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

[Warwick7]

He’s a bit of a loose cannon. He’s hoping to pressure the judge to nix the deal.

It’ll never happen.

I agree, he can be a loose cannon. However, it wasn't our daughter that was beaten, defaced and slaughtered. I can't walk in his shoes. There's no way I can judge him.

And besides without him there's so much we would have never known. And in all honesty, all of wanted that information. Then devoured it when it came out.

 

[Sundog]

Watching the Dateline special and BK called his parents right after the murder?

no, I'm not saying he should. I mean when they go in front of the judge Wednesday to change the status of the case, could the judge reject the change

Yes. The judge can reject the plea deal and proceed with the trial. It's up to the judge now.

The judge can also change the terms of the plea deal. If the judge does that, then the defendant can withdraw his guilty plea.

 

[BUF]

By contrast, Madison Mogen’s father is choosing acceptance, he told the Idaho Statesman, saying the plea agreement would let his family avoid a trial and allow its wounds to keep healing.

If Kohberger were given a death sentence, he wouldn’t “have to spend decades thinking” about “how terrible (he) made the world,” Mogen added to “CBS Mornings.”

“We can actually put this behind us and not have these future dates and future things that we don’t want to have to be at, that we shouldn’t have to be at, that have to do with this terrible person,” Mogen told CBS. “We get to just think about the rest of our lives and have to try and figure out how to do it without Maddie and without the rest of the kids.”

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/01/us/bryan-kohberger-trial-plea-deal-victims-families-hnk

 

[ilovewings]

BBM
Well it sounds like the Ethan's family hasn't spoken to the latest development. However, all the other families are upset about the plea deal.

Families of students killed furious over Kohberger plea deal | FOX 13 Seattle Bryan Kohberger plea deal: Victim families furious over no death penalty

The families fail to understand the death penalty may not have been voted on by the jury- they seem to think it was a given- it was not

 

[Warwick7]

I also believe the surviving room mates deserve some degree of closure. They are in their early 20s and have to live with this the rest of their lives. To pursue the DP could very well last the majority of their lives. Putting them on the stand to be torn apart by the defense, what good does that do them?

Nothing will bring the 4 beautiful young adults back, but we owe it to the 2 surving ones to give them the best possible circumstances for their lives.

BBM
This is where my laurels lie. There are dozens of witnesses that now do not have to testify. For them I feel the plea bargain is a relief.

 

[AngTxGal]

How could anyone deserve the death penalty more.

So, like Watts, they'll stick him in a relatively cushy place so well protected to save their own collective a$$es from possible violence against their new protected one. See Watts with his private cell for 2+ years. Now reportedly serving as religious "counselor" for terminally ill inmates, and preparing for his new marriage albeit without conjugal visits. So far.

What a gobsmack. What a sick joke letting him off so be can spend the rest of his life as the enigma. While real people, who have not taken the lives of others have to live under bridges because no one is gifting them free housing, 3 squares a day, free utilities, free dental, medical for the rest of their lives at raxpayer expense.

The Death Penalty in Idaho is not quick justice as some may think…

As per the Idaho Dept of Corrections there are eight people now on Death Row.
The oldest case is 1983- Thomas Creech has sat on death row for 42 years for beating another inmate to death.

So if Kohberger spend the next 40 years on Death Row he would outlive his own parents, and likely the parents of all of his victims.

His acceptance of a plea deal with life in prison, no appeals, no parole, means he isn’t getting out ever.
And as others have said- it should not be overlooked that a Guilty Plea means he is factually guilty, is saying He Did It. So the world would know he is guilty. At least the victims’ and families would know the killer was caught and behind bars for the rest of his natural life.

IMO

 

[Chloegirl]

Many people talk about closure. I think of it like this.

Like the word "perfect", "closure" does not exist. Ultimately, there is no way to fully process a loved one being murdered.

THAT is what makes it so unspeakable, unthinkable, unfathomable. JMOO

RIP Kaylee-Maddie-Ethan-Xana

 

[minazoe]

get ready for his flat , emotionless and bored confession. he will be a huge disappointment. Most SK's are appalingly blasé about what they have done , almost pedestrian. I don't think there is a fascinating person behind his "autism" mask, which I am convinced is played up for the court.
I do however hope the mask slips for a moment, so we can see the real Bryan...just to see for ourselves , the truth.

I am unbelievably sad about the feelings of the families and honestly if y'all were watching NewsNation last night , Ashleigh B and Brian Entin were just basically sucker punched by this announcement. So much so that AB had to jump off her vaycay flight and bolt to the studio.
This was their blockbuster summer trial and I just felt so bad for everyone who planned their lives around this trial.

mOO

 

[AngTxGal]

I also believe the surviving room mates deserve some degree of closure. They are in their early 20s and have to live with this the rest of their lives. To pursue the DP could very well last the majority of their lives. Putting them on the stand to be torn apart by the defense, what good does that do them?

Nothing will bring the 4 beautiful young adults back, but we owe it to the 2 surving ones to give them the best possible circumstances for their lives.

Agree, hoping this plea deal is the closure that would help the survivors move forward in their lives.
I’m not sure that is the case.
If BK appears to enjoy his life in any way- and finds his way into the public eye for the rest of his life- that would be pure hell for the survivors.
And- BK would be like all other prisoners in high profile cases- they develop an entourage of pen-pals who may bother those victims. I don’t know if a Guilty Plea mattes to these minions- I would hope the heck so! But wing-nuts just can’t be measured with any type of reason.

Just maybe there is something would seal this case in history in the name of the victims and survivors? A law could be changed for the victims/ survivors? What would it be?

IMO

 

[QB2022]

This trial should not ever have been referred to as a blockbuster or a means to make anyone a profit.

 

[Fleur-de-lis]

I feel so bad for the Goncalves family and Kernodle family especially since justice to them does not mean a plea deal of this type. MOO.

 

[Sundog]

The families can file a civil suit that prevents Kohberger from ever profiting from the murders. “Son of Sam” laws at the state level. So while a book deal would be a concern- that can be prevented.
It may also be added by the judge as a condition of the plea agreement? Maybe

What Goncalves hasn’t considered is the reality of DP appeals could last decades, and the DP would not even be certain.
Goncalves is not thinking what BK may have been doing for months and months- writing a manuscript. I doubt BK has been doing nothing.

BK is likely making friends, has a fleet of wing-nut sadistic lonely women pen pals pledging their love. He is probably getting plenty of attention in his twisted little world.

Goncalves is processing, no doubt, as we all are. Based on what the press is reporting- the idea of a plea deal was sprung on the families as a trial date was approaching. But, I can’t imagine that the idea of a plea deal would not have come up as a possibility.

IMO

I suspect that Catherine Ramsland will write a book with BK. He may not be able to profit, and Ramsland could have the profits go to the families of the victims and herself. IIRC, that's how they structured the proceeds from the sale of the book that she co-authored with BTK.

 

[Bodine]

I say it's 50/50 whether BK takes the deal. Would not be surprised if he pulls what Ted Bundy tried to pull and claim ineffective assistance of counsel (because his attorneys believe him to be guilty) at the last minute in order to get his attorneys removed and get the trial delayed much, much longer.

Didn't work for Bundy because the judge was a strong judge and made him go forward with his existing counsel. The rest is history.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Why would the Prosecution do that? Wouldn't it have been perceived by some that they didn't think he was guilty and that they were backing down?

THe cost to Idaho is a valid factor. There were only two possible sentences for these crimes and he got 4 consecutive life sentences. Life without parole.

And he admitted he was guilty. He admits he did it - which, I think, is a very good outcome for the families. The verdict still gets read, it is now on record - he says he did it.

More killers should do this, IMO. For all we know, he has glimmers of conscience. He wants to spare his own family. I think some of the family members did not want to hear the details again at trial (this is based on interviews given some time ago).

The system itself is real and fair. It should be the case that guilty people can so state. To me, that's fair. Saying you didn't do something when you actually did, and then sitting and waiting for others to prove that you did it is to me, the opposite of fairness.

I do believe that at least one of the families did not want the DP nor did they want to continue their grief through the trial process.

IMO he threw himself on the mercy of the court and did so when he realized the new Judge was not brooking any nonsense and that the witnesses brought in today (Friday) were going to be damning.

Again, JMO.

10ofRods, we've watched the Rhoden and Gilley families go through hell in the Pike County Ohio case, first with law enforcement blaming the victims and then with a long trial after two guilty pleas and now with a judge rolling back our hope of justice for 8 murders. And there's still another trial for perpetrator 4 to go, under the judge who seems to prefer the murderers to the victims, and an appeal from Perpetrator 3.

So for me, a guilty plea, LWOP, and no appeals is a huge win for the families. People think they want the death penalty but just one change in judge or one successful appeal and the nightmare continues for the families and the witnesses. BK is admitting he did it. He'll never hurt anyone else's precious kids. He won't see the light of day outside of prison and he's not the kind of guy to make friends even in the sheltered world of grad school. Prison will be a misery for him; he's not a Chris Watts type to hold court and find Jesus. I hope he is forced to allocute.

 

[minazoe]

This trial should not ever have been referred to as a blockbuster or a means to make anyone a profit.

it was a blockbuster subject matter for a true crime show. a lot of arrangements have to be cancelled and their content for the coming months has to be completely changed. all media agencies make money somewhere. For a true crime venue, the BK case was HUGE. mOO

 

[Chloegirl]

Local story on reactions:

A resolution that leaves much to be desired

Goncalves family expresses frustration with Kohberger plea deal; people of Moscow sympathetic to victims’ families

www.dnews.com

 

[QB2022]

Agree, hoping this plea deal is the closure that would help the survivors move forward in their lives.
I’m not sure that is the case.
If BK appears to enjoy his life in any way- and finds his way into the public eye for the rest of his life- that would be pure hell for the survivors.
And- BK would be like all other prisoners in high profile cases- they develop an entourage of pen-pals who may bother those victims. I don’t know if a Guilty Plea mattes to these minions- I would hope the heck so! But wing-nuts just can’t be measured with any type of reason.

Just maybe there is something would seal this case in history in the name of the victims and survivors? A law could be changed for the victims/ survivors? What would it be?

IMO

I hope, and feel, the solution that the Goncalves will eventually come to accept is strict stipulations about what he can and cannot do in terms of media and tv going forward. If he can go to prison and never be seen again and never profit from his actions then that may bring some long term peace.

 

[Jw192]

I've mulled on this all day and I'm still so very torn. I'm such a DP hypocrite. Like I am hugely against the DP for what it is and how it's used and I believe that vengeance handed down by a government isn't always justice. The DP creates so many ripples in the pool - families of the executed becoming in a sense victims in pain too... That said, someone hurt my loved ones and I'd honestly flip the switch myself without a thought. I'm a hypocrite.
I don't believe that SG and the other parents who are disappointed here, are so because of the death penalty as such though, more so what it stands for. It's the most severe punishment that can be handed down and I do understand that they feel like he deserves that for what he has done. I get it. On the other hand though, it would be prolonging the legal side of their own pain with how long it all takes etc... I think they just wanted the most severe punishment possible.

Also, I've been thinking... I can't imagine that ghoul actually speaking in court besides what he HAS to, yes - guilty etc... I don't think he's gonna speak other than that. I would love for him to be made to offer some explanation (from his own smelly brain) but I really believe that he won't. There's a reason he's been silent throughout and acting like he's a meek shy boy with all kinds of issues. He's playing games imo. He knew he was gonna do this if AT couldn't get the DP off the table. He is all about power and himself and will he heck give the victims families anything to ease their pain or understand. He's saving his wannabe waffle for the book and I truly hope that Ramsland steers far clear of him as she's worth a lot more than to play a part in his twisted games.

Hope he chokes on a big piece of carrot from his vegan meal

 

[pittsburghgirl]

I don’t think he cares about his parents. If he did he wouldn’t have committed 4 murders just for fun.

His mother might have said something as simple as "You're going to lose this case, you did it, and we don't want you to die by firing squad."

 

[303gmf]

get ready for his flat , emotionless and bored confession. he will be a huge disappointment. Most SK's are appalingly blasé about what they have done , almost pedestrian. I don't think there is a fascinating person behind his "autism" mask, which I am convinced is played up for the court.
I do however hope the mask slips for a moment, so we can see the real Bryan...just to see for ourselves , the truth.

I am unbelievably sad about the feelings of the families and honestly if y'all were watching NewsNation last night , Ashleigh B and Brian Entin were just basically sucker punched by this announcement. So much so that AB had to jump off her vaycay flight and bolt to the studio.
This was their blockbuster summer trial and I just felt so bad for everyone who planned their lives around this trial.

mOO

AB gets a teeny tiny violin from me, pitiful chasing

Imo