Bryan Kohberger
Gets Life in Prison During Sentencing Hearing
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Bryan Kohberger has finally been sentenced after admitting to murdering 4 University of Idaho college students — with the victims’ families telling him exactly how they feel.
The confessed killer was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences … one for each of the first-degree murder counts he pled guilty to, without the possibility of parole.
Kohberger wore an orange prison uniform during sentencing … different than the buttoned-up shirt and tie he wore last time we saw him in court.
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Numerous members of the victims’ families spoke out in court today … some addressing Kohberger directly with victim impact statements while others spoke about their experiences more broadly
7/2/25
Bethany Funke — one of the roommates who was not killed in Kohberger’s brutal attack — had a friend read her victim impact statement which focused on guilt, her response to the traumatic event and her unimaginable sadness that her friends were murdered.
Dylan Mortensen took the stand — another surviving roommate … breaking down into tears in the courtroom. She’s talked about all the moments her friends never got to experience — graduations, birthdays, etc. She’s also dove into the mental health effects of the attack, including her difficulties with panic attacks.
Mortensen called Kohberger, “a hollow vessel. Something less than human. A body without empathy or remorse. He chose destruction. He chose evil.”
Madison Mogen‘s stepfather reads a statement on behalf of his wife, Karen … calling her “bright, beautiful, kind” and telling stories about her upbringing.
Kohberger took a controversial plea deal where he agreed to plead guilty to the murders in exchange for prosecutors taking the possibility of the death penalty off the table.
However, Madison’s grandmother, Kim Cheeley, begins her victim impact statement by thanking the prosecution team for ensuring Kohberger’s imprisonment by securing the plea.
She also thanks the police and other officials for investigating. Kim also mentions the tattoo of angel wings. Kim asks people to do good deeds on Madison’s birthday, May 25, each year to honor her.
With the plea, Kohberger avoids having to give any answers or explanations behind the slayings … even though President Trump is demanding Kohberger open his trap.
Kaylee Goncalves‘ father, Steve, turned the lectern from facing the judge to stare directly at Kohberger … and, he told the murderer he united everyone — multiple police departments and multiple families.
Steve called Kohberger “a complete joke” … adding he will one day be nothing more than just two initials — and from this moment on, the world will forget him. Despite Steve previously telling us about misgivings regarding the plea deal given to Kohberger, he complimented the efforts of everyone who worked on the case.
Kaylee’s sister Alivea and her mother, Kristi, jumped up to the mic in court — her mother also read a partial statement from her other sister, Aubri — delivering fiery condemnation of Kohberger … and cracking a couple jokes about how friendly the other inmates will be in jail.
Xana Kernodle‘s dad, Jeff, said he almost drove over to the house the night of the murders to check on his daughter because she wasn’t feeling well … but didn’t because he remembered her condemnations of him drinking and driving. He said he regrets it and feels he could’ve helped fight off Kohberger.
Latah County prosecutor, Bill Thompson, got choked up during the prosecution’s request for sentencing while talking about the special families of the students who were murdered.
Kohberger “respectfully” declines to make a statement. Kohberger submitted a signed confession … but the bare-bones admission of guilt is about all we’re getting … other than his admission that he murdered his victims with “premeditation and with malice aforethought.”
His heinous killing spree in November 2022 claimed the lives of Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin — who were found butchered inside an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho.
Kohberger will also have the opportunity to speak in open court … but he’s not required to do so.
