Family of Victim in Bryan Kohberger Case Condemns Last-Minute Plea Deal
The family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the victims of Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of the brutal murders of four Idaho students in a 2022 home invasion, has expressed deep frustration and shock over the recent plea deal that spared Kohberger from the death penalty. The family, particularly Goncalves’ sister Aubrie, said they were left scrambling after Kohberger accepted the deal, which they believe has been both shocking and cruel. They described their reaction to the plea deal as entering ‘panic mode,’ as they immediately began making phone calls and sending emails to address the situation. This was a significant change from their earlier stance, which had been a hard ‘no’ to the possibility of a plea deal.
Aubrie emphasized that the plea deal has led to significant delays in the justice process for the victims’ families, who have already endured immense grief and pain. She stated that the justice system has not provided enough processing time for the families and has placed heavy burdens on them. The family has been through numerous delays and relocations of the trial process, which has made it more difficult for loved ones to attend the proceedings. She argued that the legal system has failed these four innocent victims and their families, and that the families have struggled to come to terms with the idea of a life sentence for Kohberger instead of the death penalty.
She also criticized the system for being so focused on protecting Kohberger’s future that it seems to ignore the victims’ past and their need for justice. Aubrie stressed that the victims were real people with lives and dreams, and they deserve to be remembered for who they were, not just for their deaths. She added that the families continue to hold on to hope, but they feel that the system has not honored the victims’ memory or provided adequate support. The plea deal, she said, feels more like an afterthought than an act of justice.
In addition to expressing their frustration, the family highlighted the emotional toll of the process, particularly on Aubrie, who was unable to attend the family’s meeting with prosecutors to make her case. She said that the system has left her and other family members feeling blindsided, unheard, and unsupported. The family has also expressed their belief that the justice system was created to serve and protect, not to retraumatize grieving families. They are asking for accountability, dignity for their loved ones, and for the justice system to live up to its name.
The family’s frustration is also underscored by the fact that they had vague discussions with prosecutors about the possibility of a plea deal but were unprepared for the next steps. They received an email on Sunday night that sent them into a state of panic, and they have been actively seeking ways to address the situation. The family met with the prosecution again on Monday to reiterate their support for Kohberger receiving the death penalty, but they said their efforts did not make a difference in the final outcome.