Fury Over Revelation That Bryan Kohberger Killed More People Than Inmates On Idaho's Death Row
By Favour Adegoke on July 5, 2025 at 11:30 AM EDT
Reports have revealed that Bryan Kohberger committed more murders than any current inmate on Idaho's Death Row.
The former criminology student recently entered a guilty plea to the killings of four University of Idaho students, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
As a result of the plea deal, Bryan Kohberger avoided the possibility of the death penalty and is now set to be sentenced to consecutive life terms in prison.
Bryan Kohberger Would Have Joined Idaho's Death Row As Its 10th Inmate
Earlier this week, Kohberger reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors, which partly saw him admit to four counts of murder in the deaths of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
Signing the deal meant that Kohberger wouldn't be tried for the crimes; instead, he would be directly sentenced to consecutive life terms at a later date in July. It also implied that Kohberger wouldn't face the death penalty, which was on the table if the case had gone to trial.
Had Kohberger gone to trial, been found guilty, and sentenced to death, he would have become the tenth person on Idaho's Death Row, per TMZ.
However, he stands out among these inmates as the one who committed the highest number of murders, which has raised questions about why prosecutors chose to agree to a plea deal.
Bryan Kohberger Killed More People Than Inmates On Idaho's Death Row
Of the nine inmates currently on Idaho's Death Row, the closest to Kohberger's kill count is Robin Row, a woman who killed her husband and two children by setting their home on fire.
A few others were sentenced for killing three people, while the rest were convicted of murdering one or two individuals.
This new revelation has left several infuriated, with many insisting that Kohberger should have been tried and given the death penalty for the murder of the four Idaho students.
One person on X said, "What kind of world do we live in that this guy is getting away with slaughtering those young kids? He needs to be tortured. No Question!"
Another commented, "He should have been tried and fried. This ugly bastard. Should have made him say why for the families."
Kohberger notably has never given a reason or motive behind his killings of the four students, even after pleading guilty on Wednesday.
The Prosecutors Explained Why They Agreed To A Plea Deal
Pursuing a conviction in court could have resulted in a guilty verdict, but it would likely have triggered years of costly and time-consuming appeals from Kohberger.
It also forces the victims' families to relive the deaths of their loved ones, an experience that can be profoundly traumatic.
These reasons were hinted at in a letter written by prosecutors to the victims' families.
"This resolution is our sincere attempt to seek justice for your family," they said, per ABC News.
"This agreement ensures that the defendant will be convicted, will spend the rest of his life in prison, and will not be able to put you and the other families through the uncertainty of decades of post-conviction appeals," they added.
"We hope that you may come to appreciate why we believe this resolution is in the best interest of justice."
Victims' Families Were Divided Over The Guilty Plea Deal
Some of the victims' families surprisingly supported the controversial plea deal offered to Kohberger.
"We support the plea agreement 100%. While we know there are some who do not support it, we ask that they respect our belief that this is the best outcome possible for the victims, their families, and the state of Idaho," said Leander James, a lawyer for the Mogens, per News Nation.
On the other hand, Steve Goncalves, father of Kaylee Goncalves and members of the Kernodle family, decried the agreement.
"Idaho has failed. They failed me. They failed my whole family," said Steve in an interview with NBC's "Today" show.
"It's my daughter. It's our children. How can you say it's just when you haven't even talked to us to see what justice looks like for us?" he added.
Crime Author Weighs In On Why Bryan Kohberger Took A Plea Deal
While Kohberger has yet to make a statement since the plea, a crime author and murder case expert has offered possible reasons why he agreed to the deal.
"He's taking control through this deal because he's still living, breathing, and talking. As long as he can talk, he's got some control," author Jeff Guinn told the New York Post.
The Waco author also claimed that Kohberger could potentially gain even more notoriety during his prison life.
"The plea gives him a further chance to exist in a way that will get more attention and make him seem [to himself] more superhuman … I doubt he's taking this plea to quietly disappear into the penal system," he added.
Guinn further pointed out that with no trial, Kohberger gets to keep "certain secrets" about the murders, adding that it gives him the "upper hand."
