Idaho murder victims' families give furious message to judge over Bryan Kohberger's 'shocking and cruel' plea deal

The families of the four victims who were tragically killed in the University of Idaho student massacre, have sent a heartbreaking message to the judge over the reported plea deal issued to Bryan Kohberger.

The criminology graduate is set to be sentenced next month, after being charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in connection to the cold-blooded killings of Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both aged 21, as well as 20-year-olds Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, in 2022.

On November 13 of that year, the students were all found dead in their off-campus home they shared in Moscow, Idaho, that they shared with roommates Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke - who were home at the time the horror unfolded.

The killing spree understood to have taken place between 4am and 4.25am, the masked murderer fled shortly after - with Mortensen being the only person to have seen the intruder, whom he described as a masked man with 'bushy eyebrows'.

The four Idaho students were found dead in their home (CBS)

Now, the 30-year-old suspect is understood to have accepted a judge's plea deal which would mean he'd serve four consecutive life sentences as well as a maximum penalty of 10 years for the burglary charge. Kohberger previously pleaded not guilty to charges of murder.

It would mean he'd be spared the death penalty - something that has left Goncalves' family furious, accusing the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office of rushing the case which they allege has been 'mishandled'.

They issued the following statement: "They vaguely mentioned a possible plea on Friday, without seeking our input, and presented the plea on Sunday.

"Latah County should be ashamed of its Prosecutor’s Office. Four wonderful young people lost their lives, yet the victims’ families were treated as opponents from the outset. We weren’t even called about the plea; we received an email with a letter attached.

"That’s how Latah County’s Prosecutor’s Office treats murder victims’ families. Adding insult to injury, they’re rushing the plea, giving families just one day to coordinate and appear at the courthouse for a plea on July 2."

Bryan Kohberger is believed to have accepted the plea deal (Kai Eiselein-Pool/Getty Images)

It continued: "After more than two years, this is how it concludes with a secretive deal and a hurried effort to close the case without any input from the victims’ families on the plea’s details.

"Our family is frustrated right now and that will subside and we will come together as always and deal with the reality that we face moving forward."

It comes just a month prior to when the jury selection process was due to begin, on August 4, with the trial officially beginning on August 18.

The families of the victims are believed to be forming an appeal to the plea sentence.

"This resolution is our sincere attempt to seek justice for your family," state prosecutors said in a letter obtained by ABC News. It continued: "This resolution is our sincere attempt to seek justice for your family.

"This agreement ensures that the defendant will be convicted, will spend the rest of his life in prison, and will not be able to put you and the other families through the uncertainty of decades of post-conviction, appeals.

"Your viewpoints weighed heavily in our decision-making process, and we hope that you may come to appreciate why we believe this resolution is in the best interest of justice."