Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, has reportedly agreed to a plea deal that would remove the possibility of the death penalty in exchange for life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Kohberger, 30, faces charges in the deaths of Madison Mogen, 21, former Concord resident Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. The four were killed during the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho.
The family of Kaylee Goncalves released a statement Monday expressing frustration over how the plea negotiations were communicated. They said they were given limited notice and learned the deal had already been finalized by Sunday. “The death penalty is treated more as a bargaining tool than a consequence,” the family said through their attorney, Shanon Gray. “Even in cases where it is pursued, the appeals process makes enforcement rare and drawn out.” The statement also criticized the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office for notifying the family via email rather than through a direct conversation. They said they were given just one day’s notice to coordinate attendance for the hearing, which is scheduled for July 2 in Boise.
Weirdly, I’ve been to Moscow Idaho. They had a giant hardware store
with all kinda cool stuff. Like an ol-timely hardware store. Sold shotguns
and what not too.
I got married in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Our plane landed in Moscow, and we transferred to a
twin engine prop plane that took us to Coeur d’Alene. I don’t remember too much about
Moscow, but Coeur d’Alene was a pretty little town on a lake. Everybody was friendly and
treated us kindly.
Apparently your marriage, the location or a combination of both pissed off 7
people for reasons unknown. And I got 8 and was only there a day. 😝
This is fun.
I’ve been following this case closely. I just saw Steve Goncalves and Shanon Gray on Ashleigh Banfield’s show. He’s upset because his family wanted Kohberger to get the death penalty… the firing squad. I would be relieved to not have to go through trial, take several months off work, and rent an Airbnb out of town which they were planning on doing since the trial was moved. The deal also includes no appeals. Lastly, there is no guarantee that if he was convicted, he’d get the death penalty. There is also no guarantee of a conviction even with overwhelming evidence. OJ comes to mind. I feel so bad for these families.
With all publicity case has gotten, it won’t be long, some convict will take him out
to gain status. He’ll be looking over his shoulder, every day, for the rest of his life.
May it be short
Yep, if they keep him in the general population, which is something I’d like to see done with the most notorious a-holes currently incarcerated…. I’d hand out the knives.
I remember Jeffrey Dahmer got justice.
I knew he was guilty from the start! I am glad that we won’t have to see the justice system fail or the appeals!
The families should be satisfied to not endure the long trial process.
I less creep on the streets.
Says who?
Madison’s dad for 1! He said it on a CBS morning interview.
He’s not a Judge it’s like a Mistrial, it only takes one to fudge it up.
The plea deal is between the prosecutor and the defendant, the judge doesn’t have to accept the plea deal, but will most assuredly accept it.
Sometimes, there is someone who does things so evil that he does not deserve to live in a civilized society.
This is a rare and dangerous decision for people to make, to judge someone so evil that they deserve to die.
Who are we, mere human beings, to make such judgments?
Sometimes we have to for self-preservation.
Sequestrating evil humans to places where they can do little harm is sometimes a suitable alternative.
Ultimately, we don’t make the final decision.
May G-d have mercy on his and our souls.
Criminal legal system is about investigation and punishment, not revenge. Completely understandable that the victims’ families would wish to chance a death penalty sentence, but far better outcome for guaranteed life sentence with the plea deal – no chance he will be out among the public ever again and limits the costs of trial for all.
Sigh
if they make a deal for four college kids then i
can only imagine what they might have done
to the 20y/o that killed 2 firefighters.
The deal is 4 consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole plus 10 years for burglary. In return, Kohberger admits guilt and waives all rights to appeal his conviction.
Latah County, where Moscow is located has a population of 40,000. By accepting the plea bargain, the District Attorney secured a conviction in which Kohberger will spend the rest of his life in prison and saved a small rural county millions of dollars for a trial.
Even if District Attorney had taken it to trial, there is absolutely no guarantee Kohberger would have been convicted much less executed.
All it takes is one juror for a hung jury. Need I remind you of Orenthal James Simpson?
He’s a piece of garbage. However, I would still like to know why he did what he did. Makes no sense to me.