Naman Shrestha
In November 2022, four University of Idaho students — Madison “Maddie” Mogan, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, and Xana Kernodle — were found murdered in an off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho. The horrific discovery sent shockwaves across the entire community, leaving the loved ones of the victims devastated. The entire ordeal and the investigation that ensued are covered in detail in Amazon Prime’s ‘One Night in Idaho: The College Murders’ and Netflix’s ‘The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare.’ The former documentary series also features exclusive interviews with Maddie’s parents, Scott and Karen Laramie, who talk about the impact the tragedy had on their lives.
Scott and Karen Laramie Were Filled With Grief and Questions Following Maddie’s Death
Before ending up with Scott Laramie, Karen Caufield Laramie was married to Benjamin “Ben” Mogen, with whom she welcomed Madison “Maddie” Mogen on May 25, 2001, in Oregon. A few years after Maddie’s birth, Karen and Ben reportedly went their separate ways in an amicable manner. The devoted mother subsequently tied the knot with Scott, who loved and cared for Maddie like his own daughter. Having raised her with affection and support, Scott and Karen were content with how life was going and were looking forward to seeing Maddie reach new heights. However, their entire world came crashing down on November 13, 2022, when their beloved daughter tragically passed away.
The news of Maddie’s homicide was heartbreaking, especially as authorities kept Karen and Scott in the dark until they had reached the local police station. The former stated it was then that “They put us in a little room, and they came in the back door and opened this file, and the officer explained, ‘There has been a homicide in your daughter’s house, and there were four victims.'” She was shocked and devastated when the police told her that Maddie was one of the victims. Meanwhile, Scott was filled with anger and thought, “This can’t be true. I mean, this is Idaho. Things like this, you see it on TV and all.” Since the authorities didn’t tell them what exactly transpired, their “minds were just circling.”
Karen Laramie Works in the Hospitality Industry Today
While Scott chooses to keep details of his professional life private, Karen Laramie does not. After graduating from Priest River Lamanna High School, she attended North Idaho College, where she pursued a degree in General Studies. In April 2004, she landed a job at The Coeur d’Alene Golf & Spa Resort in the Special Promotions FIT Sales department. Apart from working there for more than six years, Karen also served as a General Manager at La Quinta by Wyndham at some point in her career. However, today, she is proudly employed at Baymont Inn & Suites, where she has been a General Manager since 2011.
Scott and Karen Laramie Continue to be Each Other’s Rocks in Tough Times
A couple of years after the tragedy, in 2024, Scott and Karen joined forces with another affected family, the Kernodle family, and established the Made With Kindness Foundation. Formed to honor the memory of best friends Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, the non-profit organization works with various colleges and universities to provide grief wellness seminars, scholarship funds, and comprehensive on-campus safety awareness. Residing in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with her husband, Scott, Karen talked about losing her daughter on the ‘Today’ show.
She stated, “It’s real, but I know where the girls are, and faith is really the basis of how you get up every morning when you have a loss this deep.” She also spoke a few words about the organization, stating, “We’re missing our kids, and to have something to put your heart into positively, I have no words.” When asked about her opinion on the time it’s taking to begin the trial proceedings of her daughter’s accused killer, Bryan Kohberger, she added, “I feel like the legal system is not about the victims, and I’ll leave it at that.” Serving as the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Made With Kindness Foundation, Karen keeps the memories of her daughter alive, alongside Scott, who supports her in all her endeavors.
On July 23, 2025, during Bryan Kohberger’s sentencing hearing, Maddie’s family gave an emotional impact statement to highlight precisely what the killer took away from this world. Her biological father, Ben Mogen, acknowledged, “Karen and Scottie did such a great job raising her after Karen and I split up, and I’m so thankful for Scottie and the role he played in her life when I wasn’t able to,” before recalling the happy memories he did share with his daughter. On the flip side, Scott said, “Karen and I are ordinary people, but we lived extraordinary lives because we had Maddie. Maddie was taken senselessly and brutally in a sudden act of evil…Since Maddie’s loss, there’s emptiness in our hearts, home, and family — an endless void.” They are thus still grappling with their loss, but they are determined to keep her memories alive in their hearts.
Read More: Where is Ethan Chapin’s Family Now?
