The father of one of Bryan Kohberger’s victims says he would not oppose a new trial, arguing that it could provide another opportunity to confront and hold the convicted killer responsible.
Kohberger, 31, has filed a petition seeking to challenge his conviction roughly a year after admitting guilt in the November 2022 Idaho murders. Speaking to NewsNation on Monday, Steve Goncalves, the father of Kaylee Goncalves, said he would “love” the chance to see Kohberger face accountability again in court.
“Some people want the second bite of the apple but I would love to have the second shot at the accused murderer,” Goncalves said.
He added that he would welcome the chance to “reline him up” and pursue accountability “to the full extent” of what Kohberger has done.
Kohberger avoided a possible death sentence when he accepted a plea agreement in July 2025, receiving life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He has since argued that he was misled into taking the deal, alleging “false promises and blatant disinformation,” according to the New York Times.
“My actual innocence is my truth, and the plea, hinged on by false promises and blatant disinformation, MUST be withdrawn,” Kohberger said.
In his filing, Kohberger claimed his attorneys warned him about grim conditions on death row, including what he described as an “actual 8×8 death row” cell, while advising that accepting the plea deal would offer him a better life behind bars.
He also claimed there was an “exculpatory discovery” in his case before making the admission.
Goncalves said Kohberger’s claim was “to be expected” and while welcoming the idea of a re-trial, he alluded to the impact on Idaho itself.
“This guy wasn’t even a member of our society. He wasn’t even a member of our state, and we’ve really just been totally put through the wringer having to defend this loser,” he said.
“So I want to protect my community, and I feel like I can’t keep asking for more.”
Earlier Monday, Goncalves’ family branded Kohberger “the mosquito you can’t seem to swat” and said they would be “100% ready” for a trial.
“We are confident he will get the death penalty that he escaped by pleading guilty the first time around,” they said.
Shredding Kohberger, they claimed he “never cried wolf or claimed he was uninformed, pressured, or that there were issues with the discovery that he and his counsel had for 2 years that he thought should have been challenged.”
But Goncalves’ family said that a second trial would be an “absolute waste of time and taxpayers money.”
“It’s a disgrace,” they scoffed.
Kaylee’s mom Kristi, 48, accused Kohberger of playing “judicial games.”
“America has seen our family go through pain for many, many years now,” she told Newsweek Monday.
“We don’t think there’s any merit to it at all.”
By copping to the killings, Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student, avoided a trial and he didn’t have to explain why he carried out the murders.
All four of his victims were killed by multiple sharp-force injuries, according to reports of the autopsy carried out by Dr Veena Singh, Spokane’s chief medical examiner.
Kaylee Goncalves, 21, also suffered blunt-force injuries to her face and showed signs of aspyhxia.
Kohberger admitted to killing Goncalves’ best pal, Madison Mogen, 20-year-old Xana Kernodle, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin.
