Chicago Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025
Bryan Kohberger Accepts Plea Deal
Bryan Kohberger, a 30-year-old former graduate student, has accepted a plea deal for murdering four University of Idaho students in 2022. The victims, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, were stabbed to death in their off-campus home. Kohberger had previously pleaded not guilty, but as part of the deal, he will plead guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
Details of the Plea Deal
The plea agreement means Kohberger will serve four consecutive life sentences without parole and waive all rights to appeal. The deal was reached after Kohberger’s lawyers approached prosecutors seeking to avoid the death penalty. Kohberger’s defense team had argued that his autism diagnosis made him less culpable, but this argument was unsuccessful. A court hearing to formally enter the plea is set for July 2.
Reaction from the Victims’ Families
The victims’ families are divided over the plea deal, with some expressing outrage that Kohberger will not face the death penalty. The Goncalves family, in particular, is upset about the secretive nature of the deal and feels that the case is being rushed to a close. They want prosecutors to maintain their pursuit of the death penalty for Kohberger.
