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Bryan Kohberger Admits to Idaho Student Murders; Judge Accepts Kohberger Plea Deal in Idaho Student Murders Case. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired July 02, 2025 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[13:30:00]
JUDGE STEVEN HIPPLER, ADA COUNTY, IDAHO JUDICIAL COURT: You've heard the plea agreement that I talked about today. Do you agreement with that plea agreement?
BRYAN KOHBERGER, ACCUSED OF KILLING FOUR UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO STUDENT: Yes.
HIPPLER: And do you understand the nature of the charges that are -- that you've been charged with, that I understand you're going to plead guilty today to?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: As you in -- as I indicated, I'm not bound by the plea agreement, but the plea agreement is for the maximum on each count. Do you understand that I'm not bound by the plea agreement?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Has anyone promised you that I would be lenient or easy on you if you pled guilty?
KOHBERGER: No.
HIPPLER: Has anyone threatened you or anyone close to you to get you to plead guilty?
KOHBERGER: No.
HIPPLER: Has anyone other than the state's agreements with respect to the plea agreement, has anyone promised you anything in exchange for your plea agreement?
KOHBERGER: No.
HIPPLER: Has anyone told you to be untruthful in answering my questions today?
KOHBERGER: No.
HIPPLER: Has anyone offered you a reward of any kind other than the plea agreement, in order to get you to plead guilty today?
KOHBERGER: No.
HIPPLER: Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And counsel, obviously, there have been a number of motions filed to suppress evidence in this case. Other than those filed, are there any other motions that you felt were available with respect to Rule 12?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, your Honor.
HIPPLER: And Mr. Kohberger, you understand that by entering the guilty plea in this case, you would be giving up your right to appeal any decision this court made, as well as your sentence?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Have you had enough time to decide whether or not to plead guilty?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Are you pleading guilty freely and voluntarily?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Given your choices, do you believe it's in your best interest to plead guilty?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Have you discussed fully the matter of pleading with your -- pleading guilty with your attorney? And are you satisfied with the advice you've received?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Has your attorney advised you to your satisfaction about what your rights are, what your defenses may be, and what the possible consequences to you of your guilty plea are?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Has your attorney done everything you've asked them to do?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Are you satisfied with the representation of you?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: I have received a written guilty plea advisory questionnaire that is purported to be filled out by you. Did you fill that document out?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Did you understand the questions that you answered in this document?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And are the answers that are outlined in this document your answers?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Are those answers truthful?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Did you sign the document?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And this document outlines many of the rights that you have in this case, should you not plead guilty? Did you understand those rights?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: They include a right to a jury trial. Do you understand that?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: They include a right to the presumption of innocence. Do you understand that?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: You have the right to require the state to prove your guilt, as to each element beyond a reasonable doubt. Do you understand that?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: They include a right to confront your accusers and cross- examine witnesses presented by the state, including by utilizing the subpoena power of the court to accomplish that. Do you understand that?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: You understand you would have a privilege against self- incrimination and a right to remain silent, meaning you would not be compelled to testify if you did not wish to, had you not pled guilty?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: You understand you're giving up that privilege and those rights that I've just outlined by pleading guilty?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: All right. I want you to understand what the state would've had to have proven, at trial, had you -- as to the crimes that you're pleading guilty to, had you -- if you didn't plead guilty, let me find the document. Hang on a second here. All right.
[13:35:00]
So as to count one burglary, the state would have to have proven that on or about November 13, 2022 in Latah County, Idaho, you unlawfully entered a residence located at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, with the intent to commit the felony crime of murder.
As to count two, the state would've had to have proven that on or about that same date in Latah County, Idaho, you did willfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and malice of forethought, kill and murder Madison Mogen, a human being by stabbing Madison Mogen from which she died.
As to count three, the state would've had to have proven that on that same date in Latah County at that same address, you did willfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and malice of forethought, kill and murder Kaylee Goncalves, a human being by stabbing her, from which she died.
As to count four, the state would've had to have proven, that on or about that same date in Latah County, Idaho, you did willfully, unlawfully deliberately, with premeditation and malice of forethought, kill and murder Xana Kernodle, the human being by stabbing her from which she died.
And then is to count five, also murder in the first degree, that on or about November 13, 2022, in Latah County, Idaho, you did willfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and malice of forethought, kill and murder Ethan Chapin, a human, being by stabbing him from which he died. Do you understand those things the state would've had to have proven?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And do you understand that by pleading guilty, the state no longer has to prove those things because you're admitting those things are true?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: I want to also make, for the record, the defendant has provided with the guilty plea advisory form, a document entitled "Written Factual Basis," that purports to have the defendant's signature dated July 1, 2025. Did you sign that document?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And did you agree with the written factual basis that is included there?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And then, let me ask you, did you, on November 13, 2022, enter the residence at 11 2 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, with the intent to commit the felony crime of murder?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Did you on November 13, 2022, in Latah County, State of Idaho, kill and murder Madison Mogen, a human being?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And did you do that willfully, unlawfully, deliberately, and with premeditation and malice of forethought?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Did you honor or about that same date in Moscow, Idaho, kill and murder Kaylee Goncalves, a human being?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And did you do that willfully, unlawfully, deliberately, and with premeditation and malice of forethought?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And did you on that same date in Moscow, Idaho, kill and murder Xana Kernodle, a human being?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And did you do that willfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and malice of forethought?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: And then, on or about November 13th, 2022, again in Latah County, Idaho, did you kill and murder Ethan Chapin, a human being?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: Did you do that willfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and malice of forethought?
KOHBERGER: Yes.
HIPPLER: I would ask the state at this time to provide its recitation of its factual basis, had this case gone to trial?
BILL THOMPSON, LATAH COUNTY, IDAHO PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: Thank you, your Honor. Your Honor, the organization of the recitation is different than what I think the court and the public may be familiar with from the probable cause affidavit and other documents. The state's evidence as an overview would show that back in March of 2022, when the defendant was residing at his parents' residence or was residing back in Pennsylvania, in his home state, he purchased online a Ka-Bar knife and sheath with an Amazon gift card that he had purchased shortly prior to the purchase of the knife, sheath, and sharpener.
Jumping ahead, at the end of June of that year, the defendant, Mr. Kohberger, moved from Pennsylvania to Pullman, Washington, which is right across the state line from Moscow, Idaho, for the purpose of pursuing a PhD in Criminal Justice at Washington State University.
[13:40:00]
The state's evidence would indicate that beginning July 9, 2020, Mr. Kohberger's phone began connecting to a cell tower that serves the area of the 1122 King Road residence in Moscow, Idaho. Now, I will acknowledge for the court and all present that there are many residences in that area. It's a dense population of mostly college- related occupants. Between July 9, 2022 and November 7, the defendant's phone connected to that particular tower during late night, early morning hours, 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. on approximately 23 times.
Now, I will acknowledge also, we do not have evidence that the defendant had direct contact with 1122 or with residence of 1122, but we can put his phone in that area on those times. In the interim, on August 22, 2022, Latah County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Duke conducted a traffic stop in the early morning hour or late evening hours, about 11:00 p.m. on the west side of Moscow, on the Moscow Pullman Road. This was the traffic stop of Mr. Kohberger's car, which turned out to be a 2015 White Hyundai Elantra with Pennsylvania plates.
During the course of the traffic stop, Deputy Duke was able to obtain Mr. Kohberger's name, Bryan Kohberger, his phone number, and his address, which at that point was an apartment address in Pullman. We then move to the early morning hours of November 13, 2022. The state's evidence would show that early morning hours on that day, Mr. Kohberger's phone left his Pullman residence, which is an apartment in kind of the North -- Central Northwest part of Pullman.
That phone was then subsequently turned off at approximately 2:54 a.m. and remained off until approximately 4:48 a.m. on Sunday, the 13th of November. The state's evidence includes, or would include a trial a video surveillance of a business on the Moscow Pullman Highway, just across the state line from Moscow that would show a vehicle matching the description of the defendant's Hyundai Elantra entering Moscow at approximately 3:02 a.m.
Compiled surveillance that the investigators put together from businesses and residence then show the defendant's car, the white Elantra, as I've described, circling the 1122 King Road area, that neighborhood, starting around 3:30 or so in the morning. Comes into the immediate area of 1122 King Road, which is actually on a dead end, and then leaves several times.
And approximately 4:05 that morning, the defendant's car had entered that area, was leaving, stopped at the intersection of King and Queen Road, did a U-turn, and the state's evidence would show that defendant's car came back and parked behind and above the 1122 King Road residence.
The state believes that its evidence would then show that the defendant entered the residence of 1122 through the kitchen sliding door on the backside of the residence, which is the side of the residence that would face the area above, where the defendant's car was parked. Defendant entered the residence, went to the third floor, and with a knife killed Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.
The defendant as he left that room, for whatever reason, ended up leaving or the sheath for a Ka-Bar knife was left on the bed next to Madison Mogen's body. And I can jump ahead. That sheath was tested by the Idaho State Police Forensic Lab and single source male DNA was found on the snap of that sheath, as well as blood from both Kaylee and Madison and other trace evidence. But it's important to note, single source male DNA was on the snap of that sheath.
The state's evidence would show that Xana Kernodle was still awake at this time. In fact, had taken a DoorDash order not long before this started. Her room was not on the third floor, it was on the second floor on the west side. As the defendant was either coming down the stairs or leaving, he encountered Xana and he ended up killing her also with a large knife.
[13:45:00]
Ethan Chapin, Xana's boyfriend was asleep in their bedroom, in her bedroom, and the defendant killed him as well with a large fixed-blade knife. Each victim suffered multiple wounds. I will state for the record that there is no evidence there was any sexual component or sexual assault on any of the victims. I want to make that clear. So there's no speculation.
There were two other roommates in the house and they were already asleep. During the course of this, one of those roommates wrote awoke, looked out her door not knowing what was going on, and saw the defendant who was dressed in black with a black belt and cob on, holding some sort of container in his hand. And she saw him leave the house through the direction of the kitchen where that sliding door is, that I mentioned before.
At approximately 04:20 that morning, so this would've been 15 minutes or so later, defendant's car is seen on a surveillance camera for 1112 King Road, which is immediately next door to the west of 1122, leaving the area at a high rate of speed. And if the court were to see that, or anybody in this courtroom would've see that, you can see the court -- the car almost loses control as it makes the corner, heads north, and then turns to go south on Linta (ph), which is one of the only ways to get out of that part of town.
The evidence would show that following that, the defendant in his Elantra drove south of Moscow. We know that he drove on the back roads because there are surveillance cameras on the main highways, Highway 95, that would've picked up the defendant's car if he'd gone that route. And they did not show the defendant's car on that route during the time. So, we know that he went through a variety of back roads and very rural isolated part of Latah County. About 04:48 that morning, the defendant's phone comes back on and the evidence will show that that phone was located south of Moscow, likely at a side road intersection with Highway 95. From there, the defendant's phone activity tracks heading back north towards Pullman, Washington where the defendant lived. About 05:26, starting approximately 05:26, various surveillance cameras in Pullman, Washington pick up the defendant's vehicle as he enters Pullman from the south and heads North and slightly west towards his apartment where he arrived at approximately 05:30 in the morning.
Later that morning, still this Sunday, the 13th of November of 2022, Mr. Kohberger's phone returned to the area of King Road. We don't know exactly what he did, but it returned to that area. It's about nine o'clock in the morning, was there for about 10 minutes and then returned to his Pullman residence. About 09:30, that state's evidence will show evidence taken from the defendant's phone, that he took a selfie of himself on his phone in what appears to be the bathroom of his Pullman apartment with a thumbs up.
The defendant's phone then went to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, approximately 30 miles south of Moscow and Pullman, and the defendant is actually seen with his car at various businesses down there. This area is the confluence of the Clearwater River and the Snake River. Lewiston is Idaho's seaport, large bodies of moving water down there.
In addition to tracing the defendant's activities, as I've just outlined, on the 13th and leading up to the 13th, the state's evidence will show that following Sunday, November 13, 2022, business records show that the defendant began searching for a Ka-Bar knife and Ka-Bar knife sheath, as the state believes to replace the one that was left at the scene of the murders. The evidence also will suggest that there were at least attempts by the defendant to delete or alter his purchase history on Amazon where all these transactions had occurred.
Later that week, the state's evidence will show that Mr. Kohberger went to what we would call DMV motor vehicle licensing here in Idaho in Pullman to change his car registration from Pennsylvania to Washington. That's of note because Pennsylvania cars do not require a front license plate. The vehicle seen on the surveillance cameras of defendant's car showed it didn't have a front license plate on it.
[13:50:00]
At the time of the traffic stop by Deputy Duke in August, it was Pennsylvania plate, no front license plate. Mr. Kohberger proceeded to finish his semester of studies at Washington State University and returned to Pennsylvania for the holidays. Law enforcement, at this point, were aware of Mr. Kohberger, had been accessing information about him, were trying to find him. They located him in Pennsylvania and they conducted what's called a trash pull during the nighttime hours, agents of the FBI who assisted immensely with this case.
Working with the sanitation department back in this neighborhood in Pennsylvania, took trash that had been set out on the street for collection, sent the contents of that from the Pennsylvania residence of the defendant's parents to the Idaho State Forensic Laboratory, where the lab experts there were able to identify DNA on a Q-tip as coming from the father of the person whose DNA was found on the knife sheath that was next to Madison Mogen's body in the bed.
Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued here in Idaho, and a search warrant was issued in the state of Pennsylvania with the assistance not only of the FBI, but the Pennsylvania State Police. Mr. Kohberger was arrested at his parents' home to return to Idaho. Upon his return to Idaho, a DNA sample was taken from him and it matched the DNA found on the knife sheath next to Maddie's body at the crime scene.
I can tell the court, public, the weapon itself, the knife has not yet been recovered. I can tell the court that the defendant's apartment in Pullman was searched as well as his office. Spartan would be a kind characterization. There was virtually nothing there. Nothing of evidentiary value was found. And of course, we are now talking six, eight weeks after the time of the killings.
In Pennsylvania, the defendant's car was seized and it was actually pretty much disassembled internally, and it also had been cleaned. There was a bucket of cleaner right beside it. I think we can all look to our own cars, you know, when those compartments in the doors, we try to keep them clean where you put stuff. There's always some degree of crud in there. It was spotless.
The defendant's car had been meticulously cleaned inside, and the state would present to the jury that that was part of the defendant's plan in covering up this. The defendant has studied crime. In fact, he did a detailed paper on crime scene processing when he was working on his pre-doctorate degrees, and he had that knowledge and skill. So your Honor, at the end, the state submits that the evidence that I've given just quick overview of, and that to present in court would consume weeks, which the state is prepared to do and has been prepared to do, would show that as the defendant has just admitted and pleaded guilty, on November 13th, 2022, Mr. Kohberger entered the residence at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho.
He did that with the intent to kill. We will not represent that he intended to commit all of the murders that he did that night, but we know that that is what resulted, and that he then killed intentionally, willfully, deliberately, with premeditation and with malice and forethought, Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle. Thank you.
HIPPLER: Thank you. All right. based on the state's proffer and importantly, based upon defendant's explicit admission to committing these crimes, the court finds there is a factual basis. Therefore, with respect to count one, burglary, felony, how do you plead Mr. Kohlberg? Guilty or not guilty?
KOHBERGER: Guilty.
HIPPLER: As to count two, murder in the first degree as it relates to the murder of Madison Mogen. How do you plead? Guilty or not guilty?
KOHBERGER: Guilty. HIPPLER: As to count three, as it relates to murder in the first degree for the murder of Kaylee Goncalves, how do you plead? Guilty or not guilty?
KOHBERGER: Guilty.
HIPPLER: As to count four, the first degree murder of Xana Kernodle, a human being, how do you plead? Guilty or not guilty?
KOHBERGER: Guilty.
HIPPLER: As to count five, the first degree murder of Ethan Chapin, a human being, how do you plead? Guilty or not guilty?
KOHBERGER: Guilty.
HIPPLER: All right.
[13:55:00]
The court will find that the defendant understands the nature of the charges and each offense, and the possible consequences to him of his guilty plea. The court finds that there is a factual basis for the plea, and that finds the defendant believes the plea to be in his best interest. I find that the plea was given freely, voluntarily, and was intelligently made. I accept the plea.
I direct that it be entered. I'll continue the matter for sentencing in this case. I think it was mentioned on the call Monday afternoon, the defense wishes to waive a pre-trial investigation. Is that accurate?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, your Honor.
KOHBERGER: Defendant -- state also?
THOMPSON: Yes, your Honor, the state does not believe precinct's investigation is needed given the evidence that is available. We want to though make sure that all of the victims have the opportunity to make statements at the court in sentencing.
HIPPLER: Absolutely. And certainly, both the state and the defense may present whatever sentencing memorandum and other documents you wish me to consider. The victims will be given an opportunity to provide the statements that they wish to at sentencing. Do we need more than one full day for sentencing?
THOMPSON: I do not believe so, your Honor. Obviously, we have numerous victims and we have victims who share unique -- who share unique perspectives on this. And we want to make sure that they all have time to express their feelings to the court. But I believe that if we can start perhaps 08:30 or so in the morning, that we should be able to complete it all in one day.
HIPPLER: Defense, agree with that in terms of timeframe? BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": And with that, Bryan Kohberger is spared the death penalty as he pleads guilty for the murders of Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in Idaho, four University of Idaho students, in murders that have captured the attention of the entire country and beyond because of the brutality and the senselessness of them.
But hearing there the prosecutor, Bill Thompson, who at times got choked up as he was explaining the evidence, which was overwhelming really, that they had against Bryan Kohberger from DNA and timing of just where his car was, it would've been incredibly hard for him to explain away.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Yeah. Really stunning moments there. Also notable that the judge earlier, before he got to asking Kohberger specific questions about what took place, he acknowledged that some of the families of the victims were not pleased with this outcome. Specifically, the family of Kaylee Goncalves, how has come out and said that this was a slap in the face, of the judge saying that the court is not supposed to ever take into account public sentiment in making an opinion regarding its judicial decisions.
They will get a chance to be heard, at least that was the impression we got from the closing moments there of this plea deal hearing. We will of course keep monitoring what we hear from those family members. But a major moment in Boise, Idaho, Bryan Kohberger accepting this plea deal. The judge putting a stamp on it. He will spend the rest of his life behind bars. We're going to keep monitoring this story and many others. Stay with CNN. We'll be right back.
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