Bryan Kohberger has finally been sentenced to life in prison for the murders of four Idaho students after a judge criticized his ‘grotesque acts of evil.’

Judge Stephen Hippler delivered a stern verdict at a Boise courthouse on Wednesday, ordering Kohberger, 30, to remain in custody under the Idaho Department of Corrections for the duration of his life for the November 2022 killings of four young students. 

‘These grotesque acts of evil have overshadowed anything that might have been good about him,’ Hippler stated to a silent courtroom, shortly after dabbing a tear from his eye. 

‘I’m unable to come up with anything redeemable about Mr Kohberger.’ 

‘His actions have made him the worst of the worst. There is nothing hinting remorse, redemption, nothing hinting regret for the pain he has caused.

‘I will now sentence him so that he is forever removed from civilized society.’

Kohberger was handed four life sentences for each life he took – one for Madison Mogen, a second for Kaylee Goncalves, a third for Ethan Chapin and the final one for Xana Kernodle. 

A plea deal struck earlier this month saw Kohberger spared the death penalty, but he will never be able to apply for parole.

Earlier in Wednesday’s sentencing, Kohberger was asked if he’d like to address the court, with the criminology student’s motive still a mystery.

‘I respectfully decline,’ he said in a frighteningly forceful voice. 

Kohberger sat impassively as his sentence was passed. The initial part of the hearing had seen the families of his victims confront him.

That saw them share their desire for Kohberger to be raped and attacked in prison.

Judge Hippler addressed Kohberger’s continued silence on the shocking bloodbath against four innocent strangers.

He also shared his disgust at the thought of the killer collaborating on a book or movie about his crimes while behind bars.

The judge added: ‘I desire the answers … to why but on reflection… to continue to focus on why we continue to give Mr Kohberger relevance, to give him power.

‘Do we really believe after all this he is capable of speaking the truth?

‘There is no reason for these crimes that resemble rationality.

‘No conceivable reason could make any sense.

‘And in the end the more we seek explanation for the unexplainable… the more power and control we give to him.

‘It’s time to end Mr Kohberger’s 15 minutes of fame,’ he said.

Mogen, Kernodle, Goncalves and Chapin were found stabbed to death on Nov. 13, 2022 in their shared home on King Road in Moscow, Idaho.

Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania, where his parents lived, in connection to the gruesome slayings roughly six weeks later.

Police said they recovered DNA from a knife sheath found at the home, and used genetic genealogy to identify Kohberger as a possible suspect. 

They accessed cellphone data to pinpoint his movements and used surveillance camera footage to help locate a white sedan that was seen repeatedly driving past the home on the night of the killings.

A Q-tip from the garbage at his parents’ house was used to match Kohberger’s DNA to genetic material from the sheath, investigators said.

Kohberger’s attorneys got his trial moved to Boise after expressing concerns that the court wouldn’t be able to find enough unbiased jurors in Moscow. 

But Judge Stephen Hippler rejected their efforts to get the death penalty taken off the table and to strike critical evidence – including the DNA – from being admitted in trial.

The trial had been set to begin next month.

In exchange for Kohberger admitting guilt and waiving his right to appeal, prosecutors agreed not to seek his execution. Instead, both sides agreed to recommend that he serve four consecutive life sentences without parole for the killings.

The victim’s families were split on how they felt about the plea deal.

If they know why Kohberger did it, investigators haven’t said so publicly. Nor is it clear why he spared two roommates who were home at the time.

Cellphone location data did show Kohberger had been in the neighborhood multiple times before the attack.

Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson has said that Kohberger used his knowledge about forensic investigations to attempt to cover his tracks by deep cleaning his vehicle after the crime.

Police say Kohberger’s Amazon purchase history shows he bought a military-style knife as well as the knife sheath found at the home. But the knife itself was never found.

The case drew widespread interest and judges feared the publicity could harm Kohberger’s right to a fair trial. A sweeping gag order was imposed and hundreds of court documents were sealed from public view.

After Kohberger pleaded guilty, a coalition of news organizations including The Associated Press asked that the gag order be lifted and the documents be unsealed. Hippler agreed, but said unsealing the documents will take time and that process won’t begin until after the sentencing hearing. It’s not clear how many answers they might contain.

During the sentencing hearing, the families and surviving roommates of the victims described the damage the killings have done to them. Because there are so many of them, the hearing could stretch into Thursday.

‘This world was a better place with her in it,’ said Scott Laramie, Mogen’s stepfather. ‘As for the defendant, we will not waste the words. Nor will we fall into hatred and bitterness. Evil has many faces, and we now know this, but evil does not deserve our time and attention. We are done being victims. We are taking back our lives.’

Kohberger also had the opportunity to speak, but chose not to.

President Donald Trump has suggested that the judge should force Kohberger to explain himself.

‘I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders,’ Trump wrote online on Monday. ‘There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING.’

Friends and family members have sought to commemorate the victims’ lives by raising money for scholarships and other initiatives.

Ethan’s Smile Foundation, started by Chapin’s family, honors his ‘love of life, people, and new adventures by providing scholarships that enable others to follow their dreams,’ its website says.

The Made With Kindness Foundation honors the legacy of Mogen, Goncalves, and Kernodle through scholarships, wellness support and empowerment initiatives. ‘Our mission is to inspire and uplift the next generation, turning their dreams into realities in a world that values compassion and community,’ its website says.

The University of Idaho built the Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial in memory of all students who passed away while enrolled at the school.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates…