Bryan Kohberger to plead guilty to killing 4 University of Idaho students in deal to avoid execution

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — In an agreement with prosecutors, Bryan Kohberger has consented to enter a guilty plea to the murders of four University of Idaho students in order to avoid the death penalty, according to a lawyer for the family of one victim on Monday.

Kaylee Goncalves’s family lawyer, Shanon Gray, said that his clients were outraged with the arrangement after prosecutors notified them of it earlier in the day by letter and email.

The Goncalves family posted on Facebook, saying, “We are absolutely incensed at the State of Idaho.” They have let us down. Give us a little time, please. This came as a huge surprise.

The families have requested that the prosecutors postpone the change of plea hearing scheduled on Wednesday in order to provide them additional time to travel to Boise, according to Gray. The trial of Kohberger was scheduled for August.

Kohberger, 30, is charged with the November 2022 stabbing killings of Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Goncalves at a Moscow, Idaho, rented house close to the university. According to autopsies, the four were probably asleep when they were attacked; they were all stabbed several times, and some of them suffered defensive wounds.

Weeks after the murders, Kohberger, a graduate student at Washington State University studying criminal justice at the time, was taken into custody in Pennsylvania. His DNA, according to investigators, was linked to genetic material taken from a knife sheath that was discovered at the scene of the crime.

According to a court document, Kohberger was driving alone for a considerable amount of time when the four were killed.

The little farming village of about 25,000 people, which hadn’t experienced a homicide in roughly five years, was rocked by the deaths. After the defense raised concerns that Kohberger would not be able to receive a fair trial in the county where the crimes took place, the trial was rescheduled from remote northern Idaho to Boise.

Prosecutors said in the letter to families, which ABC News was able to access, that Kohberger’s attorneys approached them in an attempt to work out a plea agreement. According to the prosecutors, they decided to make Kohberger an offer after meeting with family members who were available last week.

The letter stated that this resolution represents our earnest effort to pursue justice for your family. The offender will be found guilty, imprisoned for the remainder of his life, and unable to subject you and the other families to the uncertainty of decades of post-conviction appeals thanks to this arrangement. Your opinions were taken into consideration when we made our decision, and we hope you will understand why we think this conclusion is best for justice.

Although they are uncommon, judges in Idaho have the authority to reject plea deals. The defendant may withdraw the guilty plea if the judge rejects the plea deal.

Three witnesses whose evidence was sought by defense lawyers were ordered by a Pennsylvania judge earlier Monday to fly to Idaho in order to attend Kohberger’s trial.

The defense was issued subpoenas for a boxing trainer who had known Kohberger as a teenager, a guy Kohberger had known as a toddler, and a third man whose identity was unclear.

For the most part, a gag order has prevented lawyers, investigators, and others from discussing the investigation or trial in public.

Mark Scolforo, a reporter for the Associated Press, provided coverage from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

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Janet Trew

Janet Trew

Janet Trew is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in the industry. Known for her ability to adapt to different styles and formats, she has cultivated a diverse skill set that spans content creation, storytelling, and technical writing. Throughout her career, Janet has worked across various niches, from US news, crime, finance, lifestyle, and health to business and technology, consistently delivering well-researched, engaging, and informative content.

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