Kohberger Takes Plea Deal to Avoids Death Penalty in Idaho Quadruple Murder

The Plea Deal

On 1 July 2025, in Moscow, Bryan Kohberger, 30, the man charged with stabbing to death four University of Idaho students in November 2022, has accepted a plea agreement that will keep him off death row. The package involves pleading guilty to all counts, four first‑degree murders and felony burglary, in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. Instead, he will receive four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus the maximum 10 years for burglary, and will waive all rights to further appeal.

Recap of the Case

On 13 November 2022, four University of Idaho students were found stabbed to death in their apartment in the early morning hours at their shared off-campus home on King Road. 

The victims were roommates Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, Kernodle’s boyfriend Ethan Chapin, who was staying overnight, and Kaylee Goncalves, who had recently moved out but was visiting to show Mogen her new car. Two other roommates were home during the attack but were unharmed. They discovered bodies after being awakened by suspicious noises and called 911.

The Suspect

Investigators believe the killings occurred between 4:00 and 4:25 a.m. The case drew national attention and led to the arrest of Bryan Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University.

A Rare Move in High‑Profile Murder Cases

In Idaho, unlike some jurisdictions, the death penalty is still available, though rarely used. Capital murder is eligible for such a sentence, but plea deals like Kohberger’s one, striking the death penalty in exchange for guaranteed life sentences are uncommon in such high-stakes, well-publicized cases. Judges in Idaho retain discretion to reject plea agreements, but such rejections happen infrequently. 

Families React: Relief, Frustration, and Fury

The emotional responses from the victims’ families have been mixed and raw:

Ben Mogen, father of victim Madison Mogen, said the plea brought a sense of finality. “If you get that quick death sentence… you don’t have to spend decades thinking about how terrible you made the world,” he told CBS News .

Conversely, the family of Kaylee Goncalves is outraged. They publicly denounced the agreement, asserting: “We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho. They have failed us … This was very unexpected.” 

They emphasize they weren't properly consulted and accuse prosecutors of rushing the deal into place just days before the scheduled July 2 hearing. 

Aubrie Goncalves, Kaylee’s younger sister, summed it poignantly:

“Bryan Kohberger facing a life in prison means he would still get to speak, form relationships, and engage with the world. Meanwhile, our loved ones have been silenced forever.” 

Xana Kernodle’s aunt, Kim Kernodle, indicated that the family did not want a plea at all, stating they were not seeking mercy for Kohberger after TMZ reported on the deal’s terms. 

What This Plea Means

The Plea guarantees a conviction. Prosecutors avoided the uncertainties of a jury trial, which, while likely to result in guilty verdicts, would still involve risk and extensive appeals.

The deal avoids death penalty. Kohberger will serve life without parole, relieving the families of decades of post-conviction delays that often accompany capital sentences. 

It limits public process. The deal curtails the emotional exposure victims’ families would endure during trial and appeals, though for some families, this trade-off pales compared to seeing him face a jury.