Bryan Kohberger, the convicted killer of four University of Idaho students, is set to face his victims’ families during a sentencing hearing Wednesday, July 23. Even President Donald Trump has chimed in on Kohberger’s fate.
Kohberger admitted to stabbing roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, to death at the girls’ off-campus home on Nov. 13, 2022.
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The high-profile case shook the small college town of Moscow, Idaho, and garnered nationwide media attention. Kohberger, a student at Washington State University at the time, was apprehended at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania nearly seven weeks after the killings.
Death penalty avoided
Kohberger maintained his innocence for more than two years before pleading guilty earlier this month.
Under a deal with prosecutors, Kohberger avoided the death penalty but agreed to four consecutive life sentences on the first-degree murder counts and the maximum penalty of 10 years on a burglary charge.
A judge will formally sentence Kohberger at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, which could stretch into Thursday, July 24.
Victims’ families may speak
Some of the victims’ families expressed frustration with the plea deal, while others expressed relief that the agreement saved them from the ordeal of a trial.
The sentencing hearing will be the first opportunity for the families to speak directly to Kohberger and to give victim impact statements to the court. However, Chapin’s parents have confirmed they will not attend the hearing.
The victims’ roommates may also speak at the hearing. Two roommates who were inside the house at the time of the killings survived the assault. They include a woman who told investigators she saw the intruder in a mask inside the home in the middle of the night, according to court documents obtained by ABC News.
Kohberger will also have a chance to address the court. However, he is not required to speak, and legal experts say he has no incentive to do so.
Moscow authorities and the victims’ friends are also expected to be present in the courtroom in Boise, Idaho. Moscow Police Chief Anthony Dahlinger recently said he hopes the sentencing will bring healing and “some sort of closure to this horrendous act.”
The motive for the killings remains unclear to the public and the police alike, and legal analysts doubt it will be revealed in the sentencing hearing.
Trump weighs in
Trump is among those pressing for answers. On social media Monday, July 21, he called for Kohberger to be required to disclose his motive.
“I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING. People are shocked that he was able to plea bargain, but the Judge should make him explain what happened.”
What happens next?
Investigators said they plan to release more information about the case at a later date, including evidence and witness statements.
After his sentencing, Kohberger will be taken into custody by the Idaho Department of Corrections. He’ll then undergo an evaluation and be sent to prison to serve the sentence.
