Mother of murdered Idaho student explains why she forgives Bryan Kohberger
The mother of Xana Kernodle, one of the four University of Idaho students who was murdered in their off-campus home, has bravely explained why she has forgiven convicted killer Bryan Kohberger.
Kernodle lost her life alongside her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, and her roommates Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21, in November 2022 after Kohberger broke into their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho.
Kohberger admitted to having stabbed all four students in the early hours of the morning, and consequently received four life sentences after accepting a plea deal which stopped him from being handed the death penalty.
Both of Kernodle's parents testified at Kohberger's sentencing hearing, as did her sister, Jazzmin, who described Kernodle as kind, funny, and 'everyone's best friend', Fox13 reports.
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Jazzmin made clear in her victim impact statement that Kohberger's actions didn't extinguish Kernodle's 'light', and now her mom, Cara Northington, has explained why she has been able to forgive the man who ended her daughter's life.
“I don’t hate Bryan Kohberger,” she said candidly while speaking at a faith-based event at a church in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on September 6.
Her forgiveness of Kohberger came as she sought a fresh start in life, with Northington explaining that at the time of her daughter's death, she was already in the midst of a 30-year journey with drug addiction.
Her addiction ultimately led to her going to jail for a probation violation just over a year after Kernodle died, but Northington turned to faith while behind bars.
In her 10 months in prison, she read the Bible and decided to turn over a new leaf, which included forgiving and moving on from Kohberger.
“I was very determined and hungry for the word,” Northington said of reading the Bible, according to The Spokesman-Review. “The Lord just had me surrender it all. And I did, and I haven’t gone back.”
Northington's newfound sobriety resulted in an 'overwhelming joy', which helped her on the path to forgiving Kohberger.
However, she said she is now 'washing [her] hands' of him and refusing to let him take up any more space in her head.
“I do not fear you or let you have space in my head anymore,” Northington said, adding that despite his crimes, Kohberger was 'still made in God’s image'.
During her appearance at the event, Northington also paid tribute to Kernodle as she described her as a 'beautiful soul' who 'lit up a room'.
“She was funny. She just had a way of making you feel special," Northington said.
How did the Idaho murders case unfold?
- November 13, 2022 - Kohberger entered the Moscow house through a sliding door and stabbed Mogen, Goncalves, Kernodle and Chapin
- December 27, 2022 - Police searched trash from Kohberger's parents' house after finding he was the registered driver of a car which matched one seen near the crime scene. A lab determines that the DNA on the trash belonged to the father of the person who left DNA on a knife sheath at the scene
- December 30, 2022 - Kohberger is arrested and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary
- December 28, 2023 - The student house where the victims were killed is demolished
- July 2, 2025 - Kohberger pleads guilty to all charges
- July 23, 2025 - Kohberger is sentenced to four life sentences
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Topics: Bryan Kohberger, True crime, Crime, Idaho
Emily Brown