Victims’ Families Deliver Emotional Statements Before Bryan Kohberger Sentence/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Bryan Kohberger has pleaded guilty in the 2022 University of Idaho killings. Surviving roommates and families of the victims gave powerful impact statements in court. He will serve multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Bryan Kohberger Sentencing Quick Looks
- Bryan Kohberger sentenced for 2022 University of Idaho student murders
- Pleads guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, burglary
- Families and surviving roommates speak during emotional sentencing hearing
- Death penalty removed in plea deal for life imprisonment
- Victim statements describe lasting trauma, grief, and emotional scars
- Kohberger showed no visible reaction during testimony
- Survivors recall fear, panic attacks, and profound personal loss
- Families support plea deal, choosing healing over hatred
Deep Look: Bryan Kohberger Sentenced as Survivors, Families Confront Him in Court
Bryan Kohberger, the man who admitted to murdering four University of Idaho students in a brutal stabbing spree in November 2022, was formally sentenced on Wednesday to four consecutive life sentences. His guilty plea earlier this month eliminated the possibility of the death penalty under a negotiated deal with prosecutors.
Kohberger’s sentencing hearing in Boise drew nationwide attention as victims’ families and surviving roommates delivered raw and emotional impact statements, describing not only their loss but the lifelong trauma they now carry.
Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were killed in an off-campus home near the university. The house, once filled with laughter and friendship, became the site of a tragedy that devastated a community and drew headlines across the nation.
Surviving Roommates Share Pain and Resilience
Dylan Mortensen, one of the surviving roommates, described Kohberger as “a hollow vessel, something less than human.” She detailed the emotional aftermath she’s endured: panic attacks, hypervigilance, and sleepless nights. Mortensen said she once celebrated her 19th birthday surrounded by friends and joy—but weeks later, she was plunged into unimaginable horror.
“He took their lives, but I will continue trying to be like them,” she said. “Living is how I honor them.”
She spoke through tears about the shattered sense of trust and safety that once defined her college life. “I couldn’t be left alone. I had to sleep in my mom’s room because I was too terrified to close my eyes.”
Bethany Funke, another surviving roommate, shared her statement through a friend, Emily Alandt. She said she still fears going out in public but pushes herself to live because her friends would want her to. Funke described their home as a sanctuary, a place filled with love and memories.
“Xana was the life of the party. Ethan and Xana were soulmates. Kaylee had a smile that could rule the world. And Maddie was the older sister I always wanted,” she said. “I still tell them every night I will keep living for them.”
Victims’ Families Speak with Strength and Dignity
Scott Laramie, stepfather of victim Madison Mogen, addressed Kohberger directly, saying he and his wife will not waste time harboring hatred.
“We support the plea agreement. Society needs to be protected against this evil,” he said. “Evil does not deserve our time and attention. We are done being victims. We will take back our lives.”
Laramie described the immense emotional toll the crime has had on their family, sharing how Maddie’s mother continues to struggle with anxiety and depression in the wake of her daughter’s death.
The Crime That Shocked the Nation
The murders occurred in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, shocking not only the tight-knit college town of Moscow, Idaho, but also the entire country. Kohberger was arrested nearly seven weeks later at his family’s home in Pennsylvania.
Investigators said he had no prior connection to the victims and allegedly stalked the house before committing the crime. Surveillance footage, cell phone data, and DNA evidence ultimately led authorities to Kohberger, who was a PhD criminology student at nearby Washington State University.
In court on July 2, 2025, he pled guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty.
Life Sentences Without Parole
On Wednesday, the judge imposed four consecutive life terms for the murders and a maximum of 10 years for the burglary charge. Kohberger remained largely emotionless during the hearing, even as powerful, heartfelt statements were delivered.
The court proceedings brought a sense of closure to a case that upended lives and drew national scrutiny. For those who survived, and for the families left behind, the sentencing was not the end—but perhaps the beginning of healing.
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