The parents of Ethan Chapin dropped his triplet siblings off at the University of Idaho for their return to school on Tuesday, two months after 20-year-old Ethan was brutally murdered while spending the night with his girlfriend, Xana Kernodle, and two of her roommates, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen.
In a post on the mother’s Facebook account, Jim and Stacy Chapin wrote that they’d “spent the last eight weeks, besides the obvious, focused on Maizie and Hunter. Cards, talks, walks, hikes, tears, you name it.”
“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,” the Chapins wrote. “It did this momma’s heart good to hear it!!”
“The support from the University of Idaho and the MPD/ISP has been profound. Maizie and Hunter are rockstars and we couldn’t be more proud of them. Their job now is just be kids. Start where they left off. Keep goals and aspirations in mind.”
In a brief update about the case itself, since the arrest of suspect Brian Kohberger, the Chapins said that “anything we/Ethan had is now frozen with the defense.” But, they pointed out, they’re not wasting time with anger.
“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. However, nothing has changed. We spend no time being angry. That would be energy not well spent and it still wouldn’t change the outcome. We have to look ahead.”
The Chapins reflected on what their two months without their son has taught them, what they’ve learned.
“What we’ve confirmed…Ethan is who he was because of our family,” they said. “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. He 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. He touched lives we had no idea existed. Ethan was incredible.”
And, they said, “We did a great job” as a family.
“We will still do a great job. And as always, we are eternally grateful to so many of you,” the wrote. “We can’t possibly reply to all your notes but we read them all, and your kindness and support means the world to us.”
They closed the post with a quote from philosopher and theologian Nicholas P. Wolterstorff, the Noah Porter Professor Emeritus Philosophical Theology at Yale University.
“And I shall allow the memories to prod me into doing better with all those still living.”
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[Featured image: The Chapins/Facebook]
