Theodora MaddieKay Stevenson is named after slain Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves and Maddie Mogen.
The tragic deaths of four University of Idaho students including Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen who were best friends shook the community in November 2021. They were involved in the Idaho quadruple murder.
The two best friends were killed in an ambush attack, leaving family, friends, and the community devastated, a published article reported. Kayle was seen talking to cops before the tragic incident, a news article reported.
However, the Goncalves family has recently announced a small ray of hope amidst the tragedy. They welcomed a healthy baby girl named Theodora MaddieKay Stevenson into the world, with the newborn’s name honoring the two slain best friends, Fox News reported.
The combination of Kaylee’s name with Maddie, Mogen’s nickname, created the unique name MaddieKay for the baby girl. According to a family Facebook post, “How bittersweet that Kaylee and Maddie aren’t here to meet their baby niece, but she sure has the best two guardian angels who will watch over her always.” The post includes photos of the proud grandparents of Theodora MaddieKay Stevenson, Steve, and Kristi, holding the healthy newborn girl. The name Theodora was chosen by the parents, Alivea and Robbie, who are Kaylee’s sister and brother-in-law.
Kaylee and Maddie had been best friends for years, growing up together and attending the same university. The duo spent their final hours together with other friends in downtown Moscow, Idaho, before returning to their off-campus home. Tragically, they were found in the same bed, victims of the ambush attack.
Their housemate, Xana Kernodle, and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, were also killed in the attack. The perpetrator, Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old Pennsylvanian who was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at nearby Washington State University, is facing four counts of first-degree murder and a felony burglary charge. He was arrested while throwing out garbage into a neighbor’s trash bin, a news article reported.
The community has come together to support the families of the victims and honor their memory. The University of Idaho recently announced that the home where the victims lived would be donated by its owner and demolished. In its place, a memorial garden will be installed to honor the victims and other students who have died.
While the loss of Kaylee and Maddie is heartbreaking, the birth of Theodora MaddieKay Stevenson is a beacon of hope for the families and community. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is still light and love to be found.
READ ALSO: Bodycam Footage Shows Idaho Murder Victim Kaylee Goncalves Speaking To Cops Before Murder
