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Fox News
23-07-2025
- Fox News
Bryan Kohberger can face death penalty if convicted in Idaho college slayings
Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, can face the death penalty, a judge ruled Wednesday. On Wednesday, Ada County Judge Steven Hippler denied their motion in his ruling. "The court concludes relief in defendant's favor is not warranted on any of the motions," Hippler wrote in his 55-page order. The prosecution noted that it intends to seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted. BRYAN KOHBERGER'S DEFENSE CHALLENGES DNA EVIDENCE, WARRANTS IN IDAHO QUADRUPLE MURDER CASE Hippler pointed to the constitutionality of capital punishment in the U.S., pointing back to the times that the supreme courts of Idaho upheld the death penalty. BRYAN KOHBERGER DEFENSE CALLS IN FAMED EXPERT WHO HELPED O.J. SIMPSON Kohberger's defense has long-sought to remove the death penalty if the 29-year-old is convicted. His defense attorney, Jay Logsdon, previously had argued that the death penalty goes against "contemporary standards of decency." FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Logsdon previously pointed to the 24 states that allow the death penalty, arguing that support for capital punishment was "bleak." "In reality, less than half the states still have the death penalty pursuant to legislative or executive actions," he wrote. "Taking population of those states into account, support for the death penalty is even bleaker." SIGN UP TO GET THE TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Kohberger is accused of the Nov. 2022 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students at a house near the college campus in Moscow. Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, in connection with the fatal stabbing of four University of Idaho students – Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. In a statement, Goncalves' family said that they were "overjoyed" to hear about Kohberger potentially receiving capital punishment. "This journey for justice for Kaylee, Maddie, Xana and Ethan is filled with highs and lows. Some days you are hopeful that justice will be served and other days you are filled with hopelessness and sadness. Today is a day for hope!" the family said. "The last 2 years in front of Judge have been filled with frustration and disappointment. (From not pronouncing the victim's names correctly, laughing in the courtroom to entertaining every ridiculous motion or argument the Defense could muster.) That has been our last 2 years, and now we are hopeful again." "We finally have a judge who we believe is prepared, thoughtful and understands the process. There is a level of seriousness that has not been present for a long time. So today, when we heard of the motions being denied in regard to the Death Penalty, we were overjoyed," they added. "For our family, for our friends, for our supporters, for everyone who has shed a tear, made a donation or listened to the story of the children that were murdered, Justice is moving forward and one day in the not so distant future, hopefully it will be served," they said. "Thank you again to everyone for all your support and prayers and especially to the people of Boise who have welcomed us with open arms!" CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP He is eligible for the death penalty in Idaho only with a conviction of first-degree murder or conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
Fox News
23-07-2025
- Fox News
Bryan Kohberger pleads guilty to Idaho murders
BOISE, Idaho – Bryan Kohberger has pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students in 2022. On Wednesday at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Judge Steven Hippler approved a plea agreement that spares Kohberger, 30, from the death penalty. In exchange, he will serve four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. As part of the agreement, Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. He did so with both of his parents in the gallery, with his father wincing as Judge Steven Hippler formally accepted Kohberger's agreement. Sentencing has been set for July 23. The case has drawn national attention since the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, when four students — Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves — were found stabbed to death in an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho. READ: Bryan Kohberger's plea agreement. APP USERS CLICK HERE. Kohberger, a former Ph.D. criminology student at nearby Washington State University, was arrested in December 2022 after a cross-country investigation. Immediately following the hearing, the Mogen family issued a heartfelt statement through their attorney, Leander James, on the steps of the courthouse. "We now embark on a new path," James said on behalf of the family. "We turn from tragedy and mourning. We turn from darkness and uncertainty of the legal process to the light of the future. We have closure. We embark on a path of hope and healing. We invite all of those who have mourned with us to join us, and we wish you well." The sentiment drew a stark contrast compared to remarks made by Steve Goncalves, the father of Kaylee Goncalves, as he arrived at the courthouse but chose not to attend the hearing. "He's going to own this," Steve Goncalves said of Judge Steven Hippler. "He's gonna inherit what [Bill] Thompson did. And he's the only one that can fix it. He's the one who can make it right. He needs to protect those other surviving victims and make this person say that they had nothing to do with it. He did it solely, he did it all on his own. And nobody else was responsible." When asked by reporters if he felt justice was served, the grieving father went on to slam the agreement that will have Kohberger serve four life sentences, saying, "No, of course not. It's daycare." According to court documents, DNA from a knife sheath left at the crime scene matched Kohberger's, and cellphone data placed him near the victims' house multiple times before the killings. Surveillance footage also captured a white Hyundai Elantra in the area. A grand jury indicted Kohberger in May 2023, and a judge initially entered not guilty pleas on his behalf. Prosecutors later announced their intent to seek the death penalty, citing the heinous nature of the crimes.
Fox News
10-07-2025
- Fox News
Idaho judge urged to remove gag order on Kohberger case following quadruple murder plea
A group of media outlets large and small has asked an Idaho judge to lift the gag order surrounding the Bryan Kohberger case, now that he has pleaded guilty and there is no investigation to protect. At a change of plea hearing last week, prosecutors asked to have the gag, officially called a "non-dissemination order," remain in place until Kohberger's official sentencing on July 23. Kohberger's defense did not object, and Judge Steven Hippler granted the request. Then-Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall put the gag order in place days after Kohberger's arrest at his parents' house on Dec. 30, 2022. The stated aim was to protect Kohberger's right to a fair trial by limiting extrajudicial information available to the potential jury pool. Much of the case proceeded behind closed doors until Hippler became the third judge to preside over the case following a change of venue that moved it from Latah County to Ada County. Still, there are many questions that remain unanswered, and under the order, lawyers, investigators and other witnesses have been blocked from discussing details that haven't already surfaced in the courtroom. And the terms of the plea deal did not require Kohberger to explain his actions. Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson hasn't held a news briefing since before Kohberger's extradition to Idaho in January 2023. The defense never has. But now that Kohberger has admitted to the murders, there is no risk to his right to a fair trial, according to the motion. There won't be a trial at all. "The Nondissemination Order, and its infringement on the First Amendment rights of the media, is no longer justifiable and should be vacated immediately," the motion continues. The media coalition includes FOX News, The Associated Press, other major outlets and a number of smaller Idaho publications – including The Argonaut, the student paper at the University of Idaho, where the victims were killed. Kohberger last week admitted to four first-degree murders – killing University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. He told the court, with his parents looking on, that he entered their house, which has since been demolished, around 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022, with the intent to kill. The guilty plea will spare him from the potential death penalty. He is expected to receive four consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus another 10 years. And he forfeited his right to appeal and to seek a sentence reduction.
CNN
02-07-2025
- CNN
Hear Bryan Kohberger admit to 2022 Idaho college student murders
Bryan Kohberger answers State District Judge Steven Hippler as he asks Kohberger whether he committed the murders of four Idaho college students in their off-campus home in 2022. At Wednesday morning's hearing in Boise, Idaho, Kohberger pleaded guilty to all five counts in the indictment.
CNN
02-07-2025
- CNN
Hear Bryan Kohberger admit to 2022 Idaho college student murders
Bryan Kohberger answers State District Judge Steven Hippler as he asks Kohberger whether he committed the murders of four Idaho college students in their off-campus home in 2022. At Wednesday morning's hearing in Boise, Idaho, Kohberger pleaded guilty to all five counts in the indictment.
