SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — In court, several family members of the victims addressed Kohberger directly.
Wednesday's hearing gave the families of the four victims the opportunity to describe the anguish they've felt since their loved ones were killed in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022.
Emotions were high inside this Boise courtroom where the families and friends of four murdered University of Idaho students came face to face with their loved ones' killer.
"Because of him, four beautiful, genuine, compassionate people were taken from this world for no reason," Surviving Roommate Dylan Mortensen said.
It's been nearly three years since Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were found stabbed to death at their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho.
"That was the worst day of my life, and I know it always will be," Emily Alandt, a friend of Bethany Funke, spoke on her behalf.
Kohberger declined to make a statement at the sentencing hearing.
Wednesday Judge Hippler sentenced Kohberger to 10 years for burglary and four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, along with $270,000 in fines and civil penalties. The sentence was in line with the plea deal Kohberger agreed to earlier this month
$8K returned to Tunkhannock Township
"Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?" Judge Hippler asked.
"Yes," Kohberger replied.
Earlier this month, Bryan Kohberger accepted a plea deal that took the death penalty off the table, but kept him in prison for the rest of his life.
"We are united in our disgust and our love for these children," father of Kaylee Goncalves, Steve Goncalves, said.
As part of the deal, Kohberger, a 30-year-old criminology student, also waived his right to appeal. On Tuesday, prosecutors filed a motion to extend the order barring Kohberger from contacting his victims' families for an additional 99 years.
The current no-contact order is set to expire in January of 2027.
