What happened to Kaylee Goncalves’ dog, Murphy? Where the Idaho Murders pup is now
Netflix series The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare has viewers concerned about what happened to victim Kaylee’s beloved goldendoodleNetflix true-crime series The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare revisits the tragic November 2022 case that shocked America and beyond.
The three-part series sheds light on the lives of victims Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, while detailing the investigation that led to Bryan Kohberger, who was convicted and sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without parole.
However, after watching the series, many viewers have been left asking one specific question: What happened to Murphy, Kaylee Goncalves’ goldendoodle dog featured in the series?
Here is the full story of what happened to Murphy on that night and where the pup is today.
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Kaylee Goncalves’ dog Murphy
Murphy is a goldendoodle – a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle – adopted in early 2022 by Kaylee Goncalves and her long-term boyfriend at the time, Jack DuCoeur.
Although the couple later broke up after five years together, they remained close friends and shared custody of the dog. Because DuCoeur lived nearby, Murphy regularly split his time between both of their homes.
In police documents detailed after the crime, friends recalled that Murphy had exhibited strange behavior in the weeks leading up to the tragedy. On multiple occasions, Murphy ran into scrubland behind the off-campus house and refused to return when called.
Additionally, Kaylee had mentioned to friends that she noticed an unknown man standing on the ridge above their home, staring down at her while she was outside taking Murphy to go potty. On another occasion, a friend returned home to find the rear side door wide open and Murphy missing, though he was located shortly after.
While some true-crime observers speculated that the perpetrator may have tried to gain the dog’s trust or familiarise him with his scent beforehand, law enforcement never established any public evidence connecting Murphy’s behaviour to Kohberger.
What happened to Murphy the night of the Idaho Murders?
In the early hours of November 13, 2022, Kaylee, Madison, Xana and Ethan were stabbed to death inside their shared off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho. Surviving roommates Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, terrified by unusual sounds in the home, hid together on the first floor.
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, officers discovered Murphy inside the house, completely unharmed.
Footage shown in The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare captures responding officers guiding Murphy out of the home before transferring him to local Animal Services.
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Where is Murphy now?
The good news for dog-loving viewers is that Murphy is safe, healthy, and thriving. Following the tragedy, Murphy moved in full-time with his co-owner, Jack DuCoeur. In January 2023, an Instagram page dedicated to the dog launched.
The account’s debut post featured a photo of Murphy near a lake alongside a touching caption honouring Kaylee: “Missing my mom every day, but trying to live my best life. I got to admire her beauty in the sky this evening.”
The Goncalves family also shared an update in early 2023 confirming that Murphy was “living his best life with Jack” and going on frequent outdoor adventures. The family set up an Amazon wishlist for his care, noting that surplus items and support would go to local animal shelters in Murphy’s honour.
Jack also posted a heartfelt tribute on Kaylee’s birthday, reflecting on how the two brought baby Murphy home after a 16-hour drive in early 2022, calling the pup a lasting blessing and a tribute to Kaylee’s memory.
