Victim's brother calls Bryan Kohberger deal 'troubling pattern' by prosecutors

(NewsNation) —The brother of Kaylee Goncalves, one of four students murdered by Bryan Kohberger, issued a scorching criticism of Idaho prosecutors for offering him a plea deal that took the death penalty off the table. 

Steven Goncalves spoke minutes after Kohberger was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences by Judge Steven Hippler.  

The brother called Latah County prosecutor Bill Thompson’s record “a troubling pattern.” 

“Across nearly every murder case prosecuted by Bill Thompson, including the killing of University of Idaho football player Eric McMillan, there is a clear and troubling pattern. Families are left feeling unheard. Justice is negotiated down through plea deals, and the public is left with unanswered questions,” he said, citing several other local cases Thompson handled. 

In a news conference, Thompson defended his office's decision.

"We realized that we had tough decisions to make, and we made them, but we did not make them in a vacuum. As I said in court today, we reached out to the families, we asked their thoughts, we listened to what they had to say. We accept and recognize that not everybody agrees with decision we made, but this isn't a popularity contest," he said.

"We made what we thought was the most appropriate decision under the law and on the facts," Thompson added.

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

He 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.

"Despite the magnitude and brutality of the crime, the prosecution chose to accept a plea deal behind closed doors, without trial, without ever consulting our family in any meaningful way," the brother said.

The Goncalves family has criticized the deal, calling it hurried and secretive.

Goncalves’ father, Steve Goncalves, said the family feels they were “used” by government attorneys as prosecutors compiled a mountain of evidence. 

Goncalves also added that he would have preferred the option of a trial and a potential death sentence for Kohberger.

The former criminology student sat expressionless as several family and friends of the four young victims made emotional impact statements in court. 

Several members of the Goncalves family spoke directly to Kohberger, calling him “pathetic,” “evil” and “nothing.”