Former President Donald Trump commented on the high-profile Idaho student murder case on Monday through a post on Truth Social. He addressed Bryan Kohberger’s impending sentencing, expressing a desire for the judge to demand some form of rationale at Wednesday’s hearing for the tragic deaths of “four wonderful young souls.”
Earlier this month, Kohberger entered a guilty plea without providing a motive or reason for the brutal stabbing of four college students during a home invasion.
“Although a life sentence is severe, it is certainly more desirable than facing the death penalty,” Trump wrote. “However, before sentencing, I hope the judge requires Kohberger to at least explain why he committed these heinous murders. There are no excuses, there is no NOTHING.”
Trump echoed public surprise about the unexpected plea deal, which spares Kohberger from the potential death penalty in exchange for admitting to the crimes. He is expected to receive four consecutive terms of life imprisonment with no chance of parole, plus another 10 years, and has waived his right to appeal and to seek a sentence reduction.
The victims were 21-year-olds Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, as well as 20-year-olds Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.
Madison Mogen, top left, smiles on the shoulders of her best friend, Kaylee Goncalves, as they pose with Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and two other housemates in Goncalves’ final Instagram post, shared the day before the four students were stabbed to death. (@kayleegoncalves/Instagram)
They were all killed around 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022. Kohberger was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University, about 10 miles away over the state line.
He could have faced capital punishment, and Idaho had recently taken steps to bring back the firing squad as a result of difficulties with lethal injection as a viable option.
President Donald Trump speaks at AmericaFest, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Phoenix. (Rick Scuteri)
The victims’ families were split over the plea deal, with some welcoming a chance to move past the murders. Goncalves’ family, notably, had been hoping for the most severe punishment and pleaded with the judge to at least require an explanation before accepting the deal.
According to court documents, DNA from a knife sheath left at the crime scene matched Kohberger’s, and cellphone data placed him near the victims’ house multiple times before the killings. Surveillance footage also captured a white Hyundai Elantra in the area.
Kohberger’s official sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday morning.
