Bryan Kohberger Sentencing: Murder Victims’ Families Speak in Court

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The families of Bryan Kohberger’s victims are detailing their unfathomable losses.

As the 30-year-old was about to receive his sentence for the murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, Scott Laramie, Mogen’s stepfather, spoke about the profound effect that these brutal killings had on their family.

He expressed to Judge Steven Hippler on July 23 that while they speak of hope and recovery, there is still a deep emotional scar that will not completely heal. Since the loss of Maddie, he continued, there has been an empty feeling in their hearts, home, and family – a void that seems endless.

As a lifestyle guide, I’d rather refrain from directly mentioning individuals’ names, but let me say this: In such situations, it’s crucial to prioritize safety and wellbeing. The public should be shielded from any potential harm, which I perceive as an “evil” that we must collectively guard against.

He expressed his hope that those who are experiencing comparable hardships might find solace in our story, demonstrating how one can rise above hatred, negativity, and malice. It’s important to remember that evil manifests in various forms, and we now understand this. However, it is not worthy of our focus or consideration.

A short while after, Steve Goncalves, Golcalves’ father, swiveled the podium towards Kohberger and said, “You mean nothing to us.

He said to the prisoner, “You’re not significant enough for me to invest time and energy in remembering you later. You’ll merely be identified by your initials, fading into oblivion. No one will visit you, just initials etched onto an otherwise unremarkable gravestone. Effectively, from now on, we won’t remember you.

Kohberger admitted guilt on all five charges, including four counts of murder and one count of burglary, following a plea bargain with prosecutors on July 2. The agreement stipulated a life sentence for the murder convictions and an additional 10 years for the burglary charge. However, it was ultimately up to Hippler to decide whether to accept this deal.

Following the announcement of the agreement, certain relatives of the victims expressed their feelings towards the situation, among them being the Goncalves family, who voiced strong anger over the prosecutors’ choice.

Last month, they expressed their disappointment on Facebook, stating that the agreement took them by surprise and unfortunately did not work out for them.

Later on, it was evident that Goncalves’s parents were dismayed by the fact that Kohberger wasn’t compelled to offer a justification for his actions upon admitting to his crimes; no written or spoken statement was required from him.

During her interview on Today on July 18, Kristi Goncalves expressed her wish that the perpetrator would have been required to speak the victims’ names instead of just saying “yes” or “no”. She believes this would demonstrate a greater sense of accountability and acknowledgement of his actions, particularly naming their daughter among the victims.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m expressing my sentiments in alignment with Steve’s: “When I witness the tragic loss of four lives, it demands a firm response. It’s bewildering that he wasn’t requested to take a stance.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but share the feelings expressed by Chapin’s parents, Jim and Stacy, in a heartfelt interview. Despite their absence from the sentencing hearing, they articulated a profound sense of relief after Kohberger decided to plead guilty.

As an ardent enthusiast, I can’t help but express my thoughts about a matter we’ve delved deeply into with legal authorities. For me, it’s always felt like this arrangement was the superior choice. The individual involved will be incarcerated, and there’s no possibility of appealing the decision. It’s a relief for numerous children, including those in our family, who were once burdened by subpoenas. Now, they are free from this lingering uncertainty.

Although she realized some grieving families might disagree, her spouse argued that the agreement would result in Kohberger receiving the appropriate punishment.

“He’s off the streets,” Jim said. “He can’t hurt any more kids.”

I wholeheartedly share that sentiment. It’s heart-wrenching to witness four precious lives taken away. I can’t help but feel that a stronger stance was needed in response. And yet, he wasn’t given the opportunity to show it.

During an informal conversation, Jim Chapin and Stacy Chapin, the parents of slain student Moses Chapin (who were absent during the sentencing hearing), shared their sense of relief following the decision by defendant Bryan Kohberger to plead guilty.

In a conversation with Today on July 14th, Stacy expressed, “We’ve discussed it extensively with the prosecutors, and for us, this seemed like a superior option. He will be incarcerated, and there won’t be any chance for an appeal. Moreover, numerous children, including our own, who were previously subpoenaed, no longer have this burden hanging over them.

As a lifestyle expert, I find myself often reflecting on the complexities of life and justice. Although I understand that not every bereaved family may share my perspective, I firmly believe that the agreement made in this case will provide the perpetrator with his due consequences.

“He’s off the streets,” Jim said. “He can’t hurt any more kids.”

For more on the Idaho murders, keep reading.

21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves, along with Madison Mogen (also 21), Xana Kernodle (age 20), and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin (also 20) were all students at the University of Idaho who resided in an apartment off campus.

On November 12, 2022, Goncalves and Mogen spent their evening at a sports bar nearby, while Kernodle and Chapin attended Chapin’s fraternity party. By 2 a.m. on November 13, all four roommates, including Chapin, returned to their shared three-story rental house.

Goncalves, who specialized in general studies, was nearing graduation from the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. It had been reported that she would be graduating in December, following which she planned to move to Austin, Texas, for a position at a marketing firm. This information was shared by her friend Jordyn Quesnell with The New York Times.

Mogen, a marketing student, has been close friends with Goncalves since the 6th grade. It was reported by family friend Jessie Frost to The Idaho Statesman that she intends to relocate to Boise following her graduation.

At one point, Kernodle was a junior studying marketing, as stated earlier. She had been in a relationship with Chapin, who specialized in recreation, sport and tourism management, since spring. Their roommate’s neighbor, Ellie McKnight, shared this information with NBC News.

On the day of the murders, roommates Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were both present at home. Text messages that were unveiled on March 6, 2025, reveal that Mortensen and Funke attempted to reach their other roommates after Mortensen spotted a masked individual moving around their house on November 13th. This information is derived from documents acquired by TopMob News.

“No one is answering,” Mortensen texted Funke at 4:22 a.m. “I’m rlly confused rn.”

She persistently contacted her roommates, encouraging them to reply. At 4:32 a.m., she messaged Goncalves saying, “Pls respond,” and followed up again at 10:23 a.m. asking, “Are you awake?

At 11:58 a.m., a 911 call was made following the discovery of Kernodle being unresponsive. This information was gathered from an additional motion obtained by TopMob News. In the transcript, a woman identified as A1 explained the current scenario to the operator.

She mentioned on the call that one of the roommates, who appears to be intoxicated from the previous night and hasn’t woken up yet, was spotted by them. They also reported seeing a stranger in their home last night.

Bryan Kohberger, the individual who is facing charges for four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, was a doctoral student at Washington State University. Approximately a month after the bodies of Gonclaves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin were found, Kohberger was apprehended on December 30 in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. He was transported to Idaho on January 4, 2023.

It was through DNA evidence found on a knife sheath at the crime scene that authorities linked him to the murders. This connection was made public in court documents presented by prosecutors in June 2023, as reported by NBC News.

When the DNA didn’t correspond with anyone in the FBI database, law enforcement agencies cross-checked the DNA against public genealogy websites to generate a list of potential candidates, as stated in the documents. Upon discovering that Kohberger had traveled to his parents’ residence in Monroe County, local authorities sifted through their trash and detected DNA links to the one found at the crime scene.

Currently, no specific reason behind the attack has been disclosed, as a court order restricts those connected to the case from making public statements. Nevertheless, some details about their initial defenses have emerged due to recently unveiled documents. (NBC News reporting)

Lawyers for Kohberger made a request, as reported by TopMob News, to dismiss the death penalty consideration. This is because, if found guilty on all charges, Kohberger—who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)—would originally face capital punishment. However, they contend that executing someone with ASD would infringe upon the Eighth Amendment’s ban on “inhumane and unjust treatment,” which includes the prohibition of “cruel and unusual punishment.

In simpler terms, his defense contends that Kohbereger tends to think in a very inflexible manner, persistently focuses on certain subjects, breaks down information rather than seeing the whole picture, finds it difficult to make plans for the future, and shows limited understanding of his own actions and feelings.

Because of his Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mr. Kohberger finds it challenging to conform to standard social behavior. This presents a grave concern that he may face the death penalty not due to his wrongdoing, but because of his disability.

To start with, Judge Kohberger’s plea of not guilty was entered for him on the first-degree murder charges during his May 2023 court appearance as he remained silent. Despite his trial being scheduled for October 2, 2023, he chose to relinquish his right to a swift trial in August 2023.

The start of his trial, initially arranged in Ada County over 300 miles away from Latah County where the murders occurred, has been scheduled for August 11, 2025.

In September 2024, Judge John Judge from Latah County previously decided to grant the motion for transfer submitted by Kohberger’s defense team, citing potential bias or presumed prejudice that might arise if the trial were held in Latah County itself.

In the upcoming trial, Judge Steven Hippler of Ada County refused the defense’s plea to exclude crucial DNA evidence along with cell phone and email records, security camera footage, previous Amazon transactions, and DNA findings.

On June 30, 2025, Kohberger’s court trial for the murders was suddenly halted when he opted for a plea bargain offered by the prosecution. By accepting this deal, he consented to confess his guilt for four murder charges and one burglary count. Moreover, he relinquished his right to appeal and requested a less severe prison term.

On July 2, 2025, he admitted his guilt in court, affirming “yes” when the judge questioned whether he intentionally, illegally, purposefully, and with premeditated malice caused harm to all four of the victims.

On March 2025, a selfie taken by Kohberger the day after the murders was presented. In this picture, he is seen standing in front of a shower with a thumbs-up gesture. This snapshot matches the description provided by a witness referred to as “D.M.” in court documents, who noted that the suspect had thick, bushy eyebrows.

Steve Gonclaves, father of victim Kaylee, subsequently commented on the image, describing it as a “trophy,” during an interview with Fox and Friends.

Gonclaves stated, “I’m aware of the sequence of events. He had arrived at the crime scene right after returning, and it occurred to him that no one had dialed 911 yet.

He explained that for him, it was almost like a small token, signifying “I managed to escape unnoticed.

2025 Dateline documentary on the murders featured a former classmate of Kohberger’s who shared an “odd” message she received from him following their encounter at a party.

Holly admitted she felt somewhat compelled to converse with him due to his apparent discomfort, much like how one would perceive a PhD student who was unfamiliar with others at the gathering, possibly striving hard to socialize and forge friendships.

The following day, Holly said she received a text from him, which she described as overly formal. 

19 p.m., Bryan’s message stated, “I believe we discussed hiking trips yesterday. I love going on them, so do tell if we’re planning one. Cheers!

In a different part of the Dateline documentary, it was discovered that Kohberger’s internet history contained queries about Ted Bundy, Britney Spears’ song “Criminal,” and the phrase “University of Idaho Murders.

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2025-07-23 19:17