Bryan Kohberger will face victims' families at lengthy sentencing hearing. When is it?
Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. Here's what to expect at his sentencing hearing on July 23.
An Idaho judge has set aside a full day for the sentencing hearing of Bryan Kohberger, who is expected to serve life in prison for the murders of four University of Idaho students.
Kohberger, 30, pleaded guilty July 2 to the murders of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, as part of an agreement to avoid the death penalty. All were found stabbed to death in a rental house near the University of Idaho campus on Nov. 13, 2022, murders that rocked the quiet college town of Moscow and set off a weekslong manhunt.
Kohberger, who was studying criminal justice at nearby Washington State University at the time, was arrested in Pennsylvania, where his family lives.
Here's what to expect at his sentencing hearing July 23:
What will happen at Bryan Kohberger's sentencing?
Kohberger will be handed four consecutive life sentences for the murders, plus 10 years for burglary, according to his plea deal.
Family members of the victims, some of whom have been deeply divided over the deal, will be allowed to make statements about the impact of his crimes before his sentence is handed down. Kohberger will be allowed to make a statement, too, but he is not required to do so.
When is Bryan Kohberger's sentencing?
Kohberger's sentencing hearing will begin at 9 a.m. local time. The hearing "is expected to last the day," with multiple breaks scheduled throughout, the court said.
Judge Steven Hippler said the hearing may stretch into a second day if needed to give victims' families time to make their statements.
Will Bryan Kohberger's sentencing hearing be livestreamed?
The public will be able to watch Kohberger's sentencing in person at the Ada County Courthouse and via livestream, according to the court's website.
What's next for Bryan Kohberger?
Kohberger waived his right to appeal as part of his plea agreement, but Hippler said he still has the right to do so, citing the U.S. Supreme Court case Garza v. Idaho.
"The right to appeal does not go away because of the waiver," Hippler said.
Kohberger is being held at the Ada County Jail, and it was not clear where he will serve his sentences. Once Kohberger is transferred into the custody of the Idaho Department of Correction, he will go through an evaluation process to determine where he should be housed, which could take up to two weeks, according to spokesperson Sanda Kuzeta-Cerimagic.
Will the public ever learn Bryan Kohberger's motive?
Kohberger's plea agreement does not require him to explain his motive. His attorney, Anne Taylor, said in a statement to Paste BN that his defense team will not make any comments or provide any information, even after the sentencing.
But Hippler recently lifted a long-standing gag order, paving the way for prosecutors, police and others connected to the case to speak out. Hippler also said he plans to review sealed documents in the high-profile case to determine whether they should be made public.
Moscow Police Chief Anthony Dahlinger told ABC News his department also plans to release more information about the case. But when asked if investigators were able to determine a clear motive, he said he couldn't answer.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Christopher Cann and Michael Loria