LEILA FADEL, HOST:
In a hastily scheduled hearing yesterday, a former criminology graduate student pleaded guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students. Lauren Paterson with Northwest Public Broadcasting was in the courtroom.
LAUREN PATERSON, BYLINE: In the early morning hours of November 13, three years ago, four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death by someone who broke into an off-campus house. The crime shocked the small, normally quiet college town of Moscow, Idaho, as police gathered evidence and hunted for a suspect. More than a month later, they arrested 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger in Pennsylvania at his parents' home. Kohberger maintained his innocence, claiming he was out for a drive at the time of the murders. Prosecutors said they found DNA evidence on a knife sheath tying him to the scene.
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STEVEN HIPPLER: We are here today to entertain a change of plea.
PATERSON: Yesterday, the families of the victims, reporters and police packed a courtroom for a hearing that was scheduled just one day before. Judge Steven Hippler addressed Kohberger.
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HIPPLER: Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?
BRYAN KOHBERGER: Yes.
PATERSON: Kohberger admitted to killing all four students who were 20 and 21 years old. In order to avoid a potential death sentence, he accepted a plea of consecutive life terms for the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, waiving his right to appeal. The reactions of the victims' families to the deal prosecutors offered were mixed.
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STEVE GONCALVES: He didn't give us the common courtesy to negotiate with us.
PATERSON: Steve Goncalves, father of Kaylee Goncalves, was upset Prosecutor Bill Thompson did not involve his family in the decision.
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GONCALVES: He only negotiated with the murderer of our children. That was the only person that he negotiated.
PATERSON: But family members of students Mogen and Chapin said Tuesday that they support the plea deal. Bryan Kohberger, now 30, is being held in the Ada County, Idaho, jail. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 23.
For NPR News, I'm Lauren Paterson in Boise.
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