Bryan Kohberger; Judge Steven Hippler. Credit :
KYLE GREEN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock
- Judge Steven Hippler appeared to become emotional when handing down four life sentences to Bryan Kohberger on Wed. July 23
- His remarks came after nearly three hours of powerful statements from victims’ families, condemning Kohberger as a ‘loser’ and ‘pathetic’
- The judge noted he was sad for the parents of the victims, saying ‘No parent should ever have to bury a child’
The judge in the Bryan Kohberger trial wiped away tears when giving the 30-year-old quadruple murderer four life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole for killing four University of Idaho students.
Ada County District Court Judge Steven Hippler appeared to cry as he addressed the packed courthouse on Wednesday, July 23, just before he handed down the lifelong sentence.
“During the quiet morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, a faceless coward breached the tranquility of six beautiful young people and senselessly slaughtered them — four of them,” he said, pausing to stare at Kohberger.
“But due to the killer’s incompetence and outstanding police work,” the person “that slithered through that sliding glass door at 1122 King Road now stands before the world and this court unmasked.”
Three weeks earlier, on July 2, Kohberger appeared in the same Boise courtroom and confessed to breaking into the house at King Road and fatally stabbing Maddie Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20.
Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves hours before the murders. Instagram
Now, the judge said, victims’ families and friends are left to “carry forth the memories of these now perpetually young people, these forever children.”
In addition to the four life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders, Hippler gave Kohberger 10 years on a burglary conviction. He was also ordered to pay $270,000 in fines and civil penalties.
The sentencing came after more than two hours of emotional and powerful victim statements the students’ families and loved ones shared with the court.
“I listened intently to the stories and pain that have been shared today with great awe at the courage and resilience of the surviving family members of those wonderful children,” the judge said.
Earlier that morning, Kaylee’s older sister, Alivea Goncalves, had some of the most blistering words for the man who took her sister’s life.
“Sit up straight when I talk to you,” she commanded Kohberger.
“Kaylee and her best friend Maddie were not yours to take,” Alivea said, describing how she considered both girls to be her sisters.
“They were everything that you could never be — loved, accepted, vibrant, accomplished, brave and powerful.”
Alivea zeroed in on Kohberger’s weaknesses, particularly how relevant he had always strived to be, by saying, “The truth is, the scariest part about you is how painfully average you turned out to be.”
She concluded her remarks by saying, “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 f—ing ass.”
The judge had kind words for surviving roommates Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen, who have been criticized by some people on social media who have speculated they could have called police sooner. He praised their courage to come forward “despite the hell they faced by uncaring people who have come up with all kinds of crazy theories about two kids simply being kids.”
On the night of the murders, Mortensen told police she saw what she thought was a fireman walking past her door, but in the moment, was too scared and confused to act.
Kohberger will now undergo a two-week evaluation after which the IDOC will determine what prison he is sent to for the rest of his life.
That will likely be the lone maximum security prison in Idaho but could also be an out-of-state facility due to safety concerns surrounding the high-profile inmate.
