Idaho Victims’ Families Deliver Emotional Statements at Sentencing

• Jul 24, 2025

Bryan Kohberger has been sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. The sentencing took place in a courtroom filled with emotion as surviving roommates and grieving family members shared powerful impact statements.

Kohberger was found guilty of killing Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves in a brutal attack that shocked the nation. The crime occurred in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, and captured widespread attention due to its disturbing nature and the long months it took to arrest a suspect.

During the sentencing, the families of the victims addressed the court and Kohberger directly. Their emotional statements reflected the depth of their loss and the lasting pain the murders have caused. Parents spoke about the promising futures that were stolen from their children, while siblings described how their lives were shattered.

Surviving roommates, who lived through the traumatic experience, also shared how the events of that night changed their lives forever. Many described dealing with fear, sleepless nights, and guilt for surviving when others did not.

One by one, family members asked the judge to ensure that Kohberger would never walk free again. They described the victims as kind, bright young people whose lives were taken in an act of unimaginable cruelty. Some held up photos and read letters written by the victims before their deaths.

Kohberger showed little emotion during the hearing. The judge ultimately handed down four life sentences without the chance of parole, ensuring that Kohberger will spend the rest of his life in prison.

CBS News reporter Jonathan Vigliotti was present in the courtroom and reported on the deeply moving testimonies and the final moments of the sentencing.

The case has left a lasting mark on the University of Idaho community and beyond. For the families, the sentencing marked a step toward justice, though they acknowledged that no sentence could truly heal the wounds left by the murders.