A family of a University of Idaho student who was killed is expressing their anger over a plea deal accepted by Bryan Kohberger. This deal would result in a life sentence for him, but it also prevents him from facing the death penalty.
“Idaho has failed us. They’ve failed me and my entire family,” shared Steve Goncalves, the father of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the four roommates tragically stabbed in November 2022. He spoke on NBC’s “Today” show.
Just a month ago, during a time when Kohberger was set to stand trial, Steve revealed the family’s confusion when they learned he might have accepted a plea deal.
Kohberger, who had previously maintained his innocence, is considering confessing to the murders to evade the death penalty in exchange for a life sentence. Idaho politicians have quoted a letter that was sent to the victims’ families regarding this.
Kim Kernodle, aunt of Zana Kernodle, shared with TMZ that prosecutors aimed to “spare the family” from the emotional toll of a trial filled with horrifying details about the quadruple murder.
She added that both families wanted Kohberger to go to trial to truly confront the gravity of the evidence against him.
“We understand the details. They were not trying to protect us,” Kernodle emphasized.
According to Kim, prosecutors indicated that there was sufficient evidence to secure a conviction if the case proceeded to trial.
The Goncalves family issued a statement expressing their challenge to Kohberger regarding the plea deal.
A few days later, state officials decided to move forward with the plea, avoiding the trial altogether.
“They told us it wasn’t about us, but their own process. It feels like we just had to go along with it,” a family member mentioned.
Kaylee Goncalves’ 18-year-old sister, Aubrie, expressed her outrage online, calling the plea deal “shocking and cruel” just weeks before the trial was set to begin.
“The system has failed these four innocent victims and their families,” she stated.
Both families are set to attend a hearing on Wednesday, where Kohberger is expected to ask the judge to approve the plea agreement. Family members are urging the judge to reconsider.
“She’s my daughter. They’re our kids. How can the system decide without even consulting us on what justice looks like?” Steve Goncalves questioned.
However, not all families oppose the deal. Ethan’s mother, Stacey Chapin, stated that her family plans to support the plea agreement when they appear in court on Wednesday.
