Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: HELL PIX: HORROR PHOTOS INSIDE IDAHO MURDERS AFTER KOHBERGER SLAUGHTERS STUDENTS, PARENTS SUE

Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace
Guests: Christy and Steve Gonsalves (parents of victim Kaylee Goncalves), Jo Scott Morgan, Dr. Bethany Marshall, Dave Mack, Susan Hendricks, Chris McDonough, Howard Blum, Eric Faddis

Episode Overview

This episode addresses the deeply distressing leak and subsequent removal of crime scene photos from the Idaho student murders perpetrated by Bryan Kohberger. Nancy Grace engages with the Goncalves parents, legal and forensic experts, and investigative journalists to examine the impact of the leaked photographs, the legal aftermath, and further controversy surrounding Kohberger’s family and Washington State University’s alleged negligence in allowing dangerous conduct to escalate unchecked. The conversation is raw, emotional, and sharply critical of the systems and individuals who have retraumatized the victims’ families.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Horror of the Leaked Crime Scene Photos

• Nancy Grace opens the episode by describing the leak of horrific crime scene photos from the Idaho student murders, discussing how the images were briefly posted on the Idaho State Police website before being scrubbed (00:35).
  • “Why were those photos leaked on the Idaho State Police website and then quickly scrubbed away?...Do you blame [the parents] for suing?” — Nancy Grace (00:35)
• Christy and Steve Gonsalves recount the shock and devastation upon learning the photos made it online, some showing unredacted images of their daughter and other victims (03:46).
  • “One of the Idaho State Police detectives called Olivia and told her that the photos were coming out...by the time she got off the phone, she was calling me in a panic...they were already on the website.” — Christy Gonsalves (03:46)
• The parents underline that once the images were public, anyone quick enough to download them now possesses intensely personal, traumatic material.

2. Impact on the Families: Trauma and Exploitation

• Nancy and the Gonsalves family share personal trauma over witnessing or even hearing about these images.
  • Nancy relates her own experience as a survivor, reinforcing her empathy for the families (07:18).
  • “It’s hard to unsee. And I knew that. I knew what would happen.” — Christy Gonsalves (08:34)
• The parents express frustration at the system’s lack of protection and the exploitation of victim’s deaths for entertainment and profit.
  • “It’s not true crime anymore, it’s troll crime...What people do with those photos nowadays is what the real problem is.” — Christy Gonsalves (09:37)
  • “They’re making a profit off your dead loved ones.” — Steve Gonsalves (10:10)
• Nancy and panelists condemn the phenomenon of “blood money” in true crime media, criticizing those monetizing crime scene and autopsy photos.

3. Obligation and Failure of Law Enforcement and University

• The discussion details how the families were made aware of the photos only after minimal, last-minute warning—highlighting official negligence and lack of empathy.
• The lawsuit against Washington State University is explored, focusing on the institution’s failure to intervene despite at least 13 formal complaints against Kohberger:
  • “He should have been thrown out before he ever killed these kids. That’s the truth.” — Steve Gonsalves (39:36)
  • “Female students avoided being left alone with him, and in fact, one warned he had the potential to become a future rapist.” — Nancy Grace (41:59)
  • “They did not use their own internal risk assessment procedure to protect these victims, it’s just shocking.” — Dr. Bethany Marshall (41:36)

4. Victim-Blaming and Kohberger Family’s Narrative

• The episode critiques a New York Times article featuring Bryan Kohberger’s sister, “Mel”, who expresses her family’s pain and maintains her brother’s innocence in the media spotlight.
  • Nancy and the Gonsalveses see this as tone-deaf and dismissive of the real victims’ suffering.
  • “They could still talk to him...They could write to him. They could go visit him. He’s still breathing.” — Christy Gonsalves (15:49)
  • “My kids would be...dead to our family...I tell all my kids, if you do something that atrocious...you’re done.” — Steve Gonsalves (15:49)
• The panel questions the plausibility of the family’s “ignorance,” citing suspicious phone activity immediately post-murders and the family's actions shielding Kohberger.

5. Analysis of the Crime Scene Photos

• The only image of “probative value” was that of the knife sheath, a crucial piece of evidence linking Kohberger to the murders (29:19).
  • “There was one of the photos, Nancy, this shows one of the girls’ hair in the blood. And all I could think of was my own daughters." — Dave Mack (29:19)
• Forensic analysis reveals the violence’s brutality—20+ stab wounds to some victims, massive bloodshed, and a terrifying struggle.
  • “It’s in excess of 20. And here’s the problem, you can’t actually count them accurately because there’s cross communication between the injuries...” — Jo Scott Morgan (30:46)

6. Societal Call for Change

• The families and panelists call out a broader issue: lack of empathy, irresponsible social media behavior, and institutions prioritizing liability over safety.
  • “Just everybody’s a news network but they never...have the education to be a journalist.” — Steve Gonsalves (26:13)
  • “There is profound disregard for the families...these people who are in charge of these ghoulish pictures...they have profound disregard for the family, too.” — Dr. Bethany Marshall (33:31)
• Nancy Grace presses for accountability, both in legal terms and in the court of public conscience.
  • “Right is right and wrong is wrong and there’s no excuse for that...As I tell my children if it feels wrong, it is wrong.” — Nancy Grace (26:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On exploitation:
  “It’s not true crime anymore, it’s troll crime.” — Christy Gonsalves (09:37)

• On university failure:
  “He should have been thrown out before he ever killed these kids. That’s the truth.” — Steve Gonsalves (39:36)

• On the only probative image:
  “The only photo that I saw of any probative value...is the knife she found under a victim’s body.” — Nancy Grace (29:19)

• Nancy’s personal connection:
  “That one moment has crystallized in my mind after all these years. So I don’t know how you can even close your eyes and go to sleep at night after you’ve seen the crime scene photos that were leaked...” — Nancy Grace (07:18)

• On the Kohberger family’s claims:
  “They could still talk to him...He’s still breathing.” — Christy Gonsalves (15:49)
  “The family knew nothing? …I don’t buy that at all.” — Howard Blum (48:29)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction & Summary of Case: 00:35–01:35
• Gonsalveses on Learning About the Leak: 03:46–05:09
• Exploitative Nature of True Crime Media: 09:04–10:26
• Personal Trauma on Seeing the Photos: 08:34–12:27
• Response to the Kohberger Family’s NYT Interview: 14:56–18:27
• Suspicious Post-Murder Phone Activity: 22:54–24:58
• Call for Societal Change: 25:55–26:38
• Forensic Description of Photos' Brutality: 29:19–30:46
• WSU Lawsuit and Institutional Responsibility: 39:34–44:30
• Red Flags Ignored by WSU: 40:02–43:07
• Critique of Kohberger Family's Narrative: 47:58–49:10

Content Summary Flow

1. The Gonsalves family's pain is central—detailing the shock of seeing crime scene photos online and their ongoing fight for respect and justice.
2. Discussion of official mishandling—stemming from police photo leaks to the failure of WSU to act on clear warning signs about Kohberger.
3. Outrage at the monetization and spread of violent crime materials.
4. Critique and disbelief towards Kohberger’s family for their media narrative and insistence they knew nothing.
5. Strong calls from the families and panelists for institutional and societal change, emphasizing respect for victims, transparency, and accountability.

Final Messages

• Emotional pleas for an end to the revictimization of families through careless media and legal practices.
• Calls for university and law enforcement reform to better protect students.
• Uncompromising stance by Nancy Grace and guests: “Right is right. Wrong is wrong. There is no excuse for hurting the victim’s families for your own monetary gain.” (26:38)

This summary captures the compassion, anger, and call to action that permeates Nancy Grace’s coverage, providing crucial context for anyone needing a comprehensive understanding of the episode’s content, urgency, and stakes.