‘Healing Is Day By Day’: Mom Of Slain University Of Idaho Triplet Talks About His Siblings Return To School

The mother of Ethan Chapin, one of four University of Idaho students killed in a brutal attack at an off-campus home, is opening up about her two surviving triplets heading back to classes.

In a Jan. 30 Facebook, Stacy Wells Chapin wrote she and her husband, Jim Chapin, agreed their son’s 20-year-old siblings, Maize and Hunter, should begin attending the school in Moscow again, even if making the decision early on “all felt tricky at the time,” KCPQ reported.

Chapin was slain on Nov. 13 at the house where his girlfriend, Xana Kerndodle, 20, and two of her housemates, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, were also found stabbed to death.

“We were recently told to look for a victory every day — even if it is the tiniest little victory. It is admittedly challenging some days, but excellent advice,” Wells Chapin wrote, explaining she and her husband planned to visit Chapin’s brother and sister every other weekend.

"The thought was to stay close and connected but allow the kids space to heal at their own pace,” she noted. “So, we’ve just arrived home from our first college visit since we dropped them off. In true Chapin form, all were welcome, and we fed 20 kids a home-cooked meal on Thursday night.”

“On Friday, we spent time with Maizie and some of her friends,” Wells Chapin wrote. “Over the long weekend, we enjoyed coffee dates, walks, long conversations and hugs. We spent time remembering Ethan and sharing stories. There were many victories.”

Though Wells Chapin said her children were “resilient,” she added this has been a “challenging time” for her family.

“We’re grateful they have each other at school, fraternity and sorority friends, and other amazing support systems. … They are each processing this new normal in their own way, and that’s okay. Our job as parents is to be there and provide tools and resources as needed,” she wrote.

“The healing is day by day, and some days are easier than others,” she added. “This morning, the sunrise was beautiful. We will take that as today’s victory.”

The suspect in the case, Washington State University criminology Ph.D. student Bryan Kohberger, 28, faces charges of murder and burglary and is expected to go to trial in June.