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

[LinasK]

Is it a fact of the case that the prosecutor offered the plea deal? Sorry, not a trick question, I just haven't had time to nail down the facts.

I think it's far more likely that Anne Taylor approached them with a plea deal and they accepted. Her case was becoming untenable to defend. No SODDI, can't blame Dateline or the IGG for sabotaging the case, no mitigating factors that hold up. Autism doesn't account for murder...

 

[LinasK]

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."

Scott Peterson prefers it to Death Row.

 

[MassGuy]

Reminder that Kohberger’s change of plea hearing will begin tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. local (1:00 Eastern).

The hearing will be live streamed, and the Associated Press will have a photographer in court.

https://coi.isc.idaho.gov/docs/CR01-24-31665/2025/070125+Order+Approving+Pool+Still+Photographer.pdf

 

[Sundog]

I don't think Judge Hippler will sign off on any plea deal that does not include any sort of allocution.

The prosecution and defense can hold hands across the aisle and sing Kumbayah, but the judge can still tell them to go pound sand if he doesn't like it.

Do you think the judge will disapprove of the plea deal that the prosecution is offering to the defense and therefore choose to move ahead with the trial? That is what could happen if the judge proposes a new plea deal and the defendant refuses it.

 

[LadyL]

I have never believed once that he was not guilty. However, looking back to when he was arrested and allegedly asked "who else has been arrested?" gives me more of the creeps now. That was so rehearsed, methodical, so cold, so calculated. He wanted a phrase attached to him that would insinuate his innocence and that of someone else being involved.

It will be very interesting to hear what he has to say tomorrow. I would bet he has rehearsed it similar to the arrest statement.

Hopefully he will have to allocate, but I doubt very much he will express any sort of remorse.

[bbm]

was that in the police report?

I never supported the death penalty until I started following true crime in my own obsessive way.

Like many of you here, I believe BK richly deserves to die for his unconscionable acts, and I viscerally understand the Goncalves family’s need for vengeance.

But the death penalty goes against my values. I try to avoid causing any sentient creature harm, I believe in the power of repentance and forgiveness.

So I’m torn. But the most salient “pro” for the existence of the death penalty is this:

Bryan Kohberger would NEVER have admitted what he did had he not been threatened with the firing squad.

IMO

Same. I'm with you.

 

[LinasK]

Getting a tad spicy all up in here.

We're all here because we follow true crime and I would like to think that we are all in support of both the victims and a defendants right to a fair trial. This includes in many cases, following from beginning of a crime, through investigation, throughout trial (or any court/plea hearings) and any information beyond a verdict. That's what we do here. To shame people for expecting a trial two years in the making, right before jury selection is kinda naff imo. Nobody is saying that we "deserve" a trial, but we were mere weeks from a huge one that we have all been following for over 2 years, which suddenly turned into a plea deal at the last moment. We're surprised is all. No need to slam on people when we're all a member of websleuths for very similar reasons - because WE CARE.

Imo ofc

I'm not surprised. I see it as his defense team folding and finally convincing the narcissist that he isn't getting the public attention of a trial because the possibility of getting convicted and getting a Death Sentence in Idaho was a very real possibility.

 

[LinasK]

The Daybell case is an outlier because they found his new wife's young children's bodies on his property. That's a tough one to argue away.

I'm waiting for it to be an episode of the show "Buried in the Backyard". Surprised they haven't done it yet.

 

[LadyL]

A secondary point --- Spreading Judge H's Phone Number

From Mr G's stmt: "The number available online for the Honorable Steven Hippler is 208 -XXXX" <-My redaction here and in ^ post.
Spreading Judge H's Phone Number?
Okay, it's a publicly avail. number online, but ---
seems Mr. G is advocating that ppl contact the judge and ignore our criminal justice system's legally imposed procedures.

[bbm]

oh wow
that's surprising

 

[Sundog]

Brian Entin on NewsNation said he has seen some of the paperwork, and there was nothing saying BK needed to confess to descriptions of what happened for his plea deal…. but the judge could ask him some specific questions during this plea hearing trying to get some information. I have been impressed with Judge Hippler and wouldn’t be surprised if he did this.

That would surprise me, as it is my understanding that a defendant has the constitutional right to remain silent, even if the defendant accepts a plea deal, unless, of course, the plea deal stipulated that the defendant would have to answer those questions.

Tomorrow's hearing will certainly be interesting, and sounds like insiders know it's a done deal, given that Ramsland is saying she is now able to talk as she is no longer a trial witness. Also BK's parents will be there to show their support at this final hearing before the sentencing later this month.

 

[Danaya]

Capital punishment is a lawful sentencing option in Idaho. When a crime meets the statutory threshold for death eligibility—as this one clearly does—removing it pre-trial undermines the principle of pursuing justice to the fullest extent of the law. Prosecuting to the full extent means applying the maximum penalties permitted under state law.

In this case, that would mean Kohberger facing a firing squad.

Those who oppose the death penalty on moral or financial grounds are free to lobby for reform. But whether one supports the method philosophically is irrelevant. It is available, and its removal before trial raises valid legal and procedural concerns—especially when done without full consultation with the victims’ families.

As for concerns about the time and cost of post-conviction appeals: if that’s the issue, change the law. Appeals are part of every capital case. Using them to justify avoiding trial may be efficient—but efficiency is not justice.

 

[LinasK]

Reminds me of LeStinker Hardin (I refuse to give her the same last name as Gannon) and her whines for her kosher meals

Actually, Vegan is a very easy way to keep Kosher. You just do "Dairy-Kosher" and don't eat meat. Then you aren't mixing them.

 

[Sundog]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1940190227731222754

She's not wasting any time. I wonder when her book will be coming out.

 

[LinasK]

I agree, he may not tell the truth, but the reasoning for the lies may not be what some think.
If they hold the death penalty as an option they may get him to cooperate until he realizes that action may take 40 years.

I believe he will lie to save face. He will make up things that went wrong that he didn’t expect, reasons it wasn’t the perfect crime even though he planned it as such.
There is so much evidence against him because he did stupid things-
So how does a guy in a PhD program who has studied criminals make these mistakes?

He isn’t a seasoned killer, that is why. He thought book learning was the same as reality, and it turned out to be harder than he thought.
He left the knife sheath and had ordered that knife and sheath on Amazon.
He didn’t consider that people may still be coming and going during the wee hours.
He made assumptions about turning his phone off and location data.
It is clear he had no idea how many people lived in the house- or he would have looked for the two that he missed.

I wonder if he was in shock by the scene, if he was surprised by the number of people in the house, if he panicked.

There is a lot of evidence that may come out after he is sentenced- through FOIA. So many of our questions could still be answered.

What a tragedy- at least he is in custody, and will stay that way.

IMO

He also didn't count on the Door Dash delivery, nor the neighbors having surveillance cameras catching his car on them.

 

[dkaras]

Apologies if this has been addressed in previous threads!

Who released the plea deal info to the press? Was it a leak or was it a strategic move on one side or the other or did the court release it?

I'm wondering what could happen if the plea is rejected by the judge or if BK decides to not change his plea. The defense could say "no way to have an impartial jury now" and then what?

 

[LinasK]

This is kind of a random question. What prison would he end up in? (I'd like to know the escape percentage there). If BK could pull a Ted Bundy, it would be all kinds of bad.

My cousin's killer ended up at the Snake River Correctional Institute on the border of Oregon and Idaho. It looks pretty desolate if you tried to escape from it. (Google pictures of it).

 

[MassGuy]

Apologies if this has been addressed in previous threads!

Who released the plea deal info to the press? Was it a leak or was it a strategic move on one side or the other or did the court release it?

I'm wondering what could happen if the plea is rejected by the judge or if BK decides to not change his plea. The defense could say "no way to have an impartial jury now" and then what?

The families were sent letters from the prosecution, and a couple of the families weren't happy about the agreement. So they voiced their displeasure online and to the media, and word got out.

My guess would be SG called Bryan Entin immediately after receiving it, which is how Entin scooped every media outlet on this.

I think the only chance a plea does not go through is if Kohberger decides to change it. The judge isn't going to do that, especially after this news which amounts to a confession.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Scott Peterson prefers it to Death Row.

That seems reasonable.

 

[Helechawagirl]

I think, in the long run, this will turn out to be the best thing—mainly because so many unprofessional “media” won’t be able to profit off this case like they have been doing. There’s still misinformation being spewed daily and every day there is a “breaking news” post that contains previously known information.

The only thing new aside from the plea deal was the door dash driver placing him at the scene. And Nancy Grace had Harold Blume on—author of pure fiction in my opinion.

If I were ruler of the universe, the plea deal would stipulate that Kohberger write a book detailing the “why” it happened—and all of the profits would go to the victims’ families.

In addition, I would require a minute by minute detail of the crime for the families to view—only if they wanted to.

I would also require that he cooperate with any research being conducted.

As much as SG wants him out of this world, hearing the prosecutor detail what exactly occurred in that house would be traumatizing to hear.

I think he would have enjoyed isolation; being in the general population, I’m sure there are others there that are up to the task of giving him a beatdown—not drunk and half-asleep girls.

I have a feeling that his mother begged him to take the plea deal.

Just my thoughts at the moment—still processing.

 

[DizzyB]

The families were sent letters from the prosecution, and a couple of the families weren't happy about the agreement. So they voiced their displeasure online and to the media, and word got out.

My guess would be SG called Bryan Entin immediately after receiving it, which is how Entin scooped every media outlet on this.

I think the only chance a plea does not go through is if Kohberger decides to change it. The judge isn't going to do that, especially after this news which amounts to a confession.

This is definitely Brian Entin’s story. I remember him in Idaho, standing out there reporting with the snow falling around him near the house. He talked to everyone. I’m sure he has a lot to share after sentencing.

 

[HMSHood]

What I find weird is why is Bryan Kohberger taking a plea deal. It is like he was fighting tooth and nail and suddenly decides to surrender. Wonder why he decided to take the plea deal.