Trump Echoes Families’ Calls for Answers as Kohberger Avoids Death Penalty
President Donald Trump spoke out Monday about the plea deal taken by Bryan Kohberger in the murder of four University of Idaho students, demanding answers to his motive behind the 2022 killings.
Kohberger pleaded guilty on July 2 to four counts of first-degree murder and a count of burglary in connection to the deaths of four college students back in 2022. The incident claimed the lives of Xana Kernodle, her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, the Tampa Free Press previously reported. The four were found dead in a house off-campus.
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“These were vicious murders, with so many questions left unanswered,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
“While Life Imprisonment is tough, it’s certainly better than receiving the Death Penalty but, before Sentencing, I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders,” Trump continued.
The deal Kohberger entered allows him to avoid the death penalty but he will likely serve four consecutive life sentences without parole in addition to 10 years for the burglary charge. He has waived the right to appeal and to seek a reduced sentence, Fox News reported.
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“There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING. People were shocked that he was able to plea bargain, but the Judge should make him explain what happened,” Trump said.
Trump’s comments come ahead of Kohberger’s sentencing, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
The victim’s families remain divided on whether or not the plea deal is sufficient, with some still hoping for answers as to what exactly happened.
In a statement read by attorneys outside the courthouse, the family of Madison Mogen asked the public to “respect our belief that this is the best outcome possible for the victims, their families and the state of Idaho,” NBC news reported.
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The parents of Kaylee Goncalves sat down with “CBS Mornings Plus” on Friday to discuss the plea and motive behind the killings.
“We still don’t know the motive,” Steve Goncalves told the outlet. “I don’t think they want anyone to know the motive. I don’t think they want anyone to know when he first came on their radar.”
The Goncalves family said earlier in July that the plea deal was “unexpected” and that they felt the state “failed” them, CBS reported.
“I think by hiding the truth, we’re protecting our killers,” Steve Goncalves said. “We have to show the ugliness of what this person did.”
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