Bryan Kohberger Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Idaho Student Murders

Tone & Political Bias: Center

Why: The reporting is fact-based, avoids emotional language, and includes multiple viewpoints, including the victims’ families, court officials, and public reaction, without political bias.

The Sentencing

Bryan Kohberger, 30, was sentenced on Wednesday to four consecutive life sentences without parole for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. He also received an additional 10 years for a burglary charge connected to the case.

Kohberger had previously pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The sentencing was the result of a plea agreement that spared him the death penalty.

Judge Steven Hippler handed down the sentence at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, describing the crimes as irrational and stating that the motive may never be known.

“Even if I could force him to speak, which legally I cannot, how could anyone ever be assured that what he speaks is the truth?” said Judge Hippler.

Kohberger declined to speak during the hearing. When offered a chance to make a statement, he said, “I respectfully decline,” prompting strong reactions from those in attendance, including a person who shouted, “coward.”

The Courtroom and Public Reaction

The sentencing was open to the public and live-streamed. Interest in the case drew more than 50 people to line up outside the courthouse hours in advance, with some waiting overnight.

The two surviving housemates, Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen, delivered victim impact statements. Mortensen spoke in court, describing her trauma, calling Kohberger “a hollow vessel” and “evil.”

“What he did shattered me in places I didn't know could break,” she said. “I was forced to learn how to survive the unimaginable.”

Family members of the victims also addressed the court. Ben Mogen, father of Madison Mogen, read from his daughter’s last Father’s Day card. Goncalves’ sister, Alivea Goncalves, called Kohberger a “sociopath” and demanded answers.

“Where is the murder weapon? What were Kaylee’s last words?” she asked in court.

Kohberger’s mother was present during sentencing. Mogen’s grandmother, Kim Cheeley, acknowledged the pain of the Kohberger family as well, saying, “My heart aches… also [for] the family of the perpetrator.”

What Happened the Night of the Murders?

The murders occurred on November 13, 2022, at an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho. All four victims were found stabbed to death in their shared home, which they also shared with two surviving roommates.

According to court documents, the victims returned home around 2:00 a.m. after a night out. At approximately 4:00 a.m., Mortensen reported hearing unusual sounds, including crying and someone saying, “There’s someone here.” She eventually saw a masked man walking past her and exiting through a sliding door. She locked her room and later contacted friends, who discovered the bodies.

How Kohberger Was Identified

Bryan Kohberger was a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, located 10 miles from the University of Idaho. Surveillance footage showed a white sedan matching Kohberger’s car near the crime scene multiple times that night.

DNA evidence on a knife sheath found at the crime scene matched DNA found at Kohberger’s family home in Pennsylvania. Law enforcement reported that his phone was inactive during the hours of the crime. Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022, in Pennsylvania and extradited to Idaho.

Reaction to the Plea Agreement

The plea deal avoided the death penalty in exchange for life sentences. The decision has been met with mixed reactions, especially from the victims’ families.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, questioning the absence of a stated motive and criticizing the plea bargain.

“People were shocked that he was able to plea bargain, but the judge should make him explain what happened,” Trump wrote.

The Goncalves family responded, reaffirming their commitment to honoring their daughter’s memory and opposing the plea deal.

“Kaylee, Maddie, Xana, Ethan—you have always mattered so much… You are so loved.”

This case continues to raise questions about motive, accountability, and the justice system’s handling of violent crimes. Some answers may never be known.