Bryan Kohberger confesses to Idaho college murders
- On July 1, 2025, Bryan Kohberger confessed to the murders of four University of Idaho students.
- The families of the victims had mixed reactions to Kohberger's plea deal, showing contrasting views on justice.
- The conclusion of this case allows the Chapin family to move forward, although the pain of their loss still resonates.
In November 2022, four University of Idaho students were tragically murdered in their off-campus home. Bryan Kohberger, a 30-year-old criminology student at Washington State University, was charged with the brutal stabbings of Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, and Xana Kernodle. On July 1, 2025, Kohberger signed a plea deal admitting his guilt to avoid the death penalty. The deal concluded a prolonged and emotionally exhausting process for the victims' families. The Chapin family expressed relief, preferring the certainty this plea deal provided over the uncertainties of a trial. However, the Goncalves family opposed the deal, feeling that it denied them justice for their daughter. Kohberger’s admission in court came devoid of emotion, raising questions about his motivations and mental state leading up to the attacks. The plea deal meant he would spend the rest of his life in prison. This conclusion brought about contrasting reactions from the victim's families, illustrating the complex emotions tied to loss and justice in this tragic case.