PLEA DEAL REACHED - 4 Univ of Idaho Students Murdered, Bryan Kohberger Arrested, Moscow, Nov 2022 #110

[10ofRods]

If the Judge requires BK to give answers to the key questions still pending, will he give BK a deadline? So that if BK fails to answer thoroughly enough to please the Judge, the trial will go on?

 

[Deleted member 291279]

Great point!

Agree with this. He will hide behind his attorney as long he can, I don't believe he's say anything other than what he has to say. I also believe at some point he's going to want attention and will try to revive this. It will be a while but I forsee that happening.

I am curious about what his family will do once this is all over.

All JMO

I don't believe he's say anything other than what he has to say. And that is his right guaranteed by the US Constitution. It seems unfair to the families, however, the federal Constitution doesn't directly grant specific rights to victims' families.

 

[Miss Poovy]

I think a plea deal is the only way we'd ever find out the answers to those questions about what he was thinking (if the answers can be trusted). He wouldn't be able to talk about it during decades of appeals.
JMO

Here’s one attorney’s perspective, it doesn’t sound promising for any type of major explanation.

 

[Miss Poovy]

Here’s one attorney’s perspective, it doesn’t sound promising for any type of major explanation.

Why Bryan Kohberger won’t have to tell victims’ families what happened

“It’s going to be gut-wrenching,” a lawyer told “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”

www.newsnationnow.com

 

[arielilane]

The victims: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin - stabbed to death at an off campus rental home some time around [approximately] 4:00 am to 4:25 am MT on November 13, 2022.

On December 30, 2022, BK was arrested.
Since his arrest BK has maintained his innocence.

In May 2023, BK refused to enter a plea during his arraignment. His attorney stated that BK was “standing silent”on the charges. The judge entered a ‘not guilty plea on behalf of BK.


On June 26, 2023, the state of ID announced their intent to seek the death penalty against BK given the aggravating circumstances of the 1st degree murder and BK was also denied bond.

On April 10, 2024, during a court hearing defense attorney made a bold statement they firmly believe their client is innocent.
[Later it was reported that prosecuting attorney BT slammed AT’s defense strategy and said she appeared to be tainting the jury pool.]


On June 30, 2025, shocking news: BK entered into a deal to plead guilty to all counts against him and would be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences, avoiding the death penalty. In addition, he gives up his right to any future appeals, which guarantees he remains in prison for the rest of his life.

So why would the state offer a deal now?

A few thoughts...
No university wants this type of attention on their school. I suspect it’s hurt enrollment since 2022.
Would the state be able to get a good jury who understands BARD and convict?
High profile cases have a way of attaching strange ones and those that see an opportunity for financial gain rather than to seek justice and/or more importantly truth.
There are paid PR companies willing to pay people to advocate for the accused.
Jury nullification is real


As for BK, this works for him because...

Manipulation at its finest.
He gets to have the last word.
Controls the narrative.
Coward afraid to die.
Narcissist likes to be in charge.

As for AT, she will collect her pay, over one million but she’s earned it. If the judge agrees to the plea deal she will walk away and be done with BK, lucky her. Did she have nightmares caused by this creep? I certainly dont recall her sitting next to him since the beginning. Credit to her as she had a very high profile case and could have made more out of it, more money, brought more attention to the case, but she remained professional and did her job as a defense attorney. Something to admire, imo. Credit to the defense team.

In my opinion the offer of a deal is best decision because this is a high profile case, the trial would be long [approx. three months] and that alone is risky. It’s actually a blessing in disguise. BK can rot in prison.

However, Judge Hippler, is a terrific and reasonable judge and the state of ID fortunate to have him preside over any case.

My own opinion


Maddie, Kaylee, Xana and Ethan lives mattered.

 

[Joe Friday]

Get ready for disappointment. All those facts will be so ego smoothing if left to dribble out through deals with authors. Sure he probably can't financially, directly benefit off books, but geez, think of how long that feeling of conquest, importance can bounce around inside the brain of a freak like BK.

BBM

Hopefully the media forgets about BK, unlike Charlie Mason where they kept his name alive and still do even after his death.

JMO

 

[10ofRods]

Nothing confirmed, but it appears that Kohberger will not have to allocute.

Our only hope may be that he sat down prior to the deal being agreed to and answered questions.

Sheesh. He probably has nothing he wants to add to what all the forensic and other evidence shows. I wonder if FOIA will keep deposed witness affidavits sealed. I have no clue.

But some of the witnesses may now speak out. I was very curious about the 4 people who appeared before the Judge this week (one was a fellow student, another may have been a professor, they were prosecution witnesses).

I sure hope you're right about him already giving up the information. I suppose the evidence will show that he purchased the knife and maybe the Judge thinks it's now immaterial where the knife was disposed. I doubt BK can give much of a coherent account as to the "why" of this, anyway.

 

[Arkay]

As a survivor of a violent crime, I will say there is never a feeling of justice..... a survivor or family member of a victim can never be made whole. You wait for the day in court and the pound of flesh but it is important to recognize that no family will ever have any of their loved ones back or their peace of mind restored. Even if this scum allocutes as to his responsibility, most likely, it will never be enough.

My heart is with these families because they will never win. The roommates and all who will be spared from testifying will never win. This murderer has impacted their sense of safety and security for the rest of their lives. The murderer deserves no grace or compassion AND we can bet that even if he makes statements that he will leave them feeling victimized again.... because that is what cold, calculating people do. He will not give anyone the satisfaction of answering enough because he cares about no one but himself.

@kaen I am so sorry that you endured such a dreadful experience.

Thank God that you did survive, and you are here with us to add your knowledge and experience. And as your signature states, still trying to be a good human.

Thank you for your insight, so drastically earned. I agree with all you say.

 

[NavySubMom]

I understand this logic. Death row is a terrible, inhumane place. And being in the general prison population is a more humane environment. That said, give some thought to who he will be "socializing" with, if he is even capable of that kind of interaction. I don't think prison can be described as "leisurely," if you are under the control of guards 24/7. I don't think prison is an environment for "thriving," if stone cold killers can "thrive."

Did you ever watch the TV programs “LockUp Raw” or “LockUp - Women” where interviewers and TV crews would go inside Prisons over periods of months , and interview the prisoners, and follow them around in their daily activities, I LOVED those shows, lol,

That is what I think I have in the back of my mind. I used to watch all of those shows. But they did show some of the prisoners do make the best of it, they form “families “ and have same- sex partners , close relationships in prison, etc., make friends, etc

But that type of behavior or prison life absolutely does not include someone like Kohberger. But I can see a Casey Anthony-type manipulating other inmates to her betterment.

But when I said “thrive “ in prison, those shows showed some prisoners do handle their sentences quite well, manipulating others in their own Sociopathic ways. And live out their prison sentences, in lower security prison settings, for lesser crimes/offenses, not Murder.

IMO

 

[AngTxGal]

Actually, I believe some prisoners actually do survive better in jail, with the structured environment, versus being able to roam freely amongst society; left to their own devices, they cannot hold down jobs, have no money, no food. no place to live —therefore they commit crimes to survive. Sociopaths. Some people, like those who commit numerous crimes, recidivism types,

“Thrive” is not the correct word, I guess
Maybe they “better survive” , with all their basic needs being met , for however long their sentences are, then they get out of prison, go back to committing crimes, end up back in prison, ad nauseum.

Not that they will like it in prison, they are in there for a reason, but wake-up time, meal times (3 “meals” ) , yard time (socialization), visitors, bed time, etc etc, some criminals cannot function normally with the rest of us.
And either they feel entitled to “take” what they want/need from others, or just enjoy the thrill of committing crime, or a host of other reasons.
I’m more talking about repeat offenders, who end up in jail two/three/four times,
we cannot fathom the minds of these kinds of criminals ,

Prison vs. Death Row… and BK may seek Infamy

What we haven’t digested is what his life would be like. He is a criminology student who studied killers.

How many criminology students will now want to study BK?
What thrill will he get out of being a chapter in a book?
What thrills will he get from filling out the same surveys he sent to killers?

Maybe he thought he would not be caught so quickly, or ever?
Maybe he sees himself as special because of the four victims, stabbing is intimate, and that he broke into the safe place- their home?

He will become the studied killer, and while he is behind bars he may enjoy that.

If a killer commits a crime for infamy, maybe that infamy should be taken away from them? Maybe he should fade away without contact with the public, surveys, letters, fan mail, penpals??
To this kind of mind that may be the worst kind of hell? And is that cruel and unusual punishment? Not in my opinion

No Infamy For Killers Law
Maybe that is what the families should seek- Make a new law that cuts killers off from the public so they can’t enjoy the infamy they seek.
The victims’ families, and the survivors deserve the ability to move forward without seeing this killer around every corner for the rest of their lives.

IMO

 

[schooling]

My spidey senses are tingling and I'm starting to think about the plea deal's potential relationship to the Dateline leaks. And whether this was at least partially a response to it. Whether it's on the record or off. IMO, MOO.

The exclusion of the family within that context becomes especially interesting.

I'm not implying that anyone in the family leaked to Dateline or even had access to that level of information. But IMO the move by prosecutors to completely exclude the family, not only in consultation but even something as simple as a heads up surely points to the possibility that there's some connection.

It seems like (IMO) that this was all kept tightly under wraps for fear of it getting out and becoming another embarrassing situation.

Again, MOO

 

[MeadowMuffin]

Typically, if you are sentenced to Death, you are confined to your cell 23hrs (or so) , per day, given an hour alone in the “yard”, eat your meals in your cell, housed in a separate cell area, away from general population.
With Death off the table, he will possibly/probably be able to join the other inmates on the outdoor area to play basketball, socialize, eat in the cafeteria, etc etc., have a prison job, etc.
Not being sentenced to Death, Kohlberger will probably be able to join these types of activities, if he wishes. And live a more leisurely life in prison. Some sociopaths thrive in this structured setting.
IMO

I wonder if BK will have a "roomie" then. Someone he can share a toilet with, given his OCD and penchant for wearing gloves to keep his hands clean. Can't see him thriving.
I'm so far behind reading!!

 

[AngTxGal]

I keep seeing Steve Goncalves saying the U of I wrote a book about the murders. Am I blanking out about this, because I'm not remember this at all and not finding anything.

James Paterson wrote a book The Idaho Four, to be released this month.
You can find it on Amazon.

How do I feel about that? He should share the proceeds with the families and survivors

IMO

 

[Deleted member 291279]

My spidey senses are tingling and I'm starting to think about the plea deal's potential relationship to the Dateline leaks. And whether this was at least partially a response to it. Whether it's on the record or off. IMO, MOO.

The exclusion of the family within that context becomes especially interesting.

I'm not implying that anyone in the family leaked to Dateline or even had access to that level of information. But IMO the move by prosecutors to completely exclude the family, not only in consultation but even something as simple as a heads up surely points to the possibility that there's some connection.

It seems like (IMO) that this was all kept tightly under wraps for fear of it getting out and becoming another embarrassing situation.

Again, MOO

The court system does not operate on capriciousness or whimsey. There are rules, procedures, defendants have rights. If the family was excluded and they were denied their rights, that can easily be remedied. However, while the US Constitution primarily focuses on the rights of the accused,
it does not explicitly guarantee specific rights to victim's families. We may consider that "unfair", but unfortunately what's legal may not be fair.

 

[LOVEORLUST]

I keep seeing Steve Goncalves saying the U of I wrote a book about the murders. Am I blanking out about this, because I'm not remember this at all and not finding anything.

He is referencing this one, which speaks about the murders: University President's Crisis Handbook: How a Non-Traditional Leader Took His Alma Mater from Insolvency to Sustainable Success 1st Edition, Kindle Edition https://www.amazon.com/University-Presidents-Crisis-Handbook-Non-Traditional-ebook/dp/B0CP8PLGDS

 

[Danaya]

The idea that Bryan Kohberger will be respected or treated well in prison shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how prisons actually work.

Prison has a strict social order. Respect isn’t earned through media coverage, IQ scores, or academic credentials—it’s built on gang affiliation, reputation, and internal influence. Unless you hold power in that system, you’re at the bottom. Kohberger has no gang ties, no reputation, and no support inside. He’s not connected, feared, or respected. He’s a liability.

Some people seem convinced that Kohberger will somehow stand out in prison because he’s educated, quiet, and doesn’t “look” like the stereotypical inmate. But that’s part of the problem. His race, academic background, and soft-spoken image have led many to overestimate him—and in some cases, even sympathize with him—despite the brutality of his alleged actions. If he didn’t present as clean-cut or middle class, public perception would likely be much harsher.

Inside prison, none of that matters. Inmates don’t care how many groupies you have or how “famous” your case is. They don’t admire killers for being calculated, quiet, or book smart. They see right through that act. They’ll see Kohberger for what he is: a coward who killed in the dark, locked away in PC, written off before he even hits the yard.

Not all violent offenders are treated the same in prison. Many inmates have their own code. They certainly don’t respect people who kill innocent victims just for fantasy. Survival, retaliation, or impulsive decisions are more relatable. Kohberger’s crime doesn’t fit that mold—and it won’t earn him any respect, either.

Robert Pickton was murdered in prison. Jeffrey Dahmer was beaten to death. Richard Loeb, educated and wealthy, met his maker via straight razor. Kohberger has far less status, and his name won’t protect him.

He brings nothing to the table—no power, no respect, no usefulness. The idea that inmates will seek out his legal advice is far-fetched. Most won’t trust him. Many won’t even want to be seen speaking to him.

That’s why he’ll likely be kept in protective custody—not out of importance, but out of necessity. Inmates in PC are often viewed as weak or disposable. It’s not a step up—it’s the graveyard tier.

Kohberger won’t be respected. He won’t be feared.
He won’t be a presence.
To the inmates, he’ll just be another goof.

And that’s not a wish for street justice, or some personal fantasy to feel better.
It’s the cold, hard truth.

 

[Miss Poovy]

Actually, I believe some prisoners actually do survive better in jail, with the structured environment, versus being able to roam freely amongst society; left to their own devices, they cannot hold down jobs, have no money, no food. no place to live —therefore they commit crimes to survive. Sociopaths. Some people, like those who commit numerous crimes, recidivism types,

“Thrive” is not the correct word, I guess
Maybe they “better survive” , with all their basic needs being met , for however long their sentences are, then they get out of prison, go back to committing crimes, end up back in prison, ad nauseum.

Not that they will like it in prison, they are in there for a reason, but wake-up time, meal times (3 “meals” ) , yard time (socialization), visitors, bed time, etc etc, some criminals cannot function normally with the rest of us.
And either they feel entitled to “take” what they want/need from others, or just enjoy the thrill of committing crime, or a host of other reasons.
I’m more talking about repeat offenders, who end up in jail two/three/four times,
we cannot fathom the minds of these kinds of criminals ,

Some folks call it institutionalization.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

It's the State of Idaho v. Kohberger. The best interest of the state and the citizens of Idaho is to put the killer of these four young people behind bars, for life, where he can never hurt another innocent person. I've thought all along that he would be convicted, but the appeals and the death penalty challenges would have gone on for decades.

If it was 99% sure that BK would have been convicted and only a 1% chance he would be acquitted, would you have taken the sure bet to put him in prison, for life, no appeals? I would. That's what best for the citizens of Idaho, the surviving housemates, the witnesses, and the university community.

I don't think there is any outcome that will blunt the rage and agony of Steve Goncalves. He thinks the trial and the death penalty would be justice but it would be a justice that would never let go of him. The likelihood would be that there would be another 20+ years getting BK to the firing squad. And as I've said before, a conviction and then an appeal or a change in the state death penalty clause could mean life imprisonment and the possibility of parole, as happened with Charles Manson when California ended the death penalty. He had 12 parole hearings, requiring law enforcement and families to show up and argue for him to stay in prison.

As to the the idea that LWOP will be easy on BK, it's not like anyone clamors to be locked up for life. It's prison--There is constant surveillance. Someone controls when you eat and what you eat, when you sleep, when you work and when you rest. Your mail is read and your phone calls monitored. You see people from the outside behind bullet-proof glass. Your neighbors are killers and rapists and drug dealers. And for BK there is no hope for anything else, ever. BK is 30. He can live 50-60 years in prison. I don't think that LWOP is going easy on him.

 

[Jw192]

The victims: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin - stabbed to death at an off campus rental home some time around [approximately] 4:00 am to 4:25 am MT on November 13, 2022.

On December 30, 2022, BK was arrested.
Since his arrest BK has maintained his innocence.

In May 2023, BK refused to enter a plea during his arraignment. His attorney stated that BK was “standing silent”on the charges. The judge entered a ‘not guilty plea on behalf of BK.


On June 26, 2023, the state of ID announced their intent to seek the death penalty against BK given the aggravating circumstances of the 1st degree murder and BK was also denied bond.

On April 10, 2024, during a court hearing defense attorney made a bold statement they firmly believe their client is innocent.
[Later it was reported that prosecuting attorney BT slammed AT’s defense strategy and said she appeared to be tainting the jury pool.]


On June 30, 2025, shocking news: BK entered into a deal to plead guilty to all counts against him and would be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences, avoiding the death penalty. In addition, he gives up his right to any future appeals, which guarantees he remains in prison for the rest of his life.

So why would the state offer a deal now?

A few thoughts...
No university wants this type of attention on their school. I suspect it’s hurt enrollment since 2022.
Would the state be able to get a good jury who understands BARD and convict?
High profile cases have a way of attaching strange ones and those that see an opportunity for financial gain rather than to seek justice and/or more importantly truth.
There are paid PR companies willing to pay people to advocate for the accused.
Jury nullification is real


As for BK, this works for him because...

Manipulation at its finest.
He gets to have the last word.
Controls the narrative.
Coward afraid to die.
Narcissist likes to be in charge.

As for AT, she will collect her pay, over one million but she’s earned it. If the judge agrees to the plea deal she will walk away and be done with BK, lucky her. Did she have nightmares caused by this creep? I certainly dont recall her sitting next to him since the beginning. Credit to her as she had a very high profile case and could have made more out of it, more money, brought more attention to the case, but she remained professional and did her job as a defense attorney. Something to admire, imo. Credit to the defense team.

In my opinion the offer of a deal is best decision because this is a high profile case, the trial would be long [approx. three months] and that alone is risky. It’s actually a blessing in disguise. BK can rot in prison.

However, Judge Hippler, is a terrific and reasonable judge and the state of ID fortunate to have him preside over any case.

My own opinion


Maddie, Kaylee, Xana and Ethan lives mattered.

 

[anneoakley63]

I'm still trying to catch up on all the news, but I'm also still in shock at this announcement. Do I think he should have received the death penalty? ABSOLUTELY! But, if the prisons in Idaho are like most other states, he would have sat on death row for 30-40 years and been through numerous appeals. LWOP is a good option. But I'm still in shock. I never saw this coming.