How could we interview people who suffered horrific shock and loss on November 13 2022, the night of the murders of The Idaho Four and avoid worsening their pain?
Of course that was uppermost in our minds at the outset of researching The Idaho Four.
The Chapins and the Goncalves families spoke to us, I think, because they wanted to have a correct version of their children were, out there.
Stacy Chapin said that she wanted to tell Ethan’s story once and she wanted to do it properly. And I checked with her before reaching out to Ethan’s siblings Hunter and Maizie and we chatted about what might be the best way to go about that.
Steve Goncalves and his eldest daughter, Alivea, also wanted to protect Kaylee’s memory and legacy. But they also wanted to tell readers what it’s like to be in their shoes as her family. They’ve had very little support and help. There’s no hand-book telling you what to do in these tragic situations.
When it came to the friends of the victims, I was very careful and in many cases I spoke to their parents. I know that if someone wanted to interview my sons, who are 22, in a situation like this, I’d want to talk to that person first.
So, when I met Xana’s best friend, Emily Alandt, and her boyfriend (Ethan’s best friend) Hunter Johnson, Emily’s parents were with us in the room. And I often spoke to Emily’s mom, Karen, in the ensuing weeks, while I was also talking with her daughter. Similarly, Emma Tyger’s dad wanted to speak with me first, before I interviewed his daughter. And I spoke to Lexi Pattinson’s dad, Mike.
And so on.
We wanted the process of reporting this book, to be helpful, possibly cathartic for the people we interviewed and not the reverse.
So far, we’ve been told, that that’s what it’s been.
You can pre-order the book here.
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