Steve Goncalves was stunned over the weekend when he learned that prosecutors in Moscow, Idaho, had reached a plea deal with Bryan Kohberger, the man charged in the 2022 stabbing deaths of his daughter, Kaylee, and three other University of Idaho students. This development came just days after Goncalves and other victims’ families expressed their opposition to a plea deal, urging prosecutors to pursue the death penalty in Kohberger’s upcoming trial.
Goncalves, in a conversation with prosecutors, had been left with the impression that a plea deal was not a serious consideration. However, he received an email two days later notifying him that an agreement had been reached. The plea deal would allow Kohberger to plead guilty to all four counts of murder in exchange for the government dropping the death penalty, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The Plea Deal Controversy
The agreement has been met with mixed reactions from the victims’ families. Goncalves and his family have criticized the deal as “hurried” and “secretive,” arguing that prosecutors should have consulted with the victims’ families regarding the deal’s conditions. Jeff Kernodle, Xana’s father, echoed this sentiment, describing the plea as a “missed opportunity” to set a precedent for accountability in such cases.
“It could have sent a message to others that these kinds of horrific crimes carry real consequences,” Kernodle stated. “Instead, four beautiful lives were taken, and the person responsible won’t be used as an example to help prevent something like this from happening again.”
In contrast, families of the other two victims have expressed support for the plea deal. Ben Mogen, father of Madison, told the Idaho Statesman he was choosing acceptance, noting that the plea agreement would allow his family to avoid a trial and continue healing. Ethan’s mother, Stacy Chapin, also expressed support for the plea bargain, indicating her family would be present in court.
Legal Proceedings and Expert Opinions
The plea deal is not yet finalized, as State District Judge Steven Hippler must approve it. During a hearing scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, the judge will address the plea agreement. Legal experts suggest that Judge Hippler may require Kohberger to confess to details of the crime, a move that could provide closure to the victims’ families.
University of Idaho associate law professor Samuel Newton explained that plea deals are often shrouded in privacy, with details rarely disclosed unless one side chooses to reveal them. Newton noted that the costs and time involved in a death penalty case might have influenced both sides to seek an early resolution.
“The family is looking at … decades of legal proceedings in a death penalty case, versus if he takes life without parole, it’s done and the family gets that degree of closure,” Newton said.
Newton also highlighted recent setbacks for Kohberger’s defense team, including rulings that barred them from presenting an official alibi or an “alternate perpetrator” theory, which may have contributed to their willingness to consider a plea deal.
Families Seek Answers and Accountability
Goncalves and Kernodle have voiced their disappointment that the plea deal does not require Kohberger to confess to specific details of the crime. Such details could have emerged during a trial, potentially answering lingering questions about the motive and execution of the stabbings.
Goncalves hopes that Judge Hippler will demand Kohberger provide statements in court that could clarify these mysteries and reduce the support for Kohberger’s claims of innocence.
“We’re all going to live with the repercussions for the rest of our lives … unless Hippler steps in and says, ‘You’re not going to just say you’re guilty. You’re going to communicate some of the details so these families can actually move on and not have to be dragged through this true crime nightmare over and over and over again.’”
Kernodle agreed, expressing regret that the trial would not occur and stressing the importance of requiring Kohberger to explain his actions and provide answers to unresolved questions.
Potential Outcomes and Future Implications
There remains a possibility that Kohberger could maintain his innocence while accepting the plea deal by entering an Alford plea, which allows a defendant to plead guilty without admitting to the crime. However, Newton believes it is unlikely prosecutors would have agreed to a plea deal without assurances that Kohberger would take responsibility for the killings.
The decision now rests with Judge Hippler, who will determine whether the plea deal is acceptable and whether additional conditions should be imposed to address the concerns of the victims’ families. As the legal proceedings unfold, the case continues to highlight the complex balance between seeking justice and providing closure for those affected by such tragic events.
