July 26, 2025 • 13 mins
Reid Carter closes the book on the Idaho student murders as Bryan Kohberger receives four life sentences and families finally confront the monster who destroyed their children. From devastating victim impact statements to the judge's emotional rebuke, discover why Kohberger stayed silent and what the newly released police reports reveal about his calculated cruelty. Plus, this week's other verdicts and the cases keeping America's courtrooms busy. When evil has no explanation, justice must speak for itself. Justice isn't always satisfying, but it's absolutely riveting.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Callaroga Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Read Carter, and welcome
to Celebrity Trials on this Saturday, July twenty sixth. This week,
we witnessed the end of one of the most horrific
criminal cases in recent memory. After nine hundred and sixty
(00:24):
two days of legal proceedings, appeals, and finally a guilty plea,
Brian Coberger was sentenced to four life sentences for the
brutal murders of four University of Idaho students. But even
in defeat, this monster refused to give the families the
one thing they desperately wanted, answers. We just finished our
five part zombie Murder series, but today we're closing the
(00:46):
book on the Idaho case and catching up on the
week's other major trials. Because while Coburger finally faced justice,
America's courtrooms never stopped delivering verdicts that shape our understanding
of crime, punishment, and human nature. Wednesday, July twenty third,
twenty twenty five, after nearly three years of waiting, the
(01:09):
families of Kailee Gonkalv's, Madison, Mogen, Zana Kernodle, and Ethan
Chapin finally had their moment to confront the man who
destroyed their lives. Judge Stephen Hipler sentenced Brian Coburger to
life in prison without parole for murdering the four University
of Idaho students in twenty twenty two. But this wasn't
(01:30):
just about legal formalities. This was about families finding their
voices after years of enforced silence. The most powerful moments
came during victim impact statements, when the people Coburger had
tried to silence forever finally got to speak directly to him.
Steve Gonkalves, the father of Kailee Goncalves, turned the podium
(01:51):
to address Coburger directly. Coburger continued to not react, though
he made eye contact with Steve Goncalves as he spoke, today,
we're here to finish what you started, Steve Goncalves said.
He called Coburger a complete joke and said the families
of the victims took this disaster and kept it focused
(02:12):
on their loved ones. All anyone talked about when they
talked about this case was Kaylee, Jade, Maddie, may Zana,
and Ethan, Steve Goncalves said, but it was Eliva Gonkalve's
Kaylee's older sister who delivered perhaps the most devastating rebuke.
She spoke directly to Coburger, and he maintained eye contact
with her as she called him a sociopath. No one
(02:34):
is scared of you today, No one is impressed by you.
No one thinks you're important, Alavea Gonkalvez said. The courtroom
erupted in applause after she finished speaking, a rare moment
of emotion in formal legal proceedings. Dylan Mortenson, one of
the surviving roommates, spoke with tears about the trauma that
(02:54):
has consumed her life since that November night. She described
the anxiety, the fear, and the guilt of surviving when
her friends didn't. Scott Laramie Madison, Mogan's stepfather, remembered his
stepdaughter as someone who always brought us joy and who
prioritized spending time with her family before she was taken
(03:15):
senselessly and brutally in a sudden act of evil. This
world was a better place with her in it, Laramie said.
The Kernodle family spoke about Zana's infectious personality. Jasmine Kernodle,
her older sister, remembered her as kind, funny and said
she was everyone's best friend. Each family painted a picture
(03:38):
of young people with unlimited potential, students, athletes, friends, children
who were loved deeply and whose futures were stolen by
a calculating killer. Judge Stephen Hipler delivered what can only
be described as a sweeping rebuke of Brian Koburger while
formally sentencing him. He praised the courage of the servi
(04:00):
viving roommates and the dignity shown by the victim's families.
They are and should be known as survivors, fighters, and
foremost as witnesses to the tremendous lives of value and
unbounded promise of these four young people, Hippler said. But
the judge's most powerful moment came when he addressed the
fundamental question that has haunted this case. Why truth be told.
(04:24):
I'm unable to come up with anything redeeming about mister Coburger,
Judge Hipler said. He acknowledged that Coburger's motive for the
slayings remains unknown, but warned against giving the convicted killer
more power by endlessly seeking an explanation. This was a
judge who had clearly been moved by what he'd witnessed,
not just the crime, but the impact on the families
(04:46):
and community. Throughout the entire proceeding, Coburger maintained the same flat,
emotionless demeanor that had characterized his court appearances for nearly
three years. When given the opportunity to speak his sentencing hearing,
his response was telling, I respectfully decline, Coburger said, think
(05:06):
about that after nine hundred sixty two days of legal proceedings,
after listening to families described their anguish, after hearing himself
called a sociopath and a monster, Coburger had nothing to say.
No apology, no explanation, no remorse. The defense has attributed
(05:26):
Coburger's flat affect to autism spectrum disorder. But this wasn't
about social communication difficulties. This was about a complete absence
of empathy or accountability. Even in defeat, Coburger maintained control
over the one thing he could still control, the family's
desperate need for answers. Hours after the sentencing, Moscow police
(05:50):
released hundreds of pages of documents that had been sealed
during the investigation and trial proceedings. What emerged was a
picture of calculated brutality that somehow men to be even
worse than we imagined. Police reports revealed how gruesome the
crime scene was. Some of the victims were bathed in
so much blood that officers at first could not sort
(06:11):
out what additional injuries there might be, and their faces
were so badly damaged they were unrecognizable, according to the
police report. The documents also revealed disturbing details about Coburger's
behavior in the weeks before and after the murders. A
fellow teaching assistant at Washington State University told investigators that
Coburger was very intelligent, but also selfish and would mislead
(06:35):
colleagues about shared work. Most chilling were the observations about injuries.
The student told investigators about some injuries he witnessed on
Coburger's face and hands in October and November twenty twenty two,
around the time of the murders. One was a large
scratch on Coburger's face, which the student described as looking
(06:56):
like the scratches from fingernails. When asked about the injuries,
Coburger claimed he had been in a car accident. We
now know those were likely defensive wounds from his victims
fighting for their lives back in a moment. Despite nearly
(07:22):
two years of investigation, including extensive forensic and digital analysis,
authorities said they are still unable to explain why Coburger
carried out the November twenty twenty two attack. We don't
was the immediate response when investigators were asked directly during
Wednesday's press conference whether they had uncovered a clear motive.
Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson said there was no
(07:45):
evidence Coburger had a background of violence or a criminal
history before he decided to murder the students. Asked if
there was evidence that Brian Coburger was following the victim's
social media, police said, we've looked for a link, and
we have not found one. This remains one of the
most baffling aspects of the case. Coburger was a criminology
(08:07):
PhD student who understood forensic evidence and criminal behavior. He
planned this attack meticulously, stalking the house multiple times, but
there's no apparent connection to the victims. Was this a
random act of violence, Was it sexually motivated? Was it
some kind of criminal experiment by someone studying criminal behavior?
(08:27):
We may never know. Former Moscow Police Chief James Frye
said new information could come out still and noted that
there's always cases that you know ten years later somebody
says something. But for now, the families must live with
the reality that their children were killed for reasons they
may never understand. Here's what we know about Brian Koeberger's
(08:50):
life sentence. He'll serve four consecutive life terms plus ten
years for burglary. There's no possibility of parole. He'll likely
spend the rest of his life in solitary confinement at
the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. Correction officials will first evaluate
Coburger's mental and physical health to determine his housing arrangements
(09:11):
and the extent of contact with other inmates. I would
expect him to be in solitary confinement for the rest
of his life, said David Leroy, Idaho's former Attorney General.
Coburger waived his right to appeal as part of his
plea agreement, which means this case is truly over. There
will be no decades of appeals, no retrials, no more
(09:34):
legal proceedings that would force these families to relive their trauma.
At age thirty, Coburger will likely die in prison. That's
appropriate justice for someone who stole four young lives with
unlimited potential. While the Coburger sentencing dominated headlines, American courtrooms
(09:54):
continued delivering justice in other cases. This week. James Craig,
the Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his wife with a
potassium cyanide protein shake, saw his affair partner testify against him.
Doctor Karen Kane testified that police knocked on her hotel
room door to let her know Craig had been arrested
while she was in town for their affair. In Florida,
Shelby Neely was sentenced for what prosecutors called an in
(10:17):
law massacre. Neelie told detectives that after strangling his victim,
he hit her in the head with a hammer to
make sure she was dead. Brett Hankison, the former Louisville
police officer, was sentenced to nearly three years in federal
prison for using excessive force during the twenty twenty Brionna
Taylor raid. It's a fraction of what many believed he deserved,
(10:39):
but its accountability nonetheless. In California, Stephan Stearns avoided the
death penalty with a last minute plea deal in the
murder of thirteen year old Madeline Soto. Stearns pleaded no
contest to murder and guilty to twenty sex crimes where
Soto was the victim. The Coburger case represents everything we
(10:59):
f about modern criminal behavior. Calculated violence without apparent motive,
committed by someone who should have known better. This wasn't
a crime of passion. This wasn't domestic violence that escalated.
This wasn't robbery gone wrong. This was systematic stalking followed
by brutal execution of four innocent people who were simply
(11:22):
living their lives. What makes it even more disturbing is
Coburger's background. He was a criminology PhD student studying criminal
behavior and decision making. He understood how investigations work, he
knew about forensic evidence, yet he still made amateur mistakes
that led to his capture. The victim's families deserve credit
(11:43):
for their grace and dignity throughout this ordeal. They could
have become consumed by hatred and revenge. Instead, they focused
on celebrating their children's lives and ensuring Coburger faced justice.
Steve Gonkov's was right when he said all anyone talked
about when and they talked about this case was Kaylee, Jade, Mattie,
may Zana, and Ethan. Despite Coburger's attempt to make this
(12:07):
about him, the victims remain the center of the story.
The judge's decision to warn against giving Coburger more power
by endlessly seeking explanations was wise. Some people commit evil
acts for reasons will never understand. Our job isn't to
comprehend their motives. It's to ensure they can never hurt
anyone again. The Idaho's student murder's case is finally closed,
(12:29):
but its impact will last forever. Four young people with
unlimited potential were stolen from their families and friends. Two
survivors must live with trauma they never deserved. A community
lost its sense of safety, but justice was served. Brian
Coburger will spend the rest of his life in prison,
which is exactly where he belongs. The families can begin
(12:51):
to heal knowing their children's killer will never walk free.
Sometimes the most important thing about justice isn't the answers
it provides, but the fi finality it brings. These families
waited nine hundred and sixty two days for this moment.
Now they can focus on grieving, healing, and celebrating the
lives of four remarkable young people who deserved so much
(13:13):
more time. That's celebrity trials for today, I'm read Carter.
Remember some criminals never explain their evil, and that's okay.
What matters is that they're held accountable. Justice isn't always satisfying,
but it's absolutely riveting.
Callaroga Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Read Carter, and welcome
to Celebrity Trials on this Saturday, July twenty sixth. This week,
we witnessed the end of one of the most horrific
criminal cases in recent memory. After nine hundred and sixty
(00:24):
two days of legal proceedings, appeals, and finally a guilty plea,
Brian Coberger was sentenced to four life sentences for the
brutal murders of four University of Idaho students. But even
in defeat, this monster refused to give the families the
one thing they desperately wanted, answers. We just finished our
five part zombie Murder series, but today we're closing the
(00:46):
book on the Idaho case and catching up on the
week's other major trials. Because while Coburger finally faced justice,
America's courtrooms never stopped delivering verdicts that shape our understanding
of crime, punishment, and human nature. Wednesday, July twenty third,
twenty twenty five, after nearly three years of waiting, the
(01:09):
families of Kailee Gonkalv's, Madison, Mogen, Zana Kernodle, and Ethan
Chapin finally had their moment to confront the man who
destroyed their lives. Judge Stephen Hipler sentenced Brian Coburger to
life in prison without parole for murdering the four University
of Idaho students in twenty twenty two. But this wasn't
(01:30):
just about legal formalities. This was about families finding their
voices after years of enforced silence. The most powerful moments
came during victim impact statements, when the people Coburger had
tried to silence forever finally got to speak directly to him.
Steve Gonkalves, the father of Kailee Goncalves, turned the podium
(01:51):
to address Coburger directly. Coburger continued to not react, though
he made eye contact with Steve Goncalves as he spoke, today,
we're here to finish what you started, Steve Goncalves said.
He called Coburger a complete joke and said the families
of the victims took this disaster and kept it focused
(02:12):
on their loved ones. All anyone talked about when they
talked about this case was Kaylee, Jade, Maddie, may Zana,
and Ethan, Steve Goncalves said, but it was Eliva Gonkalve's
Kaylee's older sister who delivered perhaps the most devastating rebuke.
She spoke directly to Coburger, and he maintained eye contact
with her as she called him a sociopath. No one
(02:34):
is scared of you today, No one is impressed by you.
No one thinks you're important, Alavea Gonkalvez said. The courtroom
erupted in applause after she finished speaking, a rare moment
of emotion in formal legal proceedings. Dylan Mortenson, one of
the surviving roommates, spoke with tears about the trauma that
(02:54):
has consumed her life since that November night. She described
the anxiety, the fear, and the guilt of surviving when
her friends didn't. Scott Laramie Madison, Mogan's stepfather, remembered his
stepdaughter as someone who always brought us joy and who
prioritized spending time with her family before she was taken
(03:15):
senselessly and brutally in a sudden act of evil. This
world was a better place with her in it, Laramie said.
The Kernodle family spoke about Zana's infectious personality. Jasmine Kernodle,
her older sister, remembered her as kind, funny and said
she was everyone's best friend. Each family painted a picture
(03:38):
of young people with unlimited potential, students, athletes, friends, children
who were loved deeply and whose futures were stolen by
a calculating killer. Judge Stephen Hipler delivered what can only
be described as a sweeping rebuke of Brian Koburger while
formally sentencing him. He praised the courage of the servi
(04:00):
viving roommates and the dignity shown by the victim's families.
They are and should be known as survivors, fighters, and
foremost as witnesses to the tremendous lives of value and
unbounded promise of these four young people, Hippler said. But
the judge's most powerful moment came when he addressed the
fundamental question that has haunted this case. Why truth be told.
(04:24):
I'm unable to come up with anything redeeming about mister Coburger,
Judge Hipler said. He acknowledged that Coburger's motive for the
slayings remains unknown, but warned against giving the convicted killer
more power by endlessly seeking an explanation. This was a
judge who had clearly been moved by what he'd witnessed,
not just the crime, but the impact on the families
(04:46):
and community. Throughout the entire proceeding, Coburger maintained the same flat,
emotionless demeanor that had characterized his court appearances for nearly
three years. When given the opportunity to speak his sentencing hearing,
his response was telling, I respectfully decline, Coburger said, think
(05:06):
about that after nine hundred sixty two days of legal proceedings,
after listening to families described their anguish, after hearing himself
called a sociopath and a monster, Coburger had nothing to say.
No apology, no explanation, no remorse. The defense has attributed
(05:26):
Coburger's flat affect to autism spectrum disorder. But this wasn't
about social communication difficulties. This was about a complete absence
of empathy or accountability. Even in defeat, Coburger maintained control
over the one thing he could still control, the family's
desperate need for answers. Hours after the sentencing, Moscow police
(05:50):
released hundreds of pages of documents that had been sealed
during the investigation and trial proceedings. What emerged was a
picture of calculated brutality that somehow men to be even
worse than we imagined. Police reports revealed how gruesome the
crime scene was. Some of the victims were bathed in
so much blood that officers at first could not sort
(06:11):
out what additional injuries there might be, and their faces
were so badly damaged they were unrecognizable, according to the
police report. The documents also revealed disturbing details about Coburger's
behavior in the weeks before and after the murders. A
fellow teaching assistant at Washington State University told investigators that
Coburger was very intelligent, but also selfish and would mislead
(06:35):
colleagues about shared work. Most chilling were the observations about injuries.
The student told investigators about some injuries he witnessed on
Coburger's face and hands in October and November twenty twenty two,
around the time of the murders. One was a large
scratch on Coburger's face, which the student described as looking
(06:56):
like the scratches from fingernails. When asked about the injuries,
Coburger claimed he had been in a car accident. We
now know those were likely defensive wounds from his victims
fighting for their lives back in a moment. Despite nearly
(07:22):
two years of investigation, including extensive forensic and digital analysis,
authorities said they are still unable to explain why Coburger
carried out the November twenty twenty two attack. We don't
was the immediate response when investigators were asked directly during
Wednesday's press conference whether they had uncovered a clear motive.
Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson said there was no
(07:45):
evidence Coburger had a background of violence or a criminal
history before he decided to murder the students. Asked if
there was evidence that Brian Coburger was following the victim's
social media, police said, we've looked for a link, and
we have not found one. This remains one of the
most baffling aspects of the case. Coburger was a criminology
(08:07):
PhD student who understood forensic evidence and criminal behavior. He
planned this attack meticulously, stalking the house multiple times, but
there's no apparent connection to the victims. Was this a
random act of violence, Was it sexually motivated? Was it
some kind of criminal experiment by someone studying criminal behavior?
(08:27):
We may never know. Former Moscow Police Chief James Frye
said new information could come out still and noted that
there's always cases that you know ten years later somebody
says something. But for now, the families must live with
the reality that their children were killed for reasons they
may never understand. Here's what we know about Brian Koeberger's
(08:50):
life sentence. He'll serve four consecutive life terms plus ten
years for burglary. There's no possibility of parole. He'll likely
spend the rest of his life in solitary confinement at
the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. Correction officials will first evaluate
Coburger's mental and physical health to determine his housing arrangements
(09:11):
and the extent of contact with other inmates. I would
expect him to be in solitary confinement for the rest
of his life, said David Leroy, Idaho's former Attorney General.
Coburger waived his right to appeal as part of his
plea agreement, which means this case is truly over. There
will be no decades of appeals, no retrials, no more
(09:34):
legal proceedings that would force these families to relive their trauma.
At age thirty, Coburger will likely die in prison. That's
appropriate justice for someone who stole four young lives with
unlimited potential. While the Coburger sentencing dominated headlines, American courtrooms
(09:54):
continued delivering justice in other cases. This week. James Craig,
the Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his wife with a
potassium cyanide protein shake, saw his affair partner testify against him.
Doctor Karen Kane testified that police knocked on her hotel
room door to let her know Craig had been arrested
while she was in town for their affair. In Florida,
Shelby Neely was sentenced for what prosecutors called an in
(10:17):
law massacre. Neelie told detectives that after strangling his victim,
he hit her in the head with a hammer to
make sure she was dead. Brett Hankison, the former Louisville
police officer, was sentenced to nearly three years in federal
prison for using excessive force during the twenty twenty Brionna
Taylor raid. It's a fraction of what many believed he deserved,
(10:39):
but its accountability nonetheless. In California, Stephan Stearns avoided the
death penalty with a last minute plea deal in the
murder of thirteen year old Madeline Soto. Stearns pleaded no
contest to murder and guilty to twenty sex crimes where
Soto was the victim. The Coburger case represents everything we
(10:59):
f about modern criminal behavior. Calculated violence without apparent motive,
committed by someone who should have known better. This wasn't
a crime of passion. This wasn't domestic violence that escalated.
This wasn't robbery gone wrong. This was systematic stalking followed
by brutal execution of four innocent people who were simply
(11:22):
living their lives. What makes it even more disturbing is
Coburger's background. He was a criminology PhD student studying criminal
behavior and decision making. He understood how investigations work, he
knew about forensic evidence, yet he still made amateur mistakes
that led to his capture. The victim's families deserve credit
(11:43):
for their grace and dignity throughout this ordeal. They could
have become consumed by hatred and revenge. Instead, they focused
on celebrating their children's lives and ensuring Coburger faced justice.
Steve Gonkov's was right when he said all anyone talked
about when and they talked about this case was Kaylee, Jade, Mattie,
may Zana, and Ethan. Despite Coburger's attempt to make this
(12:07):
about him, the victims remain the center of the story.
The judge's decision to warn against giving Coburger more power
by endlessly seeking explanations was wise. Some people commit evil
acts for reasons will never understand. Our job isn't to
comprehend their motives. It's to ensure they can never hurt
anyone again. The Idaho's student murder's case is finally closed,
(12:29):
but its impact will last forever. Four young people with
unlimited potential were stolen from their families and friends. Two
survivors must live with trauma they never deserved. A community
lost its sense of safety, but justice was served. Brian
Coburger will spend the rest of his life in prison,
which is exactly where he belongs. The families can begin
(12:51):
to heal knowing their children's killer will never walk free.
Sometimes the most important thing about justice isn't the answers
it provides, but the fi finality it brings. These families
waited nine hundred and sixty two days for this moment.
Now they can focus on grieving, healing, and celebrating the
lives of four remarkable young people who deserved so much
(13:13):
more time. That's celebrity trials for today, I'm read Carter.
Remember some criminals never explain their evil, and that's okay.
What matters is that they're held accountable. Justice isn't always satisfying,
but it's absolutely riveting.
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