Bryan Kohberger avoids death penalty for Idaho murders with guilty plea
The University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21, were stabbed to death at home in Moscow, Idaho, in the early hours of November 13, 2022. Police believe they were likely to have been asleep when they were attacked, though some had defensive wounds.
Kohberger, now 30, was studying criminology at the nearby Washington State University at the time of the murders and was arrested at his parents' Pennsylvania home about six weeks afterwards.
The University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, second from left, front; Madison Mogen, second from left, top; Ethan Chapin, centre and Xana Kernodle, second from right, were stabbed to death in their beds
ZUMA PRESS WIRE/SHUTTERSTOCK/REX
This week, before his trial was due to begin in August in Boise, Idaho, prosecutors announced that a plea deal had been reached.
Kohberger's guilty plea to the murders means he faces four consecutive life sentences and waives all rights to appeal. However, the deal took the death penalty off the table, to the anger of the Goncalves family.
Judge Steven Hippler approved the deal during a hearing on Wednesday at the Ada county court in Boise, despite the objections of the family, which campaigned against the agreement in the hours before the hearing.
Kohberger's eyes occasionally darted around the room as Hippler confirmed the four charges of first-degree murder and a felony charge of burglary. The judge told Kohberger that under the terms of the deal he could face ten years in state prison for burglary and four consecutive life sentences for murder.
Bill Thompson, for the prosecution, outlined the state's evidence. Kohberger entered 1122 King Road through a sliding door in the kitchen after 4am before murdering four of the people inside.
After stabbing Mogen to death, Thompson said Kohberger 'for whatever reason' left the knife sheath behind. His DNA was later found on the sheath, tying him to the crime. Other evidence included CCTV footage showing him in the area and mobile phone data pinpointing his movements.
Kohberger enters the courtroom for his arraignment hearing in Latah County district court in May 2023
ZACH WILKINSON/THE MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS/AP
Thompson said that the murder weapon had not been recovered. A selfie was discovered on Kohberger's phone, taken in his bathroom hours after the murders. He was giving a thumbs up.
Kohberger was arrested in December at his parents' home in Pennsylvania. Detectives had conducted a night-time 'trash pull' at the property and matched his father's DNA to the knife sheath from a Q-tip.
Kohberger, the court was told, had relied upon his criminology expertise and attempted to cover his tracks, including by cleaning his car. After hearing an outline of the state's case, the judge asked Kohberger for his plea on each charge.
In a silent courtroom, families of the victims watched on and wept as Kohberger calmly replied 'guilty' to the five charges.
Prosecutors told the victims' families on Monday that Kohberger's lawyers had asked for a plea deal last week, having tried and failed to have the death penalty ruled out. According to the Idaho Statesman, Thompson told the victims' families the deal was 'our sincere attempt to seek justice'.
'This agreement ensures that the defendant will be convicted, will spend the rest of his life in prison, and will not be able to put you and other families through the uncertainty of decades of post-conviction appeals,' Thompson wrote. 'Your viewpoints weighed heavily in our decision-making process, and we hope that you may come to appreciate why we believe this resolution is in the best interests of justice.'
The case has attracted intense nationwide attention for two and a half years yet no motive for the murders has been offered by the prosecution. It also remains unclear why Kohberger spared two roommates at the home near the University of Idaho campus.
Kohberger's sentencing date was set for July 23.
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