The father of University of Idaho murder victim Kaylee Goncalves is speaking out forcefully against the plea deal offered to accused killer Bryan Kohberger, accusing prosecutors of moving too fast and failing to properly consult the families.
“We were not prepared for this — we had no idea that this was going to happen,” Steve Goncalves told ABC News shortly after the plea agreement was made public.
Kohberger, charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary for the brutal November 13, 2022, killings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, will now avoid the death penalty. Under the deal, he will receive four consecutive life sentences and a maximum 10-year sentence for burglary.
Opening arguments were set to begin August 18, but the plea agreement will bring the trial to a halt. Prosecutors reportedly met with some victims’ families last week to discuss the deal, but Steve Goncalves said the idea of a plea was only brought up at the end of that meeting.
“Up until that point, we had never even considered it,” Goncalves said. “It was described to me as, like, due diligence. We're going to, like, look at this option, see if it could fit.”
Goncalves also criticized the lack of deeper consultation. “At the least, justice starts with an interview of the families to ask them what justice is. And we didn’t get that,” he said.
Prosecutors explained in a letter to families that the plea deal was intended to avoid the risks of trial, such as a hung jury, mistrial, or acquittal. They also cited the emotional toll a lengthy court process could take on families and the possibility of drawn-out appeals even if a death sentence were handed down.
But for Steve Goncalves, the decision to strike a deal with Kohberger was unthinkable. “We can’t just let people come from other states and come in here and kill our kids while they’re sleeping, getting an education, and then just negotiate with those types of people,” he said. “It’s sad, it’s disgusting, and I can’t pretend like I feel like this is justice.”