing her expectation for some show of remorse that never arrived. “There was zero emotion,” she stated, encapsulating the chilling atmosphere of the courtroom.
Families React to the Plea Deal
In the aftermath of Kohberger’s plea, reactions within the families of the victims varied significantly. The Goncalves family openly criticized the plea deal, feeling blindsided by the legal resolution. Conversely, the Chapin and Mogen families found support in this agreement, with hopes of closure on the horizon.
Jim Chapin, Ethan’s father, expressed a profound sense of relief. “I’m ready for my kids to move on. I mean, it’s been almost two-and-a-half years, and it’s, just, it’s over,” he stated, highlighting a yearning for normalcy following a harrowing chapter in their lives.
Finding Closure and Moving Forward
Stacy Chapin further elaborated on the family’s initial desire for justice, which evolved into a contemplation of the plea deal. “After speaking with prosecutors, we agreed this was a better deal,” she explained, recognizing the need to liberate other children, previously affected by subpoenas in the case, from lingering fears.
Kohberger’s expected sentence is four consecutive life terms in prison, denying him the opportunity for parole. He also waived his rights to appeal the sentence or seek a reduction in punishment.
The Path Ahead
Kohberger’s trial, initially set to begin in August, never materialized due to his acceptance of the plea deal. This resolution has left a significant mark on all involved, as they adjust to a new reality devoid of its most tragic uncertainties.
As the families seek to heal, the haunting echoes of that fateful evening in November continue to remind them of the lives lost far too soon. In navigating the aftermath, both grief and a desire for justice have intertwined, shaping their responses and reflecting the complexities of healing from such unimaginable loss.
Reporting from Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this story.
