Idaho Murders Update: Victim's Mother 'Heartbroken' After Lawyer Dropped Case To Defend Bryan Kohberger

Following reports Bryan Kohberger's attorney represented one of the four University of Idaho students' parents, a new interview from the mother of one of the victims revealed the lawyer dropped her case to defend the murder suspect.

In an interview with NewsNation, Cara Northington, mother of victim Xana Kernodle, was devastated when her former lawyer Anne Taylor, chief of the Kootenai County Public Defender's Office, withdrew from her case the same day Kohberger made his first court appearance in Moscow, Idaho.

"I am heartbroken because I trusted her. [Taylor] pretended that she was wanting to help me... And to find out that she's representing him [Kohberger], I can't even convey how betrayed I feel," Northington said.

Northington, who gave Taylor power of attorney, revealed she has yet to speak with the public defender and learned about the switch to represent Kohberger through a friend on social media.

"I don't understand how she could do this... I don't understand what happens now. Does she still have power of attorney?" Northington pondered.

Taylor represented Northington in four cases, with the most recent charges filed on Nov. 19, 2022, for felony drugs. ​​Taylor is currently listed as an "inactive attorney" in Northington's latest case.

As Northington grieves, she finds herself looking at Xana's Tik Tok videos and reflecting on her daughter's life.

"She just could make you smile no matter what, and she just had a quirkiness about her that not a lot of people possess, that kind of talent to be able to light up a room like she did, Northington explained.

"I think you can see from her TikToks, you know, just how funny she was and how carefree and just funny."

Northington claimed Xana "would want all of us to live our best life and remember the good things about her."

Kohberger faces one count of felony burglary and four counts of first-degree murder in the Nov. 13, 2022, deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.