Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students, is set to face the victims’ families during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday (July 23) in Boise, Idaho. Kohberger, 30, is expected to receive four consecutive life sentences without parole for the 2022 killings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The victims were found stabbed to death in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022.
Kohberger’s guilty plea earlier this month was part of a deal to avoid the death penalty. The plea agreement does not require Kohberger to explain his actions, leaving many questions unanswered for the victims’ families. President Donald Trump commented on the case, urging the judge to require Kohberger to explain his motives.
During the hearing, the families of the victims will have the opportunity to deliver victim impact statements, expressing their grief and anger. The families of Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodle expressed dissatisfaction with the plea deal, hoping for answers about the motive behind the killings.
Kohberger, a former criminology graduate student, was linked to the crime through DNA evidence, cellphone records, and surveillance footage. His arrest in Pennsylvania, where he was living with his parents, came six weeks after the murders. The trial was moved to Boise due to concerns about finding an unbiased jury in Moscow.
The hearing may extend into Thursday to accommodate all statements. Kohberger has the option to address the court, though he is not obligated to speak. After the sentencing, Kohberger will be transferred to the Idaho Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.
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