Bryan Kohberger Accepts Plea Deal in Idaho Student Murders
- M.R Mishra
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of brutally stabbing four University of Idaho students to death in November 2022, has agreed to a plea deal that will spare him the death penalty in exchange for life imprisonment without parole.
The 30-year-old former criminology Ph.D. student is expected to plead guilty to four counts of murder and one count of burglary at a hearing on July 2, waiving all rights to appeal and accepting four consecutive life sentences .
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The deal, announced just weeks before his trial was set to begin in August, has drawn fierce criticism from some victims' families, who accuse prosecutors of rushing the process and failing to consult them adequately.
The Goncalves family, whose daughter Kaylee was among the victims, expressed fury over the agreement, calling it a "secretive deal" that denies them justice.
In a scathing statement, they revealed they were notified of the plea via email just days before the hearing, with no opportunity to provide input.
Kaylee’s sister, Aubrie, lamented that Kohberger will
"still get to speak, form relationships, and engage with the world," while the victims "have been silenced forever" .
In contrast, the family of Madison Mogen supported the resolution, with her father stating it allows them to "put this behind us" and avoid years of traumatic court proceedings .
Prosecutors defended the deal as a way to ensure a definitive conviction and avoid the uncertainties of a trial, including potential appeals that could drag on for decades. The case against Kohberger was built on a mountain of evidence, including DNA from a knife sheath found at the crime scene, cellphone records placing him near the victims' home, and surveillance footage of his white Hyundai Elantra circling the property before the murders
. Despite this, the lack of a clear motive and the possibility that a trial might have revealed one has left some families grappling with unanswered questions .
The plea deal now rests with Judge Steven Hippler, who must approve it at Wednesday’s hearing. If accepted, sentencing is expected in late July, closing a case that has haunted the small town of Moscow and reignited debates over justice, victim rights, and the death penalty .
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