Nearly three years after the brutal killings of four University of Idaho students shocked the nation, the man accused in the case, Bryan Kohberger, appears set to plead guilty. The high-profile trial that was scheduled for August may now be avoided altogether, following a possible plea agreement that would sentence Kohberger to life in prison, sparking mixed reactions from victims’ families.
Who is Bryan Kohberger?
Bryan Kohberger, 30, was a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University at the time of the killings. He was arrested in December 2022 at his family’s home in Pennsylvania, roughly six weeks after the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves in Moscow, Idaho. Investigators tied Kohberger to the crime scene using cellphone data, surveillance footage, and DNA evidence found on a knife sheath left behind at the house where the students were murdered.
What is the plea deal about?
Kohberger had been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. Prosecutors had originally sought the death penalty. However, according to the Goncalves family, the Latah County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office proposed a plea deal late last week, which would allow Kohberger to avoid execution in exchange for multiple life sentences.
The Idaho Statesman reportedly obtained a letter signed by Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson that outlined the agreement. The letter stated that the deal would guarantee Kohberger’s conviction, remove the possibility of a trial, and spare the victims’ families from years of emotional turmoil caused by appeals.
“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 the other families through the uncertainty of decades of post-conviction appeals,” the letter reportedly said.
How are the families reacting?
The reactions from victims’ families have been mixed, some are deeply angered by the development, while others appear more accepting. The Goncalves family has voiced strong opposition to the deal, accusing prosecutors of excluding them from the decision-making process. In a public statement, they said they had made it clear they were a “HARD NO” on any agreement that didn’t pursue the death penalty.
“After more than two years, this is how it concludes, with a secretive deal and a hurried effort to close the case without any input from the victims’ families on the plea’s details,” the family said. Steve Goncalves, Kaylee’s father, told NBC’s TODAY show that “the state of Idaho has failed me and my whole family.”
On the other hand, a representative for Ethan Chapin’s family said they support the agreement and plan to attend Wednesday’s court hearing in Boise. The families of Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle have not publicly commented, though Kernodle’s aunt told TMZ she hopes the judge delays any final decision to allow more input.
What has Kohberger’s family said?
Bryan Kohberger’s family has remained largely silent throughout the investigation and legal process. In a rare statement, they requested privacy and called for “responsible judgement” from the media. “We will continue to allow the legal process to unfold with respect to all parties and will not release any comments or take any questions,” the statement read. “We ask that you respect our wishes during a difficult time for all those affected.”
If the plea deal is officially confirmed and accepted by the court, it will bring an end to one of the most closely watched murder cases in recent U.S. history. However, the emotional and legal consequences will likely linger. The plea would eliminate a potentially lengthy and painful trial but also close the door on the full airing of evidence, including motive, a detail that has remained elusive.