Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@kayleegoncalves/Kyle Green-Pool/Getty Images
Topics: News, US News, Bryan Kohberger, Crime
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: News, US News, Bryan Kohberger, Crime
Kaylee Goncalves’ parents have spoken about their daughters final moments as they defend themselves against critics.
Bryan Kohberger has recently pleaded guilty and admitted to killing four University of Idaho students back in November 2022.
Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves were stabbed to death at their home in Moscow, Idaho in the early hours of the morning.
Kohberger, a former criminal justice doctoral student, was initially arrested in December 2022 before he formally submitted a guilty plea on Wednesday (2 July)
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He accepted this plea to avoid the death penalty but this leaves him leaves facing up to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, and a 10-year sentence for the burglary charge.
Goncalves’ parents have taken to social media to comment on this plea deal while also revealing their daughter's heartbreaking final moments.
Writing on their family Facebook page, they made it clear that they were frustrated Kohberger would not face the death penalty.
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This attitude has seen them receive some pushback as some argue life in prison is justice, rather than vengeance, for Kohberger’s crime.
The post read: “He doesn't deserve life in prison. He deserved life on death row.
“Also people say that the Goncalves don't want justice, they want vengeance. Well let me ask you a question about that...if your 21yr old daughter was sleeping in her bed and BK went into her house with the intention to kill her and he did, by stabbing her MANY times, as well as beating her in the face and head while it was clear that she fought for her life...what would you want?
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“Justice or vengeance ? Maybe a little bit of both? I'm curious how you all would feel. It gets so old having people say we want vengeance and make it sound like we are animals for having those feelings... I just find it so hard that so many people are judging us and they have never stepped foot in our shoes.”
They also defended their feelings that Kohberger should be put to death as they emphasized the unfairness of losing their daughter in this brutal way.
The post also stated: “I am sorry if you don't agree with our recent decisions on the plea deal. BK literally is too afraid to die, but he wasn't afraid to kill. BK wanted a plea deal and he was given one. Kaylee wasn't offered a plea deal. The state is showing BK mercy by removing the death penalty. BK did not show Kaylee ANY mercy."