Four life sentences in murders of Idaho college students

(CN) — Bethany Funke, inside the house the night Bryan Kohberger crept in and killed four people, wonders why she got to live.

She and one other person survived the night in November 2022 when Kohberger broke into an off-campus apartment in Moscow, Idaho, and fatally stabbed college students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.

On Wednesday, at Kohberger’s sentencing in the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, Funke’s victim impact statement was read to a crowded courtroom.

“Why me? Why did I get to live and not them?” Funke said in her statement, adding that she often wakes in a panic. “The fear never really leaves.”

Funke’s statement was one of several read or spoken before Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler, who sentenced Kohberger to four consecutive life sentences plus 10 years on four counts of murder and a burglary count. Kohberger pleaded guilty to the crimes earlier this month. He has provided no motive for the slayings.

Family members of the victims took turns giving their victim impact statements, ranging from sorrow and grief to tightly controlled rage.

Alivea Goncalves, Kaylee’s sister, ripped into Kohberger as she stood at the courtroom lectern. She said he’d get no tears or trembling from her.

“Instead, I will call you what you are — sociopath, psychopath, murderer,” she said.

Goncalves attacked Kohberger’s intelligence, calling him delusional and a loser who believed he could outwit authorities.

Kohberger was in a criminology doctoral program and served as a teaching assistant at the time of his arrest in Pennsylvania, some six weeks after the killings.

Goncalves said he was terrified of being normal, adding he should never try to convince himself that he has value. She added that if he hadn’t entered the home at night, when everyone was asleep, “Kaylee would have kicked your fucking ass.”

Randy Davis, Kernodle’s stepfather, said he’d have liked a few minutes in the woods with Kohberger to teach him about loss and pain.

“You’re going to go to hell,” Davis said. “I know people believe in other stuff. You are going to suffer, man.”

Davis and other speakers also pointed to the strength and unity they share because of the tragedies. A few offered forgiveness.

Cara Northington, Kernodle’s mother, credited God for allowing her to forgive Kohberger.

“I do pray for you,” she told Kohberger. “But after today, I wash my hands of you and you are no longer a thing.”

Kim Kernodle, Xana Kernodle’s aunt, also forgave Kohberger. She said hate and evil can destroy people, and it was happening to her family.

“We’re united now and we’re stronger than ever,” she added.

Other speakers shared memories of the victims. Ben Mogen, Madison Mogen’s father, referred to his daughter as “Maddie.” He mentioned personal issues he’s had, saying his daughter is what kept him alive.

“Maddie was my only child that I ever had,” he said. “She was the only great thing I ever really did.”

Dylan Mortensen, the other survivor inside the house on the night of the murders, said Kohberger took four beautiful, genuine and compassionate people from the world. He also removed who they would have become, along with their future birthdays and graduations.

And he took away Mortensen’s ability to trust the world.

“I made escape plans everywhere I went,” she said.

“He is a hollow vessel,” she added moments later. “A body without empathy, without remorse. He is evil. He feels nothing.”

Given the chance to speak, Kohberger said, “I respectfully decline” — the only words he spoke in open court.

Offering background on the case, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson told the judge that Kohberger’s defense team brought up the possibility of a plea deal for the first time late last month. It happened after the judge denied Kohberger’s motions seeking to provide evidence that someone else was responsible for his actions, and to indefinitely postpone the trial.

Thompson’s office contacted the victims’ families and received varying opinions about a potential plea deal. The Latah County top prosecutor said only one option could exist: guilty pleas to all counts in the indictment, no bargaining on the sentence and a wavier of all appeal rights.

“Not everybody agreed with the decision that we made,” Thompson said.

Calling Kohberger a faceless coward, Judge Hippler said the defendant’s incompetence and strong police work led to his unmasking in court.

While praising family members for their strength, he urged them against focusing on a motive for the murders. That would only give Kohberger the spotlight he appears to crave. Also, he questioned how anyone could believe Kohberger if he did give a motive, as it likely would be self-serving and a tool to enhance his power over people.

Hippler called Kohberger “the worst of the worst” before pronouncing the sentence and remanding him to the custody of the Idaho Department of Corrections.

“Where he will remain until he dies,” the judge added.