Idaho Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty, Avoiding Death Penalty

Key Facts

How Did The Victims’ Families React?

A Facebook post reportedly from the family of victim Kaylee Goncalves first confirmed the rumors, while admonishing the state of Idaho for offering the deal. Steve Goncalves, her father, later echoed this sentiment on the “Today Show,” telling the hosts “Idaho has failed. They failed me. They failed my whole family.” At least one other parent, Xana Kernodle’s father, confirmed to the New York Times in a statement that he disagreed with the plea deal. However, victim Madison Mogen’s father said Kohberger’s approaching trial was a “nightmare” for his family. After the hearing Wednesday, an attorney for Mogen’s family said the family “100%” supported the plea agreement. “While we know there are some who do not support it, we ask that they respect our belief that this is the best outcome for the victims, their families and the state of Idaho,” they wrote. Hippler said the victims’ families would have a chance to make statements at Kohberger’s sentencing hearing, which was scheduled for July 23.

Tangent

Judge Hippler condemned what he said were numerous messages sent to him and the court, which he called “extraordinarily disruptive for court staff.” The case attracted considerable media attention, and the court received a deluge of comments from the public after the plea deal was first reported. “The court is not supposed to, and this court will never, take into account public sentiment in making an opinion in its judicial opinion in cases,” Hippler said. “I have not read any of the numerous messages, or listened to any of the numerous voicemails, sent to me and my staff. It is not appropriate, and frankly not something I would take into account when deciding a case like this.” Hippler also reminded observers that he cannot, as a judge, require a prosecutor to seek the death penalty

Key Background

The bodies of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, were discovered on November 13, 2022 in an off-campus apartment the women shared. Kohberger, a criminology graduate student at Washington State University in nearby Pullman, Washington, was arrested over one month later in Pennsylvania. Investigators identified Kohberger, 30, as the suspect through DNA evidence left on a knife sheath at the crime scene, as well as cell phone GPS data that placed him as the likely driver of a Hyundai Elantra seen near the site of the murders in Moscow, Idaho. A judge entered a not guilty plea on Kohberger’s behalf, after he stood silent when asked to enter a plea. At the hearing on Wednesday, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson laid out the facts of the case his office was prepared to present, revealing new details about the extensive investigation. Investigators managed to compile significant amounts of footage of Kohberger’s Hyundai Elantra from surveillance cameras at local businesses, returning to the area of the off-campus apartment about 23 times before the murders. Thompson said Kohberger made efforts to conceal the crime, including applying for Washington state license plates and attempting to erase his purchase of a KA-BAR knife from his Amazon account.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.