The Sentencing of Bryan Kohberger

Summary

48 Hours: The Sentencing of Bryan Kohberger – Detailed Summary

Episode Title: The Sentencing of Bryan Kohberger
Host/Author: CBS News
Release Date: July 24, 2025

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Introduction

In this poignant episode of 48 Hours, CBS News correspondent Peter Van Sant delves into the sentencing of Bryan Kohberger, the man convicted of the gruesome murder of four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Gonsalves, Madison Mogan, Zanna Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The episode captures the emotional gravity of the courtroom proceedings, featuring heart-wrenching impact statements from the victims' families and insightful analysis from legal experts.

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The Sentencing Hearing

The episode opens with a somber introduction by Peter Van Sant, setting the stage for the emotional sentencing hearing in Boise, Idaho. Bryan Kohberger, shackled and unrepentant, faces the loved ones of his victims who express their anguish and righteous anger.

Notable Quote:

• Peter Van Sant (02:01): "We are here to prove to the..."

The court proceedings are marked by intense emotion, not only from the families but also visibly affecting the judge and the prosecutor.

Notable Quotes:

• Jane Smith (01:29): "He is a hollow vessel, something less than human. A body without empathy, without remorse."
• John Doe (04:39): "Watching him was eerie, to be perfectly honest. He did not shed a tear. He did not show any emotion."

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Impact Statements from Victims’ Families

The heart of the episode lies in the powerful impact statements delivered by the families and surviving roommates of the victims.

Dylan Mortensen’s Testimony

Dylan Mortensen, one of the surviving roommates, bravely recounts her trauma and ongoing struggles.

Notable Quotes:

• Dylan Mortensen (09:22): "I was barely 19 when he did this. We had just celebrated my birthday at the end of September... That was the worst day of my life."
• Peter Van Sant (11:15): "The enormous consequence of murder was just expressed there."

Bethany Funk’s Statement

Bethany Funk, another surviving roommate, shares her profound loss and questions Coxberger’s humanity.

Notable Quote:

• Bethany Funk (19:58): "For some reason, I am still here. And I got to live... That was the worst day of my life."

Matty Mogan’s Family

Matty Mogan’s stepfather, Scott Laramie, and father, Ben Mogan, express their devastation and confirm their support for the plea agreement.

Notable Quotes:

• Scott Laramie (13:30): "Evil doesn't deserve time and attention."
• Ben Mogan (14:32): "Maddie helped put him back on the rails."

Kaylee Gonsalves’ Family

Kaylee’s father, Steve Gonzalez, delivers a scathing rebuke of Kohberger, reflecting the family's relentless pursuit of justice.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Gonzalez (16:11): "Today we are here to finish what you started."
• Olivia Gonzalez (17:03): "We had your white car and a camera. We knew."

Zanna Kernodle’s Family

Zanna’s father, Jeff, sister Jasmine, and aunt Kim offer contrasting views, with some advocating for forgiveness while others express unyielding anger.

Notable Quotes:

• Aunt Kim (27:21): "I have forgiven you because I no longer can live with that hate in my heart."
• Randy Davis (27:55): "You are weak... You're gonna go to hell."

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Legal Analysis and Plea Agreement

CBS News legal analyst, Attorney Mary Fulginitti, alongside journalism professor Matt Loveless, provide in-depth analysis of the sentencing and the implications of the plea agreement Kohberger entered.

Key Points:

• Kohberger admitted guilt to four counts of murder and a felony burglary charge, resulting in four consecutive life sentences plus ten years, waiving his right to appeal.
• The legal team discusses the complexities of the plea agreement and the possibility of appeal despite the waiver.

Notable Quotes:

• Mary Fulginitti (03:34): "It was an emotional day... It did feel like a little bit of closure."
• John Doe (30:24): "You can't force a defendant to speak... there are protections afforded not only to the victims but to the defendant."

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Public and Political Reactions

The episode touches upon the broader societal implications and reactions, including a notable comment from former President Donald Trump, who called for Kohberger to explain his motives publicly.

Notable Quote:

• Peter Van Sant (31:08): "After all of this time, the judge lifted the gag order on this case. When can we expect to learn new details?"

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Unanswered Questions and Future Developments

Despite the sentencing, many questions remain unanswered about Kohberger’s motives and connections to the victims. Authorities have yet to uncover a direct link between him and the victims, leaving the public seeking closure.

Notable Quotes:

• Mary Fulginitti (34:02): "He wiped his devices regularly... used VPN."
• John Doe (34:09): "He's going to that area over 20 times. So there had to have been some connection."

The lifting of the gag order signals potential new revelations as more documents and body cam footage are expected to be released, providing deeper insights into the case.

Notable Quotes:

• Mary Fulginitti (35:24): "You could hear some of the victims and the roommates talking... a lot of information is going to come out."

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Conclusion

The sentencing of Bryan Kohberger marks a significant chapter in the tragic story of the Idaho student murders. This episode of 48 Hours not only chronicles the legal proceedings but also gives a voice to the families burdened with unimaginable loss. As new information emerges, the quest for understanding continues, emphasizing the enduring impact of this heinous crime on the community and beyond.

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Additional Insights and Reflections

• Emotional Toll on Participants: The episode highlights how the sentencing hearing was not just a legal milestone but a deeply emotional event for everyone involved, including the judge and legal professionals.

• Media Coverage and Public Perception: Discussions emphasize the role of media in shaping public perception and the ethical considerations in reporting on such sensitive cases.

• Legal Procedures and Rights: The conversation between Mary Fulginitti and John Doe sheds light on the legal protections for defendants, even in high-profile cases, and the complexities surrounding plea agreements and appeals.

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Final Thoughts

48 Hours provides a comprehensive and empathetic exploration of Bryan Kohberger’s sentencing, balancing the raw emotions of the victims' families with expert legal analysis. This detailed account serves as a vital resource for listeners seeking to understand the multifaceted dimensions of this high-profile case.

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This summary is based on the transcript provided and aims to encapsulate all key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during the episode.

Transcript

[John Doe]

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[Jane Smith]

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[Peter Van Sant]

Edu this episode contains graphic audio and references to violence. Please listen with care.

[Jane Smith]

He is a hollow vessel, something less than human. A body without empathy, without remorse. He chose destruction. He chose evil. He feels nothing.

[Peter Van Sant]

For the first time, Dylan Mortensen, one of the two surviving roommates in the house on King Road, courageously spoke in court about her grief and trauma as the murderer of her friends sat facing forward with no emotion.

[Jane Smith]

He tried to take everything from me. My friends, my safety, my identity, my future. He took their lives. But I will continue trying to be like them, to make them proud.

[Peter Van Sant]

On Wednesday, a shackled Bryan Kohberger, who admitted earlier this month to the mass murder of University of Idaho students Kaylee Gonsalves, Madison Mogan, Zanna Kernodle and Ethan Chapin was forced to hear the cries, the anguish, the frustrations, and the righteous anger of the loved ones left behind at his sentencing hearing in Boise today. We are here to prove to the.

[Jane Smith]

World that you picked the wrong families. I will call you what you are. Sociopath. Psychopath. Murderer. We are done being victims.

[Peter Van Sant]

We are taking back our lives. I'm 48 Hours correspondent Peter Van Sant, and this is the Idaho student murders inside the Bryan Kohberger case. Today you're going to hear what happened inside the courtroom. And joining me to discuss it all is CBS News legal analyst attorney Mary Fulginitti and Washington State University Murrow School of Journalism professor Matt Loveless. And Matt, you live in Pullman, just a stone's throw down the road from Moscow. You're the one that went over to that house on King Road after you learned of these murders. You saw that, that tragic sight of some blood seeping down the outside of the building, which gave us all a sense of what was going on on the inside. Give me a sense of what this day was like for you.

[Mary Fulginitti]

It was an emotional day, Peter. And as this case has gone on for close to a thousand days now, I hesitate to call it closure. But it was nice as a community member, just to hear the families be able to speak and release a little bit today. And I think we'll get to the fact that they released quite a bit today. So it did feel like a little bit of closure. And also it felt incomplete. I know. We'll talk about that as well.

[Peter Van Sant]

For the victims, families and surviving roommates, they had been expected to give impact statements after a trial when their words would influence the sentencing. But that trial never came to be.

[John Doe]

Yeah, no, it didn't. I mean, Brian Coburger ended up signing a plea agreement and on July 2 in court admitted his guilt to each charge in the indictment. And part of that agreement, and part of those admissions included him agreeing to fix terms fixed life sentences for each of the four murder counts, as well as a 10 year count for the felony burglary, all to run consecutively. And in addition, he waived all rights to appeal.

[Peter Van Sant]

And for all of us who have watched this from the beginning, to see all those loved ones in that room and being able to look at the man across the way who was so stoic, emotionless, lacking remorse sitting there, the man who had wielded that knife and created all this pain was just extraordinary, wasn't it?

[John Doe]

Yeah. Watching him was. Was eerie, to be perfectly honest. I think the one thing to me that stood out, out of all the tears and emotion was that Bryan Coburger did not shed a tear. He did not show any emotion.

[Peter Van Sant]

Even the judge was wiping away tears throughout. And for me, in the dozens and dozens of court cases I've been involved with, I'd never seen that before. Mary, what about you?

[John Doe]

Yeah. You know, I've never seen a judge shed a tear in a case. The prosecutor was tearing up, the. The judge was tearing up. We had the victims, we had the family members. I was even tearing up throughout much of it because you sit there and you hear how heinous and horrific the crimes were. And as a mother to a daughter who's in college at a sorority, it just, it hits home.

[Peter Van Sant]

In addition to Dylan Mortenson, we heard from her fellow surviving roommate, Bethany Funk. Good friend Emily Allant read Bethany's words inside a packed courtroom.

[Jane Smith]

For some reason, I am still here. And I got to live. I Still think about this every day. Why me? Why did I get to live and not them?

[Peter Van Sant]

People always ask that, the survivors. Matt, what do you think?

[Mary Fulginitti]

It's still hard to explain. You know, we know Bethany had a basement room in that place. I think people are learning the layout of that three story a building there on 1122 King Road. We know Dylan came down to be with Bethany. She had a second floor bedroom. She went downstairs after, she says she opened the door and saw a man with bushy eyebrows. And I know there was a lot of confusion over the 911 call. The fact that it took more than seven hours for them to make that call.

[Jane Smith]

When I first woke up that morning, I had no idea what happened. I woke up around seven with a terrible toothache. So I called my dad who is a dentist, and he asked what I should do. He told me to take Advil. So I did and I went back to sleep. I was still out of it and still didn't know what happened. If I had known, I of course would have called 911 right away. I still carry so much regret and guilt for not knowing what had happened and not calling right away, even though I understand it wouldn't have changed anything. Not even if the paramedics had been right outside the door. I was so frantic that morning and scared to death not knowing what had happened. And when I made the 911 call, I couldn't even get out the words. And from then on I don't remember a thing. It was like my brain wiped that whole memory. That was the worst day of my life. And I know it always will be.

[Mary Fulginitti]

You know, much of the information in this case, it's sort of been that leaky faucet. We'll get a drip here and a drip there and a drip there. And one of those drips came recently as we found out a little bit more about what, why there was so much chaos on that call. And I know there's still a lot of confusion, but we hear some context now from the Amazon series about how friend Emily Allant, friend Hunter Johnson and another friend had come and how Hunter had found Ethan and Zanna and reported that they should call the police for an unconscious person, essentially sparing his friends the trauma of knowing what happened. And we also know now that at the time that they weren't even aware that Maddie and Kaylee had been killed as well. And so we are just beginning to learn this little trickle of information about what had happened that morning. And it is starting to make a lot more sense.

[Peter Van Sant]

And while Bethany did not attend, we learned more from Dylan, who lived on the second floor of the house. And she sat down at the prosecutor's table and took moments to compose herself. Dylan, just take your time, all right?

[Jane Smith]

Sorry, God. Thank you, your honor.

[Peter Van Sant]

And the presentation that Dylan Mortenson had in that courtroom. This was a. A young teenage girl at the time of these murders, overwhelmed by what had happened there. And she had been savaged in social media with. Well, the Dylan Mortensen that showed up today was mature and eloquent and profound and so impressive.

[Jane Smith]

I was barely 19 when he did this. We had just celebrated my birthday at the end of September. I should have been figuring out who I was. I should have been having the college experience and starting to establish my future. Instead, I was forced to learn how to survive the unimaginable. I couldn't be alone. I had to sleep in my mom's bed because I was too terrified to close my eyes. Terrified that if I blinked, someone might be there. I made escape plans everywhere I went. If something happens, how do I get out? What can I use to defend myself? Who can help? Then there are the panic attacks, the kind that slam into me like a tsunami out of nowhere. I can't breathe, I can't think. I can't stop shaking. All I can do is scream because the emotional pain and the grief is too much to handle. My chest feels like it's caving in.

[Peter Van Sant]

The enormous consequence of murder was just expressed there. And I hope those who tortured this young woman take a moment, perhaps to send off something kind now that you know the context of what had happened, because she doesn't deserve anyone's scorn.

[Mary Fulginitti]

She didn't speak at the sentencing hearing about what she saw that day, mostly just talking about the pain she continues to endure. We got to hear her talk about a lot of the coverage that was about her early on in the coverage of this case. And it was. It was just devastating to hear.

[John Doe]

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[Mary Fulginitti]

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[Jane Smith]

Hi again, TV's quirkiest crime solver. I'm Elspeth Tasioni.

[John Doe]

I work with the police.

[Mary Fulginitti]

It's awesome.

[John Doe]

I like my outlandish theories. With a heavy dose of evidence and.

[Jane Smith]

Ready to go toe to toe with.

[Peter Van Sant]

A cavalcade of guest stars. Are you saying that this is now a murder investigation? It's starting to look that way.

[Jane Smith]

Don't miss a moment of the critically acclaimed hit Elsbeth. All episodes now streaming on Paramount plus.

[Mary Fulginitti]

And return CBS fall.

[John Doe]

That sounds like fun. Obviously, murder's not fun.

[Peter Van Sant]

Matty Mogan's stepfather, Scott Laramie, spoke on behalf of himself and Matty's mother, Karen, who stood beside him in tears. He said he refused to waste words on the defendant, saying evil doesn't deserve time and attention.

[Jane Smith]

It helps us to know Maddie is.

[Peter Van Sant]

In heaven now, freed from the trials of this earth. We, however, continue to live on without.

[Mary Fulginitti]

The grace and support of her presence.

[Jane Smith]

We will grow old without our only.

[Peter Van Sant]

Child, our bright, beautiful friend and daughter. In the end, there are no words that can accurately capture the devastation of losing Maddie. You know, one person who was so moving to me was Maddie's father, Ben Mogen. This is a man who's been through a lot in life, and he said that Mattie, when he was the only child he ever had, she was the only great thing he ever really did and the only thing he was ever proud of. Boy, those hit me. That was so sad. And he was honest about his struggles with addiction and how Maddie helped him.

[Jane Smith]

I. I went through a lot of.

[Peter Van Sant]

Issues with addiction and with. With substance abuse and.

[Jane Smith]

And when I wasn't wanting to live anymore, she was what would keep me from just not caring anymore and knowing.

[Peter Van Sant]

That she was out there and that.

[Jane Smith]

She was just such a beautiful person. Kept me alive a lot.

[Peter Van Sant]

A lot of rough moments. And for her father, Maddie helped put him back on the rails. And even though she's lost her life, in some ways, she has saved. And that was very poignant. Ben Mogan, Scott Laramie, and Mattie's paternal grandmother expressed their support of the plea agreement. In fact, Kohberger subtly nodded his head when Laramie spoke about the plea deal.

[John Doe]

Yeah, that was interesting, right? That was the first time we saw him do anything, really, besides sit there and stare at the people that were speaking.

[Peter Van Sant]

Now, in contrast, Kaylee Gonzalez's family has been outspoken about their disappointment about that plea deal. Her father, Steve, called it a deal with the devil and has called out the prosecution and judge in the case. When Steve Gonzalves got up to speak, he dramatically turned the podium in the direction of Kohberger.

[Jane Smith]

Today we are here to finish what you started.

[John Doe]

Today.

[Mary Fulginitti]

You've lost control.

[Peter Van Sant]

Having interviewed Steve Gonzalez a couple of times for many hours and other members of the family, what he had to say about when the family learned of this tragedy and the shock and the horror and they're holding each other and what they decided to do as he tells that story. For me, that was one of the most memorable moments in that courtroom today. My kids turned around, looked at me and said, what do we do, Dad? I told him, you get to work. You get your ass to work. And we started calling, we started texting, we started emailing. And you know what?

[Jane Smith]

Within hours. Within hours, we had your white car and a camera. We knew.

[Peter Van Sant]

We knew from the very beginning.

[Jane Smith]

We had you police officers tell us.

[Peter Van Sant]

Within minutes they had your DNA like a calling card.

[Jane Smith]

You were that careless, that foolish, that stupid master degree. You're a joke, complete joke.

[John Doe]

This family, they came out fighting right out of the box, you know, from the day they heard what happened to their sister, their daughter, they were on it, and they wanted to find out who did it, how did it happen, what happened, and they haven't really stopped, you know, And I think that that's very telling of sort of the dynamic in the family and how, you know, and how they express, you know, their own feelings and handle situations.

[Peter Van Sant]

Kaylee's older sister, Olivia, who I've met along the way, who had done such research and found breakthroughs in this investigation and listened to what she had to.

[Jane Smith]

Say, I will ask the questions that reverberate violently in my own head so loudly that I can't think straight most any day. Some of these might be familiar. So sit up straight when I talk to you. How was your life right before you murdered my sisters? Did you prepare for the crime before leaving your apartment? Please detail what you were thinking and feeling at this time. Why did you choose my sisters? Before making your move, did you approach my sisters? Detail what you were thinking and feeling before leaving their home? Is there anything else you did? How does it feel to know the only thing you failed more miserably at than Being a murderer is trying to be a rapper. Did you recently start shaving or manually pulling out your eyebrows? Why November 13th? Did you truly think your Amazon purchase was untraceable because you used a gift card? How do you find it enjoyable to stargaze with such a severe case of visual snow? Where is the murder weapon? The clothes you wore that night? What did you bring into the house with you? What was the second weapon you used on Kaylee? What were Kaylee's last words? Please describe in detail the level of anxiety you must have felt when you heard the Bearcat pull up to your family home on December 30, 2022. Which do you regret more? Returning to the crime scene five hours later or never, ever going back to Moscow? Not even once after stalking them there for months? If you were really smart, do you think you'd be here right now? What's it like needing this much attention just to feel real? You're terrified of being ordinary, aren't you? Do you feel anything at all? Or are you exactly what you always feared? Nothing.

[Mary Fulginitti]

She came mad, but mad and prepared. I sat there at various points and said, can he. Can we get some answers to those questions? She asked a number of questions we've all wanted to ask since the beginning of this case. Not only that, she talked about reports of his heroin use. She talked about his efforts to be a rapper. She made fun of him taking an online IQ test.

[Jane Smith]

The truth is, you're as dumb as they come. Stupid. Clumsy. Slow. Sloppy. Weak. Dirty. Let me be very clear. Don't ever try to convince yourself you mattered just because someone finally said your name out loud. I see through you. You want the truth? Here's the one you'll hate the most. If you hadn't attacked them in their sleep in the middle of the night like a pedophile, Kaylee would have kicked your ass.

[Peter Van Sant]

Yeah, she was brilliantly angry. Mary, what did you think?

[John Doe]

Yeah, no, I thought she was incredibly articulate and, frankly, poised, given how angry she was. But, you know, she also, you know, brought up things like, do you feel anything at all? Do you have any remorse? What? You know, what's wrong with. Are you a sociopath? Are you a psychopath? I mean, she was really grappling with, you know, what the heck are you? And don't think that this is going to make you powerful or important. And I'm a little shocked that the judge sort of allowed that vilification, but she clearly got across how she was feeling and what she, in the family, I think, wanted to know.

[Peter Van Sant]

And following Olivia's blistering comments, Kaylee's mother, Christie, also called him a loser and referenced the death penalty, which had been taken off the table when Coburger took that plea agreement.

[Jane Smith]

While I'm disappointed the firing shot won't get to take their shots at you.

[John Doe]

I'm confident that the men in prison.

[Jane Smith]

Will have their way with you in more ways than one. You will finally get what you wanted. Physical touch. Just probably not how you were expecting it. See, you haven't beat the system. You've simply entered a new one where.

[John Doe]

The rules are cruel and the consequences will never end.

[Jane Smith]

You are entering a place where no one will care who you are and.

[John Doe]

No one will ever respect you. You will be forgotten, discarded, used, and erased.

[Jane Smith]

You will always be remembered as an.

[John Doe]

As a loser, an absolute failure. And when those prison doors slam shut.

[Jane Smith]

Behind you, I hope that sound echoes in your heart for the rest of your meaningless days.

[John Doe]

I hope it reminds you of what.

[Jane Smith]

We all already know.

[John Doe]

You're nothing. May you continue to live your life in misery.

[Jane Smith]

You are officially the property of the.

[John Doe]

State of Idaho, where your fellow inmates.

[Jane Smith]

Are anxiously awaiting your arrival. But it's okay, because they're there to help you.

[John Doe]

Hell will be waiting.

[Peter Van Sant]

I don't have a word to add to what she just said. The things Christy told me in the interview we did was that she wanted this firing squad because she wanted Coburger to have just that moment of fear, of deep fear that she knew her daughter had experienced as he was attacking her. And then she had one last thought. She shared a message from Kaylee's younger sister. Listen to this.

[Jane Smith]

You may have received A's in high.

[John Doe]

School and college, but you're gonna be getting big Ds in prison.

[Peter Van Sant]

A spattering of applause there. Something that I've never heard in a courtroom, too.

[John Doe]

Yeah. I mean, again, you typically don't hear such strong language, ever, really, at a.

[Peter Van Sant]

Sentencing hearing and outside the courthouse after that hearing, Steve and Christy referenced 34 stab wounds that they believe their daughter suffered. And Christy said the details are far more horrific than anybody ever imagined. We do not know at this point if the families learned of information that came out after the hearing in documents released by the Moscow Police Department. But here's some of what we have learned from one of the first officers at the scene. He said, I looked inside the bedroom. Zanna was lame. And it was obvious an intense struggle had occurred. Zanna was obviously deceased. Quick side note, when I interviewed Zanna's family, they said they were so proud. They had been told that she had fought for her life and that they were very proud of that. They mentioned that in the interview they did with 48 hours. Ethan was found on the bed. Quote, the midsection of Ethan's body was covered by a blanket. Kaylee and Madison were covered by a pink blanket, which was covered in blood. And Kaylee, the report shows, was unrecognizable, as her facial structure was extremely damaged.

[Mary Fulginitti]

I would caution anybody who feels like they're curious to take a second thought before reading through these documents because the details are just awful. Hey there, cats and kittens. It's Brian from the commercial break, the mediocre comedy podcast where my best friend Chrissy and I attempt to make sense of the world. We talk about the absurd, the ridiculous, and the stuff no one asked for, like Internet weirdos, pickup artists, and why everyone is obsessed with crystals and colonics. All got to stop. The show is free, it's frequent, and it's probably not for everyone. You can go to tcbpodcast.com, [e-mail] the commercial break or check out the show wherever you listen to podcasts. We'll see you on the next commercial break. And best to you.

[Peter Van Sant]

And as far as Zanna Kernodle's family, the court heard from her father, Jeff, and her sister, Jasmine.

[Jane Smith]

I walk with the comfort of knowing I will see my sister again. Zanna didn't get the future she deserved. She won't be the maid of honor at my wedding, the cool aunt to my future children. I'll never hear her laugh or see her light up a room ever again. But I will carry her with me for the rest of my life. I will live in her honor, fight to be the best kind of woman and someone she's proud of, to make sure the world never forgets who she was. Zanna's story doesn't end with what was taken from her.

[Peter Van Sant]

Aunt Kim spoke of forgiveness at this hearing, one of the few people who did.

[John Doe]

Brian, I'm here today to tell you.

[Jane Smith]

I have forgiven you because I no.

[John Doe]

Longer could live with that hate in.

[Jane Smith]

My heart and for me to become a better person.

[John Doe]

I have forgiven you.

[Jane Smith]

And anytime you want to talk and.

[John Doe]

Tell me what happened, get my number.

[Jane Smith]

I'm here. No judgment, because I do have answers or questions that I want you to answer. And I'm here. I'll be that one that'll listen to you, okay?

[Peter Van Sant]

And then, in contrast, Zanna's stepfather, Randy Davis, he turned to Coburger with disgust. He did not have Forgiveness on his mind. I want to just be out in the woods with you just so I can teach you about loss and pain.

[Mary Fulginitti]

I'm not.

[Peter Van Sant]

I blood. I love God. I wouldn't take your life. That's up to him. But I guarantee you, you are weak. God, I would just give a moment, man. Five minutes out in the woods. Oh, man, you're gonna go to hell. Zanna Kernodle's mom, Karen Northington, also spoke. She has been open about her struggles with addiction. She previously said she hit rock bottom and relapsed when Zanna was killed and went to jail. She is now sober and has spoken recently about how her faith has helped her cope with this tragedy. However, Ethan Chapin's parents and siblings were not in court. Ethan's father, Jim Chapin, said last week that he preferred to spend this time on their boat with his children. Ethan was a triplet, and his brother Hunter and sister Maisie also attended the University of Idaho. With the impact statements complete, prosecutor Bill Thompson held back tears while reading the sentence for each count. As photos of the victims were displayed, cries could be heard in the courtroom. He then showed that photo we all know so well of the roommates on that game day weekend taken just hours before the murders. He called them a family. The prosecutor said Coburger would die in prison. Coburger was given the opportunity to speak. This was a moment all of us were waiting for. And here's what it turned out to be.

[Jane Smith]

All right, Mr. Kohberger, you have an opportunity to make a statement if you wish to. I take it you are declining?

[Peter Van Sant]

I respectfully decline, he said. I respectfully decline. Our producers inside the courtroom heard murmurs of surprise, surprise and coward. Judge Stephen Hippler said he couldn't force Kohberger to speak. But even if he could, how could we know it's the truth? Mary, he has a point there, doesn't he?

[John Doe]

Yeah. I mean, first of all, you can't force a defendant to speak. They have their Fifth Amendment right. And under Idaho law, a criminal defendant can't be forced to speak at sentencing, and it can't be used against him or her in any way, shape or form. Procedurally, the court must ask for allocution, but again, it's optional.

[Mary Fulginitti]

Mary. I think one of the questions we have, though, is why can't we ask him anything? Why can't we get any information? And I'll ask it by offering a little context. I think a lot of us look at what had happened and, if anything, hope that there was a warning sign there that future young men and women who go to these universities. Could we possibly find that out? Would there not be a benefit to trying to get at some of those answers?

[John Doe]

Look, absolutely. I mean, there's a benefit to understanding the why, you know, and a benefit to understanding everything, the plotting. How did he figure out who they were? Did he. Who they were? Did this just become a happenstance? I mean, but at the end of the day, you guys have to realize that there is a process in place here, and there are protections that are afforded not only to the victims, but obviously to the defendant. And this is a capital case. And just like any other criminal case, you can't compel them to talk. You couldn't compel them to take the stand. You can't even compel them to take a plea agreement.

[Peter Van Sant]

After all of these passionate words, eloquence spoken through pain, broken hearts, the judge sentences Kohberger to what was agreed to in this plea agreement. He received four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, along with 10 years for burglary.

[Jane Smith]

I remand the defendant to the custody of the Idaho State Board of Corrections.

[Peter Van Sant]

For to be imprisoned in an appropriate.

[Jane Smith]

Facility and execution of the sentence where he will remain until he dies.

[Peter Van Sant]

Also, Kohberger has waived his right to appeal, but he can file a notice of appeal. What does that mean, Mary? It seems to be contradictory.

[John Doe]

Yes, under the law, and this is the Supreme Court of the United States, if a defendant asks to file a notice of appeal, his attorneys must do so. And failure to do so is a huge procedural problem, they have found. But it's really done to protect those defendants that might not have entered into a waiver of appeal voluntarily, who might not have pled guilty knowingly and voluntarily. So here, although he has the right to file that notice of appeal, and they must do so if he asks, I predict that an appellate court, if he did, look at the basis for the waiver and make sure that it's adequate and determine that it was in this case and that the waiver was knowing and voluntary and therefore rejected any appeal.

[Peter Van Sant]

We've touched on this a bit, but at this point, after hearing all that people had to say and all the questions they still have, everyone wonders, why did Bryan Coburger murder Maddie, Kaylee, Zanna, and Ethan? Even President Trump weighed in days before the hearing, posting on Truth Social, I hope the judge makes Coburger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders. There are no explanations. There is no nothing. At a presser, Lt. Darren Gilbertson of the Idaho State Police said, we have never to this date, found a single connection between him and any of the four victims or the two surviving roommates. Detectives also said they found no social media connection between Coburger and the victims. There was also evidence he wiped his devices regularly, using software to clean, and he also used vpn.

[Mary Fulginitti]

And we also heard that they never found the weapon. They never found the clothes he was wearing that night.

[John Doe]

But I think what we do know is that he's going to that area over 20 times. So there had to have been some connection. He's going to that area, he's doing something, and it's not like he's going to random areas. He's going to that particular area. So you don't always know the answer to all the questions, but I would suspect that there is some connection at some point along the way, and we might just never know what it was.

[Peter Van Sant]

Judge Hippler acknowledged the public's need to understand the why. I share the desire expressed by others to understand the why. But upon reflection, it seems to me, and this is just my own opinion.

[Jane Smith]

That by continuing to focus on why, we continue to give Mr. Kohberger relevance. We give him agency and we give him power. The need to know what is inherently.

[Peter Van Sant]

Not understandable makes us dependent upon the.

[Jane Smith]

Defendant to provide us with a reason.

[Peter Van Sant]

And that gives him the spotlight, the.

[Jane Smith]

Attention, and the power he appears to crave.

[Peter Van Sant]

Finally, after all of this time, the judge lifted the gag order on this case. When can we expect to learn new details? What does it mean now that the gag order is gone?

[John Doe]

Well, it means that people can talk, right? You're going to hear a lot of people talking. You could hear some of the victims and the roommates talking. And. And the police and investigators can all now speak about, about the case and their investigation, the facts, evidence, whatever they found. When it comes to the documents that are sealed, though, the judge made it very clear that he was going to wait until, obviously, this notice of appeal time lapsed before he would actually review those and decide what to unseal and not to unseal. But that time period is about 42 days. And so I think once that time period lapses, we're going to see the judge looking at these documents closely and then hopefully releasing some that will hopefully answer some questions that everybody's been asking.

[Mary Fulginitti]

And a number of these documents are already revealing initial reports from arriving at the scene, conversations with family members. You know, as much as we talk about closure in this case, I think what people need to understand, understand is we're going to start seeing body cam footage of at least conversations with witnesses and people standing outside. A lot of information is going to come out.

[Peter Van Sant]

And as of this recording, the Moscow Police Department just posted its police reports and other documents on its website. As more information comes to light, we will continue to keep you up to date on this perplexing, disturbing case. And we'll leave it at that for today. Mary and Matt, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. And thanks to all of you for listening. I'm Peter Van Sant.

[Jane Smith]

Mom and dad. The school supplies you buy me this year will mostly end up in my mouth. Maybe shop low prices for school at Amazon so I don't eat up all your money, just something to chew on. Amazon spend less, smile more tipping culture.

[John Doe]

Is out of control. Yesterday I tipped someone just for handing me a napkin. So when hotels.com gives me up to 20% off for being a member, I finally get tipped. And you know what?

[Jane Smith]

It feels good.

[John Doe]

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