BOISE, Idaho (AP) — More than two years after the shocking stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in Moscow, Idaho, Bryan Kohberger, a former criminal justice doctoral student, is expected to appear in court on Wednesday to plead guilty as part of a deal aimed at avoiding the death penalty. This plea agreement comes shortly before the commencement of his trial, after unsuccessful attempts by his attorneys to eliminate the possibility of execution as a punishment.
The decision to enter a plea deal has elicited mixed reactions from the victims’ families. Some express support for the resolution, while others have voiced outrage, questioning the fairness of allowing Kohberger to live after taking the lives of their loved ones. Aubrie Goncalves, the 18-year-old sister of victim Kaylee Goncalves, shared her feelings on Facebook, stating that a life sentence for Kohberger means he retains the ability to communicate and form connections, which feels unjust considering that her sister and the other victims have been permanently silenced.
The gruesome murders occurred on November 13, 2022, when Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen were found dead in a rental home near the University of Idaho campus. Autopsy reports indicated that the victims were most likely asleep when they were attacked. Some had defensive wounds, and all faced multiple stab wounds.
The search for the perpetrator was extensive and included examining a white sedan captured on surveillance cameras near the rental home, utilizing genetic genealogy to identify Kohberger as a suspect, and analyzing cellphone data that tracked his movements on the night of the killings. Kohberger was studying criminal justice at Washington State University, located approximately nine miles from the University of Idaho, at the time of the murders. He was arrested weeks later in Pennsylvania, where his parents lived, with DNA evidence linking him to a knife sheath left at the crime scene.
Despite the investigation’s progress, the motive behind the murders remains unclear. It is particularly bewildering that the assailant spared two roommates who were in the home during the attack. Authorities noted that Kohberger’s cellphone data and surveillance footage indicated he had visited the neighborhood numerous times prior to the incident.
At 11 a.m. MDT on Wednesday, Kohberger is scheduled to appear before Idaho Fourth Judicial District Judge Steven Hippler in Boise, where the trial was moved due to significant pretrial publicity. The judge’s approval of the plea deal is necessary. If Kohberger pleads guilty as anticipated, a sentencing hearing would likely take place in July.
The Goncalves family has strongly opposed the agreement, stating they would seek to halt it unless Kohberger provides a full confession, detailing the events of the murders and disclosing the location of the murder weapon. They expressed a desire to understand the timeline of the tragedy through a Facebook post. In contrast, the family of Ethan Chapin supports the deal, believing it may provide some closure. Their spokesperson, Christina Teves, confirmed their positive stance on the agreement.
In statements released to the press, families are grappling with their emotions regarding the plea agreement, highlighting a divide between those seeking justice through punishment and others pursuing closure to move forward from the tragedy. The outcomes of Kohberger’s court appearance and potential sentencing remain to be determined.
