When the news first broke on that freezing November morning in 2022 about four University of Idaho students being murdered, the world was shocked. But for the families in Rathdrum, it wasn't a "story." It was the end of life as they knew it. Since then, the public has largely focused on the suspect, the evidence, and the legal maneuvering. Yet, if you look closer at the courtroom or the advocacy efforts, you'll see one person who has become the unofficial voice of the victims: Alivea Goncalves.
As the sister of Kaylee Goncalves, Alivea has spent the last few years doing more than just grieving. She’s been a researcher, a spokesperson, and a fierce critic of a justice system she feels has occasionally left victims behind. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine how she’s held it together.
Who is Alivea Goncalves?
Alivea is the older sister of Kaylee Goncalves. Before the tragedy at 1122 King Road, they were just sisters—sharing clothes, secrets, and a future. After the murders of Kaylee, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, Alivea’s role shifted dramatically.
She became the family’s investigative lead. While the police were keeping details close to their chest in the early days, Alivea was the one looking into Kaylee’s digital footprint. She was checking the DoorDash logs and the phone calls. She was the one who famously pointed out that Kaylee and Maddie had made several calls to Kaylee’s ex-boyfriend, Jack, in the hour before the attack—calls that police eventually determined were unrelated to the crime but were vital for establishing the timeline.
The Confrontation: "Sit Up Straight"
Fast forward to July 2025. The trial didn't happen the way many expected because Bryan Kohberger accepted a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. This move deeply hurt the Goncalves family. They wanted a full trial. They wanted the death penalty.
During the sentencing hearing in Boise, Alivea stood up and delivered what many are calling the most powerful victim impact statement in recent history. She didn't just cry. She went on the offensive.
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"Sit up straight when I talk to you," she told Kohberger.
The courtroom was silent. Kohberger, who had spent most of the proceedings looking stoic or bored, was forced to listen as the sister of Kaylee Goncalves dismantled his ego. She called him "painfully average." She called him a "pedophile-like" coward for attacking them in their sleep.
Her most famous line from that day? "If you hadn’t attacked them in their sleep... Kaylee would have kicked your fing ass."* The gallery erupted in applause. It wasn't standard courtroom decorum, but it was a moment of raw, human truth. She wanted him to know that he hadn't "conquered" anyone; he had simply cheated.
Fighting the System in 2026
Even now, in early 2026, the work isn't done. The Goncalves family, led largely by Alivea’s energy and her sister Aubrie’s support, is still in the headlines. Just this month, in January 2026, the families filed a massive lawsuit against Washington State University (WSU).
Why WSU? Because that’s where Kohberger was a Ph.D. student.
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The lawsuit alleges that the university knew Kohberger was a problem. It claims he had a history of "threatening, stalking, and predatory behavior" toward women on campus long before he drove across the border to Moscow. For Alivea, this isn't about money. It's about accountability. She’s argued consistently that if the institutions around him had done their jobs, Kaylee would still be here.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a common misconception that the families are just "angry" or "vengeful."
If you listen to Alivea’s interviews with journalists like Brian Entin, you realize it’s much more clinical than that. She’s building a digital archive. She wants the full truth of the evidence—the CAST data, the cell tower pings, the surveillance footage—to be preserved. She’s terrified that once the media circus leaves town, conspiracy theorists will start rewriting what happened to her sister.
She is essentially a self-taught forensic advocate. She’s seen the crime scene photos that the public will (hopefully) never see. She’s sat through hours of meetings with Prosecutor Bill Thompson and the Idaho State Police.
The Other Sister: Aubrie Goncalves
While Alivea is often the face in the media, their younger sister, Aubrie, has also been a pillar. Aubrie was only 17 when the murders happened. Now 20, she has used the family’s Facebook page to vent the frustrations of a sibling who feels the "system" is more interested in the defendant's rights than the victims' memories.
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Aubrie recently wrote that the plea deal felt like an "afterthought." It’s a sentiment that highlights a massive divide in the community—some families, like the Chapins, have tried to find peace and move forward, while the Goncalves family refuses to let the fire go out until every stone is turned.
Lessons for True Crime Followers
Watching the sister of Kaylee Goncalves navigate this nightmare offers a few harsh reality checks for the public:
- Victims aren't characters. They were people with messy, beautiful lives. Alivea often reminds people that Kaylee was more than a "victim"; she was a girl who had just bought a new Range Rover and was ready to move to Texas.
- Justice is slow and messy. The transition from the 2022 murders to the 2025 sentencing and the 2026 civil lawsuits shows that "closure" is a myth.
- Advocacy works. Without the Goncalves family’s constant pressure, it’s possible many details about the case would have remained buried under the gag order.
Moving Forward
If you want to support the legacy of the Idaho Four, the best way is to focus on the scholarship funds established in their names rather than the "true crime" speculation. Alivea continues to work on her archive project to ensure that the facts—real, hard facts—are what remain when the noise dies down.
The next step in the legal saga is the civil trial against WSU, which is expected to bring out even more documentation regarding Kohberger's time in Pullman.
Stay informed by following primary sources and actual court filings. The Goncalves family often posts direct updates on their official "Justice for the Idaho 4" social media pages, which is the best place to hear from Alivea and her parents without the filter of national news commentary.
Next Steps for You: You can look into the Kaylee Goncalves Memorial Scholarship if you want to contribute to her legacy. Additionally, keeping an eye on the Skagit County Superior Court filings will give you the most accurate updates on the 2026 lawsuit against Washington State University as it progresses.