BOISE, Idaho — On July 23, 2025, Bryan Kohberger, a 30-year-old former criminology Ph.D. student, was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for the brutal 2022 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. The sentencing, held at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, marks the conclusion of a high-profile case that gripped the nation and left the small college town of Moscow, Idaho, reeling. Kohberger also received a 10-year sentence for a related burglary charge, to run concurrently.
The Crimes
In the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, Kohberger entered an off-campus rental home on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, and fatally stabbed four University of Idaho students: Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. The victims, three of whom were roommates and Chapin, Kernodle’s boyfriend, were attacked in their sleep or shortly after waking. Court documents reveal the attack was premeditated, with Kohberger purchasing a KA-BAR-style knife and sheath online eight months prior. A knife sheath left at the scene contained DNA that later matched Kohberger, becoming a critical piece of evidence.
Two other roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, survived the attack. Mortensen reported seeing a masked figure with “bushy eyebrows” in the home that night, describing him as “not very muscular, but athletically built.” She did not call 911 until hours later, a delay that has sparked public speculation but remains unexplained. Both survivors spoke at the sentencing, detailing the profound trauma they’ve endured, with Mortensen stating, “He took away my ability to trust the world around me.”
The Investigation and Arrest
The murders, the first homicide in Moscow in seven years, sent shockwaves through the community, prompting a nearly seven-week manhunt. Kohberger, a graduate student at Washington State University in nearby Pullman, was identified as a suspect through a combination of DNA evidence, cellphone data, and surveillance footage. Investigators traced a white Hyundai Elantra seen near the crime scene to Kohberger, and DNA from a knife sheath matched a sample from his father’s Q-Tip, retrieved from the family’s trash in Pennsylvania. Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022, at his parents’ home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, and extradited to Idaho.
Police reports released post-sentencing revealed chilling details. Xana Kernodle suffered over 50 stab wounds, many defensive, indicating she fought back. Kohberger’s classmates noted injuries on his face and hands in October and November 2022, which he attributed to a car accident. A fellow teaching assistant described him as “intelligent but selfish” and said he frequently discussed criminal decision-making and burglary, his areas of study. No evidence linked Kohberger to the victims or their social media, and authorities have found no motive, with Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson stating there was no prior history of violence or criminal behavior.
The Plea Deal
Kohberger initially pleaded not guilty, with his defense team attempting to exclude the death penalty, citing his autism diagnosis, and arguing for alternative perpetrators—motions denied by Judge Steven Hippler as “rank speculation.” However, on June 30, 2025, prosecutors announced a plea deal, just weeks before the trial was set to begin on August 4. Kohberger agreed to plead guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, waiving his right to appeal in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. He formally entered his guilty plea on July 2, admitting to the killings with “premeditation and malice of forethought.”
The plea deal divided victims’ families. Madison Mogen’s mother and stepfather, Karen and Scott Laramie, supported it, stating it allowed them to “turn from tragedy and mourning” and focus on healing. Conversely, Kaylee Goncalves’ family, led by her father Steve, expressed outrage, calling it a “deal with the devil.” They criticized prosecutors for not consulting them adequately and demanded a full confession, including the location of the missing murder weapon. The Goncalves family’s attorney, Shanon Gray, noted their request to amend the plea terms was rejected, as the deal was already finalized.
The Sentencing Hearing
The July 23 sentencing hearing lasted over three hours, with emotional victim impact statements from over a dozen relatives and survivors. Family members described the victims’ vibrancy—Goncalves as empathetic, Mogen as a careful listener, Kernodle as “everyone’s best friend,” and Chapin as full of promise. Kristi Goncalves, Kaylee’s mother, and Alivea Goncalves, her sister, confronted Kohberger directly, with Alivea stating, “No one is scared of you today.” An aunt of Kernodle offered forgiveness but pleaded for answers, saying, “Any time you want to talk, I’m here for you.” Kohberger, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, remained expressionless and declined to speak when offered the chance, responding, “I respectfully decline.”
Judge Hippler, visibly emotional, condemned Kohberger as a “faceless coward” and expressed frustration at the lack of a motive, stating, “There is no reason for these crimes that could approach anything resembling rationality.” He emphasized that focusing on “why” gives Kohberger undue relevance, urging the public to shift focus to the victims’ legacies. The judge also vacated a gag order post-sentencing, allowing new details to emerge, including police reports detailing the investigation’s scope.
Aftermath and Unanswered Questions
Kohberger’s guilty plea and sentencing close a case that spawned books, documentaries, and intense social media speculation. However, key questions remain unanswered, including his motive and the location of the murder weapon. Prosecutor Thompson noted that the law did not allow forcing a detailed confession, and Moscow Police Chief James Fry suggested new information could still emerge from unsealed documents. Kohberger is expected to serve his sentence at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, 11 miles from Boise.
The case’s resolution has brought mixed relief to Moscow, a community scarred by the tragedy. While the plea deal spared families a grueling trial, the lack of clarity about Kohberger’s motives continues to haunt survivors and relatives. As Judge Hippler stated, “It is time to end Mr. Kohberger’s 15 minutes of fame.”
