Idaho student murders: Killer Bryan Kohberger gets 4 life terms; who were the four victims?

Bryan Kohberger , the culprit behind 2022 University of Idaho student killings, has been sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.

The sentencing took place on Wednesday in a Boise courtroom, where family members of the victims and two surviving roommates confronted Kohberger with powerful, emotional statements.

Kohberger, who earlier this month pleaded guilty as part of a deal to avoid the death penalty, appeared in court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit. When invited to speak, he simply said, “I respectfully decline.” Murmurs of “Coward” and “Surprise, surprise” could be heard from the victims’ families in the courtroom.

Judge Steven Hippler, before delivering the sentence, described Kohberger as a “faceless coward” and expressed admiration for the courage shown by the victims’ families. He also admired the courage shown by the victims' families who spoke in court. He also condemned Kohberger for showing no remorse or regret for the killings. While he acknowledged he couldn’t legally compel Kohberger to reveal his motive, he added that he doubted any explanation from him would be truthful, as per CBS news.

The court imposed four consecutive life sentences for each of the murders, plus a 10-year prison term for a burglary charge. Kohberger must also pay $50,000 per murder charge and a $5,000 civil penalty to each victim’s family. As part of the plea deal, he has waived his right to appeal and must submit his DNA to authorities.
The sentencing followed more than a dozen impact statements from devastated families and friends of the victims: Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, who were killed in the early hours of 13 November 2022, at an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho.

Kohberger was arrested six weeks after the killings at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. Prosecutors said they had gathered extensive evidence linking him to the crime scene, including DNA, phone data, surveillance footage of his car, and online purchase records. His motive still remains unclear.

Who were the victims?
Xana KernodleKernodle was a 20-year-old marketing major and member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority, was known for her bright, positive energy. Raised in Avondale, Arizona and educated in Post Falls, Idaho, Xana was dating Ethan Chapin and shared the off-campus house with her close friends Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. Her sister, Jazzmin, described her as someone who lit up every room she walked into.

Kaylee GoncalvesKaylee was a 21-year-old senior majoring in general studies, was also a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. She had grown up in northern Idaho and shared a lifelong friendship with Madison Mogen, the two were inseparable, practically like sisters. Their friendship was well-documented in a touching Instagram post by Kaylee celebrating Mogen’s 21st birthday, as per Fox 13 Seattle.
Madison MogenA 21-year-old marketing major from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Madison Mogen worked at the Mad Greek restaurant in downtown Moscow, where she managed the business's social media using her marketing skills—just like her friend Xana Kernodle. Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves had been best friends since junior high and were planning to graduate and move to Boise together.

Ethan Chapin
Ethan Chapin, 20, was a triplet and a first-year student majoring in sports management. A member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, he was in a relationship with Xana Kernodle. Originally from Conway, Washington, he was remembered by his high school basketball coach as a cheerful and driven young man. All three Chapin siblings began their studies at the University of Idaho in 2022.
Who is Bryan Kohberger?

Bryan Kohberger, who was 28 at the time of the murders, was a PhD student studying criminology at Washington State University, located just a short drive from Moscow, Idaho.

He had no known personal connection to the victims. His background and motive remain the focus of ongoing speculation, but prosecutors say the evidence against him was overwhelming and included DNA matching material recovered at the crime scene, cell phone tracking data, and surveillance videos.

Kohberger's guilty plea spared him the death penalty but offered no answers to the families still struggling with the horror of what happened. Judge Hippler made clear that while justice had been served in terms of sentencing, true closure may forever remain out of reach.