Bryan Kohberger updates: Judge sentences Idaho killer to life, 1st police reports released

Bryan Kohberger declined to speak at the sentencing hearing.

Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 8:10 PM EDT

Families of the University of Idaho murder victims directly addressed the admitted killer, Bryan Kohberger, at his sentencing on Wednesday.

One of the surviving roommates also gave an emotional statement, speaking out for the first time.

Judge Steven Hippler acknowledged Kohberger's motive may never be known as he sentenced him to four consecutive life sentences on the four first-degree murder counts and the maximum penalty of 10 years on the burglary count.

The students -- roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin -- were stabbed to death at the girls' off-campus house on Nov. 13, 2022. On July 2, weeks before the trial was set to start, Kohberger pleaded guilty to all counts. As a part of the plea deal, the death penalty was taken off the table.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Jul 23, 2025, 6:14 PM EDT

'New information could come out still': Former police chief

Despite Bryan Kohberger’s confession, police said they still do not have a motive.

James Fry, who was the Moscow police chief at the time of the murders, told ABC News after court that “new information could come out still.”

“There’s always cases that, you know, 10 years later, somebody says something,” he said.

Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse for his sentencing hearing on July 23, 2025 in Boise, Idaho.
Kyle Green/Pool/Getty Images

Moscow police on Wednesday began unsealing documents in connection with the case. As documents are released, Fry said, “I think you will definitely find out some more stuff.”

Two roommates survived, including Dylan Mortensen, who told police she saw a man in a mask with “bushy eyebrows” in the house on the night of the murders.

Asked why Mortensen may have been spared, Fry said there are a lot of theories, including that Kohberger may have been exhausted from the stabbings or he could’ve felt he’d been in the house too long.

“I don’t know -- only he has that answer,” Fry said.

“He should be ashamed of what he did,” Fry said of Kohberger. “He destroyed lives, families, communities. Changed everybody that ever worked that case.”

“It’s not human what happened,” he said.

Jul 23, 2025, 2:59 PM EDT

No link between Kohberger and victims: Police

Moscow police told reporters after court that they do not know which victim was the specific target.

“There was a reason that this particular house was chosen. What that reason is, we don’t know,” police added.

Asked if there was evidence that Bryan Kohberger was following the victims’ social media, police said, “We’ve looked for a link and we have not found one.”

Police said they do not have a motive.

Moscow police said they will release all police reports from the investigation.

Asked by reporters why prosecutors did not ask that Kohberger provide more answers as a part of the plea deal, prosecutor Bill Thompson responded, “The law does not give the court, or us, the power to require specific factual allocution.”

“We could have said, ‘Well, in order for us to move forward we want a factual allocution,’” Thompson said. “But I have to be perfectly candid -- I don't believe that there is anything that would come out of his mouth that would be the truth.”

Jul 23, 2025, 2:16 PM EDT

White House says nation grieves with families

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt opened Wednesday’s press briefing by addressing the victims’ families.

“We are so sorry for the grief and the pain you have experienced at the hands of such a vicious and evil killer. Our nation grieves with you, and we will never forget the precious souls who were lost in this horrific act of evil,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt also reiterated President Donald Trump's message from earlier this week that he wants Kohberger to reveal a motive.

"If it were up to the president, he would have forced this monster to publicly explain why he chose to steal these innocent souls," Leavitt said.

Jul 23, 2025, 2:15 PM EDT

Kaylee Goncalves stabbed 34 times, family says

The Goncalves family told ABC News after court that “the details are more horrific than we can imagine.”

They said Kaylee Goncalves was stabbed 34 times and someone else was stabbed more times.

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