Several family members and friends of the four slain University of Idaho students described Bryan Kohberger as “evil,” “pathetic” and “a complete joke” at the confessed murderer’s sentencing hearing Wednesday in the Ada County District Court.
“Today you [Kohberger] have no name,” said Steve Goncalves, father of Kaylee Goncalves, staring right at the defendant. “In time, you will be nothing but two initials forgotten to the wind. No visitors, nothing more than initials on an otherwise unmarked tombstone.”
Kohberger was sentenced by Judge Steven Hippler to four consecutive life terms for killing Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin on Nov. 13, 2022. He also received a 10-year sentence on a burglary charge and was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine on each of the five counts, plus a $5,000 civil penalty on each count of first-degree murder to the families of the victims.
Emotions were high in the courtroom — the family members, onlookers, the prosecution team and even Hippler shed some tears — but Kohberger showed no apparent emotion at any point, often just staring ahead with a blank expression.
Kohberger pleaded guilty to all counts on July 2. As the plea eradicated any presumption of innocence, the defendant was no longer in civilian clothes; instead, he wore handcuffs, chains and a bright orange jumpsuit before the court.
The Goncalves, Mogen and Kernodle families were present, along with extended relatives and friends of the victims. The Chapin family was not present. Also in the courtroom were members of Moscow law enforcement, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, members of the media and members of the public.
As a part of the sentencing process, Kohberger and the rest of the courtroom listened to emotional victim impact statements provided by the family members of the victims and the two surviving roommates.
The first victim impact statement came from Bethany Funke, one of two of the surviving roommates. Her statement was read by her friend Emily Alandt.
In her statement, Funke said she feels regret and guilt for not calling 911 right away, though it wouldn’t have changed anything. As a result of the murders, she was attacked by the public in person and online. “After everything happened, I was afraid to go in my own backyard,” she wrote. “I have not slept through a single night since this happened.”
The second surviving King Road roommate, Dylan Mortensen, also gave her victim impact statement. She said that the murders have caused panic attacks, fatigue and increased fear and anxiety.
Madison’s family spoke next, beginning with Scott Laramie, her stepfather. Laramie said the Mogen family supports the plea agreement. He said they wouldn’t waste words speaking to the defendant. “We are done being victims.”
Leander James, an attorney representing the Laramies pro bono, spoke for Madison’s mother, Karen Laramie. “Some may offer forgiveness for what the defendant has done. However, we cannot at this time, or perhaps ever,” she wrote.
Kim Cheely, Madison’s grandmother, then shared touching stories from Madison’s childhood. She encouraged the public to commit random acts of kindness on May 25, Madison’s birthday, which the family has nicknamed “Maddie May Day.”
Ben Mogen, Madison’s father, shared how the two of them loved going to concerts together and how she helped him fight his substance abuse problems.
“She was just such a beautiful person,” he said. “I still love you, Maddie.”
Steve Goncalves turned the podium to face Kohberger directly despite a sign that said not to, as he told reporters outside the courthouse. He said he wanted to face him head on. “He’s just filled with demons,” he said. “There’s something seriously wrong with that man.”
“Hell will be waiting,” Kristi Goncalves, Kaylee’s mother, said, expressing disappointment at the removal of the death penalty. “Your fellow inmates are anxiously awaiting your arrival … I’m confident that the men in prison will have their way with you, in more ways than one.” Kristi Goncalves also spoke for Aubrie Goncalves, Kaylee’s youngest sister, saying, “You may have received As in high school and college, but you’re going to be getting Big Ds in prison.”
Alivea Stevenson, older sister of Kaylee, made use of case evidence and personal information to insult Kohberger, calling him a disappointment, wannabe and desperate, among other things.
“They would have been kind to you,” she said about Kaylee and Madison. “In a world that rejected you, they would have shown mercy.”
Stevenson told Kohberger, “If you hadn’t attacked them in their sleep in the middle of the night, like a pedophile, Kaylee would have kicked your fucking ass.” These words drew applause from the crowd.
Goncalves family attorney Shanon Gray delivered statements from Kaylee’s aunt and two grandmothers.
Tami Buttz, Kaylee’s aunt, criticized Kohberger’s “creepy,” “non-expressive stares,” while Linda Lukens, her maternal grandmother, called him “a demon from hell.”
Xana’s sister Jazzmin Kernodle said Kohberger doesn’t deserve to have power over her family.
Xana’s father, Jeff Kernodle, said that his daughter has made a difference in others’ lives. He shared that he almost went to the King Road residence the night of the murders because Xana wasn’t feeling well, but she told him not to drink and drive.
Kim Kernodle, Xana’s aunt, said that her family is stronger than ever. Xana’s uncle, Stratton Kernodle, was the first to focus his statement on Kohberger’s family and the pain the defendant has caused them.
Xana’s stepfather, Randy Davis, spoke to the relatives of the victims and said he was grateful to them. “I love you all and I feel your pain,” he said.
Rather than sharing more memories of the victims, Xana’s mother, Cara Northington, said Kohberger didn’t deserve to hear any good memories of her daughter.
The defendant chose to “respectfully decline” to make a statement of his own at the hearing. The motive for the crime is still unknown, as well as the location of the murder weapon.
Kohberger killed the four students in the early morning of Nov. 13, 2022, at the King Road residence. Madison, Kaylee and Xana, along with surviving roommates Funke and Mortensen, lived at 1122 King Rd. in 2022. Ethan, Xana’s boyfriend, was visiting at the time of the murders.
Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson displayed pictures of the four victims on a projector as he read the charges against Kohberger. Thompson, Hippler and the family members began to get emotional as he spoke.
Thompson addressed the courtroom, saying, “From today forward, our memories should be focused on these innocent victims whose lives were taken,” not on the man who took their lives.
The prosecution asked Hippler to sentence the defendant to die in prison. “And the door will close behind him forever,” Thompson said.
In response, Hippler shared his admiration for the families and the roommates who were affected by the murders.
Hippler said that, despite the overwhelming desire to know why the crime was committed, it “makes us dependent upon the defendant to provide us with a reason, and that gives him the spotlight, the attention and the power he appears to crave.”
“His actions have made him the worst of the worst,” Hippler said, before reading off the sentences.
Although Kohberger waived his right to appeal with the plea agreement, he still has the right to file a notice of appeal within 42 days.
“Though the appeal, you should be aware, may be deemed a violation of the plea agreement. And so, I certainly suggest you discuss that with counsel if that is what you desire,” Hippler said.
Kohberger has been transferred from the Ada County Jail to the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. IMSI, Idaho’s only maximum-security prison, is located south of Boise in Kuna.
Dakota Steffen can be reached at [email protected].