On Wednesday, former murder detective Ted Williams shared on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime that there’s a chance the suspect could be “back on the streets” due to what he described as a lack of clarity from the court on why he killed four University of Idaho students, despite Brian Kohberger being sentenced to life in prison.
Kohberger, 30, recently pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery involving the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin. During the plea hearing, guest host Charlie Hurt mentioned that Kohberger admitted to the murders, although details remain unclear.
“Charlie, I’ve been following these murders since they occurred in November 2022,” Williams said. “But it’s perplexing—why would a PhD criminology student enter that house and commit such an act? It feels like we missed a chance to truly understand what happened today.”
Williams suggested that part of the plea deal might have led to missed opportunities for transparency regarding Kohberger’s motives. “If a judicial agreement was signed, it could mean we’ll never fully grasp what he wants to share about why he did this,” he noted.
Back in November 2022, the tragic murders shocked the community in Moscow, Idaho, leaving two surviving roommates. Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortenson reported seeing figures dressed in black prior to the incident, adding another layer to the investigation.
By December 2022, Kohberger, previously a doctoral student in criminology, was taken into custody at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. While not much information was publicly disclosed at the time, court records suggested Kohberger’s phone data placed him at the scene multiple times, with DNA evidence linking him to a knife sheath found at the location.
“I can envision a future 15 years from now where he might use a prison phone to write a book claiming his innocence,” Williams remarked, indicating a potential for Kohberger to shift narratives.
When asked about the judge’s decision not to require Kohberger to account for the murders, Williams expressed his confusion: “I really don’t know. From what I’ve gathered, many in the judicial community believe the judge could have him explain his actions.” He emphasized that while the judge could make such a request, it ultimately isn’t mandatory.
Some families of the victims supported the plea deal; however, others, like Goncalves’ family, expressed disappointment over the secretive nature of the agreement. They felt sidelined in the decision-making process about the outcome of the case, particularly since Kohberger’s trial was initially set for August 11 and jury selection was to begin on August 4.
