Bryan Kohberger updates: Judge sentences Idaho killer to life, 1st police reports released
Bryan Kohberger declined to speak at the sentencing hearing.
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
Surviving roommate: 'Scared to death'
Friend Emily Alandt read a statement on behalf of Bethany Funke, one of the surviving roommates, describing how she woke up to her "worst nightmare."
"Never in a million years would I have thought that something like this would have happened to our closest friends,” Alandt read in court.
Funke said she didn’t know what happened that morning and carries regret and guilt over not calling 911 right away.
"I was so frantic that morning and scared to death not knowing what had happened. And when I made the 911 call I couldn’t even get out the words," she said.
"That was the worst day of my life and I know it always will be," Alandt read through tears.
Funke said she thinks every day why she got to live and her friends did not, and said she felt "sick with guilt" when she looked at her friends' families.
She said the crime has left her terrified. She said she slept in her parents' room for nearly a year and made them double lock each door. She said she has never slept through the night and constantly wakes up in panic, worried that someone is breaking in, trying to hurt her or someone she loves.
Kohberger's family visits him: Video
Video shows Bryan Kohberger’s family visiting him in custody on the eve of his sentencing.
Kohberger's parents attended his change of plea hearing on July 2, their first time in court with their son since his arrest in Pennsylvania more than two years ago. Attorneys for the Kohbergers said in a statement at the time, "The Kohbergers are asking members of the media for privacy, respect, and responsible judgment during this time. We will continue to allow the legal process to unfold with respect to all parties."
Trump wants Kohberger to reveal a motive
President Donald Trump weighed in on the case on social media Monday, saying he thinks Bryan Kohberger should be required to reveal a motive.
"I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders," he wrote. "There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING. People were shocked that he was able to plea bargain, but the Judge should make him explain what happened."
The family of 21-year-old victim Kaylee Goncalves thanked Trump for "pushing for justice," saying in a statement to ABC News, "A confession without clarity does not bring peace."
"If the defendant is permitted to live, the bare minimum he owes us, and this country -- is an explanation," the family said.
What to expect at sentencing
Sentencing is the first time the victims' families can speak directly to their children's killer. They'll get the chance to read victim impact statements in open court, though the parents of victim Ethan Chapin have said they're not planning to attend.
"I would almost describe this as like a legal funeral, in the sense of, it's your ability to give your last goodbyes in a situation where you're talking about your pain, your anxiety, how you feel about the loss of a loved one," ABC News legal contributor Brian Buckmire said. "Everyone grieves differently. Some people grieve by going to the funeral and speaking, some people grieve by going to the funeral and saying nothing, some people grieve by not going at all. And I think all are healthy, all are correct."
The victims' roommates, who have avoided the spotlight, might also speak at sentencing. The night of the murders, two roommates inside the house survived, including one woman who told authorities she saw a man in a mask walking past her in the middle of the night, according to court documents.
It'll be up to the women whether they speak in court themselves, have an attorney or relative read a statement on their behalf, or decline altogether, Buckmire said.
Moscow police and the victims' friends are also expected to be in the Boise, Idaho, courtroom. Moscow Police Chief Anthony Dahlinger said last week about sentencing, "Our hope is that not only the families, but the friends, even the Moscow community and all the communities that were affected by this, can start to heal and bring some sort of closure to this horrendous act."
Click here to read more.