PLEA DEAL REACHED - 4 Univ of Idaho Students Murdered, Bryan Kohberger Arrested, Moscow, Nov 2022 #109

[Helechawagirl]

They don't have to. It is the State of Idaho against BK. I am actually surprised, I thought he would do an "Alford Plea", he still can. He won’t accept guilt, he just agrees there is enough evidence against him to be considered "guilty".

I bet Steve Gonzalez is going to be furious! JMO

 

[NavySubMom]

I hope Kohlberger isn’t giving himself another creepy “thumbs up” after this deal taking Death off of his sentencing possibilities.
Like it is a victory for him. That “thumbs up” photo he made right after he committed the murders, , is one of the creepiest photos I have ever seen. A window to his soul .
I think he knew he was never getting out of prison in any event. Getting Death was the only unknown in his sentencing, now he doesn’t even have to worry about that !

 

[vls12345]

I wonder if BK's parents held out some tiny iota of hope that their son did not commit these murders? Feeling sorry for them today. And thinking of the victims & their families & loved ones today. A plea deal feels like a hard solution to swallow (even though there are some benefits of a plea deal happening).

It's got to be emotional today for everyone involved, even the professional legal teams as they have spent a lot of time dedicated to this case.

I'm as gobsmacked as everyone else when I saw this headline an hour ago.

 

[abeaman02]

He had no hesitation in ending the lives of four innocent people, but when it comes to him facing death he is a coward. Not suprised.

 

[Cedars]

I understand that. But, isn't the deal just what is suggested to the judge? And the judge has the final authority? He could override the suggestions of prosecution, correct? (Not saying that he would. But I'm wondering if he could.)

I don't think so, I think that would open up too many bases for appeal.

Actually, in the Jake Wagner case in Oklahoma (Pike County murders) the judge disregarded the deal and gave him the possibility of parole, in spite of the prosecution wanting no parole...

 

[Wishbone]

So is it safe to say that his lead counsel knew he was guilty? Just last week they brought up other potential suspects and the judge shot that down quickly.

He is disgusting, he has put everyone through this for what-just to be in the spotlight every day since his arrest.

I don't think this guy cared a bit about getting caught for these murders, maybe even wanted to get caught?. Any of us on this forum could plan an alibi and execute the actual murder a whole lot better than this PHD criminology major. And for sure none of us would park our car in front of the house after driving by it a multitude of times that night. Lots of questions. Did he want to go out with a bang and be remembered for something? Or was he a budding serial killer in the making and wanted to stop himself? Was he just tired of living the life of a loser and never getting the pretty blond girls? If he wanted to make us wonder WHY. Well, he has certainly managed to do that. JMOO

 

[Gemmie]

JMHO, but this is best for the surviving roommates, especially DM who actually saw BK. They deserve to put this nightmare behind them.
Bless Maddie, Caylee, Xana, Ethan and all who loved them.

I also don't think the DDD needs more stress and trauma in her life. She's dealt with enough from what I've read.

 

[texaslb218]

I don't care one breath what happens to BK as long as he never ever has a day outside prison walls. He cannot be punished enough even with the DP in my opinion. The best punishment would be for him to fade into obscurity.

 

[browneyes]

I hate to say it but I have changed by mind about a trial and DP. I wanted his life for theirs. But then I thought of the jurors who would have to go through all the evidence. There wouldn’t be a mistrial or a hung jury. Conviction would be a sure thing but the jurors lives would be destroyed. I don’t wish that on anyone.

I wouldn’t lose a wink of sleep convicting BK and giving him the DP. He is an animal.

 

[Luna20]

I bet Steve Gonzalez is going to be furious! JMO

He is. NBC reported that.

 

[Tragg]

I haven't followed this case but was under the impression that before a plea deal is given a defendant the victim(s) and/or their families were involved with prosecutors discussing it and basically had to sign off on it.

Although victims/families must be consulted about negotiated plea proposals, they are not clients in the sense that parties to a civil case are. The prosecutor represents the people at large and has sole discretion to accept or reject the plea deal offered by the defendant. Of course, the judge has discretion to reject it as unjust and require a trial. But I've never seen a judge insist that prosecutors must seek the death penalty to achieve justice. I understand the families' feelings completely and empathize, but I don't think the judge will reject the guilty pleas.

I speculate that AT raised just enough concern that a DP verdict could be overturned on fair trial/due process grounds and that the case would at least remain on appeal for the rest of BK's life making a mockery of the process, that 4 guilty pleas and 4 life sentences without parole represented the best outcome he could get for the People of Idaho.

And I think the pleas will hold up if BK gets buyer's remorse and decides to claim AT's representation was inadequate.

 

[Cedars]

Was a guilty verdict really that sure of a thing? I don't think a plea would be offered here if that were the case.

.Also, trials that have a huge social media following are just becoming such a circus. How civilized to just cut to the chase and avoid all the melodrama.

 

[Sundog]

I understand that. But, isn't the deal just what is suggested to the judge? And the judge has the final authority? He could override the suggestions of prosecution, correct? (Not saying that he would. But I'm wondering if he could.)

Yes, the judge has to approve the plea deal. If a judge accepts a plea deal but makes changes to it, then the defendant can withdraw their guilty plea.

IANAL, so just my opinion from reading legal sources.

 

[Wishbone]

“We cannot fathom the toll that this case has taken on your family,” read the letter, signed by Moscow Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson, according to the Idaho Statesman, which said it viewed the letter. “This resolution is our sincere attempt to seek justice for your family. This agreement ensures that the defendant will be convicted, will spend the rest of his life in prison, and will not be able to put you and the other families through the uncertainty of decades of post-conviction appeals.”

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/30/us/bryan-kohberger-update-plea-deal

 

[Gigiky]

I had posted way back that I thought this might happen. But thought to much time had past for it to happen. What a coward! JMO

 

[Luna20]

Although victims/families must be consulted about negotiated plea proposals, they are not clients in the sense that parties to a civil case are. The prosecutor represents the people at large and has sole discretion to accept or reject the plea deal offered by the defendant. Of course, the judge has discretion to reject it as unjust and require a trial. But I've never seen a judge insist that prosecutors must seek the death penalty to achieve justice. I understand the families' feelings completely and empathize, but I don't think the judge will reject the guilty pleas.

I speculate that AT raised just enough concern that a verdict could be overturned on fair trial/due process grounds and that the case would at least remain on appeal for the rest of BK's life making a mockery of the process, that 4 guilty pleas and 4 life sentences without parole represented the best outcome he could get for the People of Idaho.

And I think the pleas will hold up if BK gets buyer's remorse and decides to claim AT's representation was inadequate.

He and AT have been the best of friends so he would have a hard time claiming that representation was inadequate.

All the things she has lobbied for point to his guilt. Different trial location, no bushy eyebrows, more time, create the possibility for new suspects, etc.

Less than a month ago she said he did not kill anyone.

 

[SteveP]

My understanding is BK agreed to plead guilty to the four murders, accept LWOP, and waive any right to future appeals.

I am not happy with this plea deal, but BK can now live the rest of his life, rotting away in prison, and despite wanting to live in infamy, he will, in time, be forgotten, at least his name will be. When books are written about him, they will show him as an inept killer, who left enough bread crumbs behind, that the Keystone Cops could have caught him. He will never be on the Mt Rushmore of serial killers. The man who thought he was the smartest man in any room, can now live the rest of his life trying to convince himself that he is the smartest man in his maximum-security cellblock.

To the surviving roommates, the friends who went to the house that morning, the first responders, the DD driver, and mostly, to the families of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, know that despite the evil in the world, there is so much more goodness, and millions of people will continue to lift you up in prayer and good thoughts, as you can finally begin the next phase of your lives, putting this part behind you as much as possible, and looking ahead, always remembering the way your loved ones lived, and not the way they died. God bless you all. JMO

 

[Sundog]

Was a guilty verdict really that sure of a thing? I don't think a plea would be offered here if that were the case.

I think a guilty verdict was very likely a sure thing, but not necessarily a death penalty sentence. So offering the plea deal only takes the death penalty off the table, BK still gets life in prison without parole as his sentence. Seems like a win-win for both the state and the defence.

 

[MassGuy]

The plea deal offered to take the death penalty off the table, in exchange for Kohberger pleading guilty to the four first-degree murder charges and an additional charge of felony burglary. He’s expected to appear in court at 11 a.m. July 2 for a change of plea hearing, according to the letter, which was provided to one of the victims’ family.

If Kohberger pleads guilty “as expected,” he’ll likely be sentenced in late July to life in prison, according to the letter. If he doesn’t, the trial will proceed as planned. As a part of the plea deal, Kohberger will also have to waive his right to an appeal.

“We cannot fathom the toll that this case has taken on your family,” read the letter, signed by Moscow Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson. “This resolution is our sincere attempt to seek justice for your family. This agreement ensures that the defendant will be convicted, will spend the rest of his life in prison, and will not be able to put you and the other families through the uncertainty of decades of post-conviction appeals.”

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/crime/article309739495.html

 

[mickey2942]

BK is going to have a much better life now. He can get a job, hang out, make friends.