(NewsNation) — Following Bryan Kohberger’s acceptance of a plea deal, the family of one of the victims has reacted angrily.
NewsNation sources can confirm the prosecution has proposed dropping the death penalty in exchange for Kohberger pleading guilty to committing the murders and to a burglary charge.
Among the four victims was Kaylee Goncalves, who was 21 years old at the time of her death in November 2022.
In a statement on Facebook minutes after news broke of the deal, “The Goncalves Family Page” wrote:
“It’s true! We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho. They have failed us. Please give us some time. This was very unexpected. We appreciate all your love and support. #heartbroken #kayleejade4ever.”
A family member of one victim told NewsNation that upon hearing of the plea deal, she felt like “all the power had been given back to Kohberger.”
Many families of the victims had planned on living in Boise, Idaho, for the duration of the trial.
Family members tell NewsNation they had no indication of a plea deal being offered and say they are shocked and have more questions, including whether Kohberger will confess to the killings.
The Goncalves family released another statement clarifying the timeline of plea negotiations, saying they gave prosecutors a “HARD NO” when asked about a possible plea deal on Friday. The family said they received an email Sunday night that sent them into “panic mode” and met with prosecutors again Monday to oppose the agreement.
“We fought harder then anyone could EVER imagine,” the family wrote. “We fought a long battle, but we lost the war.”
NewsNation has learned Kohberger must also agree to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole and must waive his right to appeal.
A court hearing for a change of plea will be on Wednesday.
Bryan Kohberger plea deal is ‘anything but justice’: Victim’s father
The father of slain University of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves criticized a plea agreement that would spare Bryan Kohberger from the death penalty, calling it “anything but justice.”
“This is the opposite of our will,” Steve Goncalves told NewsNation’s “Banfield” on Monday evening in his first national interview since the plea deal report. “There was no majority (of victims’ survivors) believing that this was acceptable.”
Goncalves expressed outrage after learning that Kohberger, charged with killing four university students in November 2022, had accepted a plea deal that would sentence him to life in prison without parole in exchange for guilty pleas to murder and burglary charges.
“Prison is nothing but adult child care. You get free vision, you get free dental, you get free meals, you get AC room and board, cable TV, internet access. It’s ridiculous,” Goncalves said.
NewsNation’s Brian Entin and Damita Menezes contributed to this report.
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