Moscow, Idaho – More than a year after four University of Idaho students were tragically killed in an off-campus house on King Road, a former roommate, Ashlin Couch, reflects on the loss and the lingering impact it has had on her life.
Couch, who had lived in the sixth bedroom of the house until May 2022, recalls the shock and disbelief she felt upon learning of the murders of her friends Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The suspect, Bryan Kohberger, a graduate student at Washington State University, was arrested in December 2022 and charged with first-degree murder and burglary.
Despite graduating in December 2021 and moving out of the house, Couch remained in close contact with her former roommates. She vividly remembers receiving an alert from the University of Idaho about a suspected homicide on King Road and reaching out to her friends in a desperate attempt to confirm their safety, only to realize that something was terribly wrong.
The demolition of the three-story house in December 2023 marked the end of an era for Couch and a painful reminder of the tragedy that befell her friends. The impact of the killings continues to haunt her, manifesting in her fear of walking to her car alone in the dark and her desire for a proper goodbye to her lost friends.
As Couch grapples with the trauma of losing her friends in such a senseless act of violence, she finds solace in the memories they shared and the bonds they formed. The legacy of Madison, Kaylee, Xana, and Ethan lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved them, a reminder of the preciousness of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.