Idaho victim's mother tells Bryan Kohberger she's 'forgiven' him

(NewsNation) —The mother and aunt of Xana Kernodle, who was murdered in 2022 by Bryan Kohberger, told him during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday that they have forgiven in order to set themselves free from the pain.

"Jesus has allowed me to forgive you for murdering my daughter without you even being sorry or asking for this," Cara Northington, Xana's mother, said in an emotional court statement.

"This forgiveness has released me from any and all evil you have inflicted on me and my family, it has allowed me to let our Lord deal with you," she said.

"It is Christ who lives in me that has given me the strength to forgive you. It was of no power of my own."

Kohberger sat expressionless as several members of the Kernodle family spoke to him, some through tears.

Xana's aunt, Kim Kernodle, also told Kohberger that she has forgiven him.

“I have forgiven you because I no longer can live with that hate in my heart and for me to be a better person, I have forgiven you. Anytime you want to talk, get my number… I’m here, I’ll be that one that will listen to you,” she said. 

“This tragedy has brought us closer, you’ve united us with your actions,” she told Kohberger

The statement was in a softer tone than other victims’ families during the highly emotional and heartbreaking hearing.

Koehberger brutally murdered Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in an off-campus Idaho home. 

Koehberger took a plea deal, agreeing to serve four life sentences for the slayings. He confessed to killing them in court, avoiding a trial where prosecutors intended to seek the death penalty.