Mother of Idaho victim pens tribute saying 'nothing has changed' since suspect's arrest

The mother of one the students slain in Idaho last year has penned a heartbreaking tribute to her son, stating that 'nothing has changed' since the recent arrest of suspect Bryan Kohberger, and that mourners should direct their anger elsewhere.

Taking to social media two weeks after Kohberger's arrest, Stacy Chapin, the mom of 20-year-old Ethan Chapin, urged those affected by the tragedy to 'instead look ahead,' as the suspect makes his way through the courts. 

Kohberger - a 28-year-old doctoral student in criminology at Washington State University - is charged with four counts of murder for the killings, which for the past two months has captivated much of the nation due cops' failure to glean a suspect. 

That changed just before the new year when investigators tracked down Kohberger to his parent's home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, on December 30, where he had been visiting for the holidays.

The mother's post included a childhood photo of Chapin pictured alongside his triplet siblings Maizie and Hunter - both of whom are students at the University of Idaho - and came as Kohberger received a date for his upcoming trial.  

Nearly two months have passed since Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Chapin - all students at the college - were all stabbed to death inside the three-story home late November 13. The property is just eight miles from Kohberger's apartment in nearby Pullman, Washington.

'Ethan is who he was because of our family,' Chapin wrote in the post, two months after asserting at a November ceremony that as speculation swirled around her son's and the other students' murders, her family was focused on sharing 'Ethan's legacy.'

'His foundation was unwavering. He was so loved he didn't know any different. He was profoundly supported and our family of five was different than others and so very special.'

The mom added that Chapin - who didn't live in the house but was sleeping over with his girlfriend, 20-year-old Xana Kernodle - 'loved unconditionally, he was loyal to all, he was inclusive, carefree, happy, just the best person you could ever meet.'

'The stories are endless and amazing,' the tribute continued, writing that her son, without realizing, had 'touched lives we had no idea existed.'    

'Ethan was incredible,' Stacey gushed, before revealing that both Maizie and Hunter had resumed classes after taking the past two months off, until the school's recently wrapped winter break.

'We've spent the last eight weeks, besides the obvious, focused on Maizie and Hunter. Cards, talks, walks, hikes, tears, you name it,' Chapin's mother wrote.

'Yesterday, we successfully dropped them off back at the University of Idaho. Hunter was very glad to be back at the fraternity and Maizie was warming up to the idea but it was so good to hear all of the girls squeal with delight upon seeing her. 

'It did this momma's heart good to hear it!!' 

The mom added how Ethan and Hunter had recently joined the university's Sigma Chi fraternity, while Maizie joined sorority Kappa Alpha Theta.  

'Maizie and Hunter are rockstars and we couldn’t be more proud of them,' the mom wrote of her and her husband's decision to send the 20-year-olds back to school.

'Their job now is just be kids. Start where they left off. Keep goals and aspirations in mind,' she wrote.

Chapin's mother went on to detail the support the family, who hail from Mount Vernon in Washington, has received from staff at the university, as well as the local and state police forces, calling their support the have received 'profound.'

The mom then revealed that all of the possessions Ethan had had at his girlfriend's residence - including a set of golf clubs - 'is now frozen with the defense' and is being held as evidence for the still ongoing case.

The mom said she and her husband are currently in talks with prosecutors, as they continue to probe the murders at the three story house - set on a street dubbed by students as Frat's Row due to its proximity to several Fraternity houses.

'For us, it involves two vehicles, E's belonging and a nice set of golf clubs. We've met with prosecutors, handled media inquiries (hopefully respectfully), managed, grieved, talked and continue to try and process our new normal,' she wrote.

She then pivoted back to the subject of Kohberger's arrest, which was achieved after investigators used DNA evidence, cellphone records and surveillance footage from the house to identify him as a suspect.

'However, nothing has changed,' the mom stated, adding the family is not wasting 'time being angry.'

'That would be energy not well spent and it still wouldn’t change the outcome. We have to look ahead.'

'We did a great job. We will still do a great job. And as always, we are eternally grateful to so many of you. We can't possibly reply to all your notes but we read them all, and your kindness and support means the world to us.'

Previously, at a ceremony celebrating the lives of the six students, Stacey said that while the family is heartbroken over the loss, they are focused on sharing Ethan's legacy.

'We are eternally grateful that we spent so much time with him. And I want to remind you, that that's the most important message that we have for you and your families, is to make sure that you spend as much time as possible with those people because time is precious, and it's something you can't get back,' she said. 

In court Thursday, Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial and was held without bail after a hearing meant to determine the suspect's inevitable court date - now set for six months from now in June. 

Kohberger, appearing in an orange jumpsuit, did not speak aside from answering 'yes' and 'no' when asked by the Moscow judge if he understood the process, and whether he needed more time to speak with his attorney. 

Kohberger's attorneys previously said he denied the killings, but he has not yet entered a plea. So far, Kohberger has only appeared before judges in Idaho's magistrate court division. 

If the case progresses to trial - which it is expected to - it will be moved to the district division, which is reserved for more serious offenses. 

The hearing in June will determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to the division court. 

Once it has, Kohberger will be asked to enter a plea. 

Kohberger has a master’s degree in criminal justice, and at the time of the quadruple murder, was working at the storied university as a TA to obtain his PhD in criminology. 

Those academic records - as well as accounts from students who knew him - have led experts to believe that the suspect had engaged in his studies to better his killing capabilities.

Enzo Yaksic, a criminal profiler and founder of the Atypical Homicide Research Group in Boston, said: 'I suspect that Kohberger was well aware of his dark nature and homicidal ideation and endeavored to discover more about himself through his studies.'

According to students in his class, Kohberger acted as if nothing had happened after the killings took place.  

WSU's online directory shows he worked as a teaching assistant for the university's criminal justice and criminology program. He was also a PhD student in the department. He will remain incarcerated without bail in Moscow until his trial, set to commence on June 26.