Bryan Kohberger sentenced to four life terms for Idaho college student murders – The Time Machine

Bryan Kohberger sentenced to four life terms for Idaho college student murders

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On Wednesday, a former Washington State University criminology Ph.D. student who brutally murdered four University of Idaho students in 2022 was sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole.

Bryan Kohberger, 30, stabbed Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin to death inside an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022.

As part of a plea deal agreed to earlier this month, Kohberger admitted to the killings and waived his right to appeal in exchange for avoiding a potential death sentence.

The victims’ families, the surviving roommates, and others involved in the case gave gut-wrenching impact statements ahead of sentencing.

One of the first to speak was one of the two surviving roommates who shared the torment she has endured since the murders.

“I had to sleep in my mom’s bed because I was too terrified to close my eyes,” Dylan Mortensen said. “Then there are the panic attacks. The kind that slam into me like a tsunami out of nowhere. I can’t breathe, I can’t think, and I can’t stop shaking. All I can do is scream.”

Alivea Goncalves, the sister of murder victim Kaylee Goncalves, mocked Kohberger, calling him a “pathetic psychopath.”

“The truth is I’m angry. Every day I’m angry. I’m left shouting at the inside of my own head, everything I wish I could say to you,” she stated. “I won’t stand here and give you what you want. I won’t offer you tears; I won’t offer you trembling. Disappointments like you thrive on pain, on fear, and on the illusion of power, and I won’t feed your beast.”

At one point, Goncalves told Kohberger to “sit up straight when I talk to you.” She then asked a series of questions as the killer stared blankly in her direction.

“How was your life right before you murdered my sisters? Did you prepare for the crime before leaving your apartment? Where is the murder weapon? The clothes you wore that night? What was the second weapon you used on Kaylee?” she asked, noting how tough her sister was and that Kohberger was only successful in his crimes because Kaylee was asleep in the middle of the night. “Kaylee could have kicked your f—— ass.”

Goncalves wasn’t done.

“Do you feel anything at all or are you exactly what you always feared? Nothing. That darkness you carry, that emptiness … you’ll sit with it long after this is over. You’re a delusional, pathetic, hypochondriac loser. You are not profound, you’re pathetic. No one is scared of you today. No one is impressed by you,” she said. “No one thinks that you are important. You orchestrated this like you thought you were God; now look at you.”

Scott Laramie, victim Madison Mogen’s stepfather, said their family supported the plea deal that allowed Kohberger to avoid being executed.

“Evil has many faces, but evil does not deserve our time and attention,” he explained. “We are done being victims. We are taking our lives back. We will turn our time and attention to hope, healing, and helping others.”

Jazzmin Kernodle, the sister of victim Xana Kernodle, urged Kohberger to turn his life over to Jesus Christ.

“I believe in God, whose justice is not bound by this courtroom,” she said. “I find peace knowing that justice ultimately belongs to Him. I hope one day you feel the full weight of what you did and you surrender yourself to Jesus Christ, because no punishment on this Earth can ever compare to the isolation and pain of eternal separation from God.”

Ethan Chapin’s family did not address the court. It’s unclear if they were in attendance.

Lead Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson acknowledged the differing opinions on the plea deal.

The family of Kaylee Goncalves was very vocal in their criticism of the death penalty being taken off the table.

“We asked the family members for their thoughts and feelings. They were candid and we respect that,” Thompson said. “And we understand, recognize and acknowledge that there was a difference of opinion among representatives of the different families. I accept that, it’s my responsibility.”

Thompson grew emotional as he laid pictures of each of the victims onto an overhead monitor. Family members could be heard sobbing in the courtroom.

“We can never undo the horror of what occurred in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, at 1122 King Street in Moscow, Idaho,” he said. “From today forward, our memories should be focused on these innocent victims whose lives were taken and on their families, on their friends and their communities.”

Judge Steven Hippler asked Kohberger if he wished to address the court before sentencing.

Kohberger leaned over to one of his attorneys, then said, “I respectfully decline.”

Those were the only words he said during the hearing.

An emotional Hippler then delivered the sentence.

“We are now certain who committed these unspeakable acts of evil, but what we don’t know and may never know is the why,” the judge said. “I share the desire to understand the why, but upon reflection, it seems to me, and this is just my own opinion, that by continuing to focus on the why, we continue to give Mr. Kohberger relevance, we give him agency, and we give him power.”

Hippler, who wiped tears several times during the hearing, noted that any explanation Kohberger might provide couldn’t be trusted.

“Do we really believe, after all this, that he’s capable of speaking the truth?” queried Hippler. “The time has now come to end Mr. Kohberger’s 15 minutes of fame.”

During a news conference Wednesday following Kohberger’s sentencing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump would have preferred to “force this monster” to explain why he did what he did.

On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social that “These were vicious murders, with so many questions left unanswered … I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders.”

Kohberger was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without parole for the murders, plus 10 years for burglary and $290,000 in fines and restitution to the victims’ families.

Part of the plea deal required Kohberger to waive his right to ever appeal.