Murderer of four Idaho university students unexpectedly plead guilty

2025-07-23 09:27:55

(MENAFN) Just weeks before his trial was set to begin, Bryan Kohberger unexpectedly pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students, despite maintaining his innocence for nearly two years.

The 30-year-old had faced the death penalty for the November 2022 killings of Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. His plea deal spares him execution but leaves many questions unanswered for the victims’ families.

Kohberger’s sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday in Boise. He may address the court, but it remains uncertain.

Some relatives, like Kaylee Goncalves’s father, Steve, criticized the agreement, calling it a “deal with the devil” and expressing frustration over the lack of clarity—particularly regarding Kohberger’s motive.

Others, such as Madison Mogen’s father, Ben, said the plea provides a degree of closure and relief from the stress of an intense public trial. “It’s been this nightmare that’s approaching in our heads,” he told a news agency.

During the sentencing, family members will be allowed to speak about the emotional toll the crimes have taken on their lives.

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