Idaho Victim's Dad Shares New Information About Bryan Kohberger's Alleged 'Motive' Ahead Of Sentencing
By Favour Adegoke on July 22, 2025 at 8:45 PM EDT
Updated on July 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM EDT
Ahead of Bryan Kohberger's sentencing for the murders of four Idaho students, one of the victims' fathers has claimed that the former Ph.D. student was motivated by pornographic fetishes to commit the crimes.
Steve Goncalves alleged that insiders close to the case confirmed this theory, and he later suggested that the 30-year-old murderer may have tried to reenact one of these fetishes on his daughter, Kaylee Goncalves.
Bryan Kohberger is expected to be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences on July 23, after which he will be transferred to the Idaho Maximum Security Institution (IMSI) to begin serving his time.
Steve Goncalves Claims He Was Told The Murders Were 'Sexually Motivated'
In the wake of Kohberger's shocking decision to accept a plea deal from federal prosecutors in his quadruple-murder trial, one of the victims' fathers, Steve Goncalves, has been among the most outspoken critics of the agreement.
In a new interview, Steve has now claimed there was a sexual element to the murders, contrary to what authorities have stated.
He revealed that, because authorities dismissed this possibility during the trial, several individuals close to the case informed him about the pornography found on Kohberger's devices, out of frustration with how the prosecutors were handling the matter.
"This was sexually motivated," Goncalves told NewsNation's Ashleigh Banfield about what these insiders often said, adding that really "weird porn" fetishes were found in Kohberger's phone.
He went on to say that "two of the fetishes" were present in the room where the former Idaho Ph.D. student fatally stabbed Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Ethan Chapin, 20, in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 12, 2022.
The Grieving Father Believes Kohberger Tried To Reenact A Porn Fetish On His Daughter
Speaking further about the alleged fetishes, Steve revealed that they found porn about "Drunk passed out girls and gagging girls."
He then hinted that his daughter, Kaylee, might have been one of the victims on whom Kohberger attempted to reenact this fetish, referencing remarks he claimed the coroner shared about the case.
"There was some damage around her mouth. Somebody had pressed in and tried to keep her quiet," Steve told Banfield.
Doubling down on his belief that there was a sexual element to the case, Steve criticized Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson's claim that there was no evidence to support such a theory.
"I don't care about what [prosecutor] Bill Thompson said," the grieving father said. "We want to get all of these facts straight."
He also suggested that the only reason an actual sexual assault didn't occur was that Kohberger was interrupted before he could carry out the act.
Bryan Kohberger Will Be Sentenced On July 23
On Wednesday, Kohberger will receive the sentence agreed upon in his plea deal with federal prosecutors.
The sentence includes four consecutive life terms for the murders of the Idaho students, along with additional years for burglary in connection with the killings.
The sentencing hearing is expected to begin around 9 a.m. local time and could last the entire day or be extended into a second day, depending on whether all necessary proceedings are completed.
During the hearing, family members of the victims will have the opportunity to give impact statements. However, Kaylee's father had previously hinted that he might not participate.
Kohberger will also be allowed to make a statement if he chooses to do so, although this is not a compulsory requirement in the proceedings. If such a scenario happens, he won't be compelled to disclose his motive behind the murders, as his plea agreement has no such conditions.
Where Will Bryan Kohberger Serve His Sentence?
Currently, Kohberger is being detained at the maximum security section of Ada County Jail.
Once he is sentenced, Kohberger is expected to be moved to the Idaho Maximum Security Institution (IMSI) to begin serving his sentence, according to the New York Post.
The prison is considered one of the harshest in America and currently houses Chad Daybell, the convicted child murderer and husband of "Doomsday" cult mom Lori Vallow.
It is also home to serial killer Thomas Eugene Creech, who was convicted of five murders but is believed to have committed over three dozen prior to his being captured.
The Prison's HVAC System Was Slammed As A 'Biohazard'
Due to the prison's harrowing conditions, inmates reportedly went on a hunger strike last year.
They protested the state of their "cages," prolonged isolation, serious delays in medical care, and a filthy HVAC system they described as a "biohazard."
Despite these conditions, the prison Kohberger is set to be sent to remains highly secure, as it is remote and surrounded by a double perimeter fence topped with razor wire.
It is also equipped with an electronic detection system and monitored by 24-hour armed patrols.
