BOISE, Idaho — The sister of one of the University of Idaho murder victims testified before lawmakers in Boise to support legislation that would keep photos of victims’ bodies from being made public.
Alivea Goncalves, whose sister Kaylee Goncalves was among the four students killed in November 2022, is working with lawmakers on a bill that would prevent the public release of photos of deceased victims, regardless of whether the investigation remains active.
“When the first scene photos were released, they were everywhere all at once within an hour. They were completely unavoidable,” Alivea Goncalves told lawmakers. “I opened my Facebook app not knowing what I was looking at. My stomach sank, my heart rate spiked and the panic set in. I was the one to call my mom, my dad and Xana’s sister and all I can say is stay offline and to not turn the TV on.”
Under the proposed legislation, the images would still be available to victims’ families upon request but would be shielded from public disclosure.
Last year, families requested that a judge block graphic crime scene photos, citing the potential for “irreparable injury.” The judge granted the request, citing both the victims’ privacy and the survivors’ rights.
The bill cleared committee Tuesday and now heads to the full Idaho Senate for a vote.
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