Sentencing

What happened that night changed everything because of him.

This was Brian Kolberger's legal funeral.

No one is scared of you today. No one is intimidated by you, no one is impressed by you. No one thinks that you are important.

And anytime you want to talk and tell me what happened, I'm here. I'll be that one that'll listen to you. Okay.

This is the Idaho Massacre a production of KAT Studios and iHeartRadio, Season three, Episode two, sentencing I'm Courtney Armstrong, a producer at KAT Studios, with Stephanie Leideger and Gabriel Castillo.

He chose destruction, he chose evil. He feels nothing.

It was an emotional day in court. The gallery was packed and the atmosphere was tense. One by one, family members stood and spoke directly to Brian Coberger. Some shared beautiful, heartbreaking memories, others unleashed years of grief and anger, and through it all, the room was filled with tears, silence, and sometimes stunning moments of strength.

You tried to divide us. You failed. Instead, your actions have united everyone in their disgust for you.

Coburger sat just feed away, his face, expressionless, his posture still.

I won't stand here and give you what you want. I won't offer you tears, I won't offer you trembling disappointments like you thrive on pain, on fear, and on the illusion of power, and I won't feed your beast.

And throughout the entire proceeding there was one question on everyone's mind. Would he speak, would he explain why he did it? Would he apologize? It was a final, resounding judgment, but still there was one thing everyone was waiting for. Here's long crime journalist Anjeanette Levy speaking with one of our producers, Alison Bankston, talk.

To me about sentencing next. I know you were there as well. That was a very emotional day, that was very powerful to watch.

Is incredibly heavy. When we walked in, Brian Coburger was wearing an orange jail jumpsuit. We fully expected that his presumption of innocence no longer exists. And he's sitting there in all orange and in handcuffs. He looked a little more pale, a little more gaunt.

Did he seemed nervous up there at all, you know, fitman with his hands like what was his vibe like?

Brian Coburger looked like he was kind of stealing himself for what was coming. And he was clenching his jaw at times, and at times he would kind of poke his tongue to the side.

Of his cheek.

You could tell he was in some respects bracing himself for what was coming. He knew the victim impact statements were coming.

Here's Judge Stephen Hipler in the courtroom at sentencing.

All right, so with that, let's start with an impact statements.

Go ahead to jinks, your honor.

We will have Bethany Funko's statement, and she has asked that her friend Emilia Lot read that up statement very well.

Bethany funk was one of the surviving roommates. Her room was on the bottom floor and she did not come into contact with Brian Coberger.

My name is Bethany Funk, and I was roommates with Mattie, Kaylee, Xanna, and Ethan. I not only lost some of my best friends, but I also lost a sister. Our house was not just a house, It was a home. It was where we left till we couldn't breathe make meals, did crafts, binge, watch reality shows, played games, and spent lazy days on the couch. It was movie nights, wine nights, morning to brieves, pranks,

She was so kind but also one of the funniest people I've ever known. I really believed that she could have ruled the world if she wanted to, and she would have been America's sweetheart. Ethan was the sweetest, most genuine guy. Ethan was the kind of person you wanted around and the way he cared for Zanna.

It was truly something to admire and really was proof that storybook love and true romances really do exist. Mattie was not only one of my best friends, but she was the older sister I would have always wanted. There was no one I looked up to or admired more than Mattie. She was truly a ray of sunshine and

Here's Stephanie with Crime Analyst Body Movie.

Then we didn't even know these girls and Ethan right, we didn't know them. We didn't of course, we're not connected to them in any way. But you know, over the course of the last two and a half years, we've ever really learned about how special these people were that were murdered, and we all feel just tremendously sad. And you know who else I was really proud of Dylan. Dylan, if you don't know, she's the surviving roommate. She almost I'm gonna get emotional and good, We're like a this

What happened that night changed everything because of him. For beautiful, genuine, compassionate people were taken from this world for no reason. He didn't just take them from the world. He took them from me, My friends, my people who felt like my home, the people I looked up to and adorn more than anyone. He took away my ability to trust the world around me. What he had shattered me in places I didn't know could break. I'm gonna be alone.

To confront Brian Coberger after she came so close to being his victim and he walked right by her, that's like massively traumatic. Her life is completely changed from this. She's only twenty one now. This woman is going to need counseling for many, many, many years. And the only person responsible for this is Brian Coberger, And that's what

Maddie was my only child that I never had. Most She's the only great thing I ever really did and I only think I are you ever proud of? And I went through a lot of issues with addiction and with with substance abuse, and when I wasn't wanting to live anymore, she was what would keep me here from just not caring anymore, and knowing that she was out there and that she was just such a beautiful person kept me alive a lot of rough moments, and I'll never be able to They placed her.

Now, let's stop here for a break. We'll be back in a moment here again. Long crime journalist Anjeanette Levy with producer Alice in Bankston.

I'm curious seem like this any of this was registering for Brian, you know, you had a good view of him. How was he reacting to these emotional victim impact statements.

As some of the other family members spoke. You know, it's like he is this even affecting him? Is it upsetting him? Is he somebody who actually feels anything? He was called evil? I mean, he was called all kinds of things. And what struck me was when Scott Laramie Matti Mogan's stepfathers talked about the need to have evil locked away, he almost nodded in agreement, Brian Coberger did.

Matty was taken senselessly and brutally in a sudden act of evil. We know the law allows us to comment on the defendant and his sentence. We support the plea agreement. Society needs to be protected against this evil.

So it makes you wonder does Brian Coburger, you know, does he have the ability to reflect and realize I am a really damaged human being? Like is he that introspective and does he have the ability to see that you know what, I am evil and I do need to be locked away forever. I mean, because it was almost like a It's an ever so slight nod in agreement.

Here's Stephanie and crime analyst Body Moven. They're joined by former homicide prosecutor Jarrett Farentino. Farantino is a season trial attorney who's prosecuted some of the most complex and high stakes cases in the country, including multiple death penalty trials.

As victim statements go, I mean, listen, we've all been in courtrooms. I mean, obviously you've been in more than any of us combined. But you know, victim statements, to your point is very powerful. But what's your response to how he behaved?

Ryan Kolberger is dead behind the eyes seeing him in those prison clothes again, seeing how pale he was, I mean, he looked like a psychopath.

That's a really great observation, because you know what he is, detached and devoid of emotion.

Is a psychopath at its core. They do not feel the same emotion that the rest.

Of us do.

Is I want to say, And I don't know, maybe this is just what I want to think, but I want to say, Olivia, it was really the only reaction he had all day was to her words.

My name is Olivia and I'm the big sister of Kaylee Gonzalvez, and I was blessed to love Madison Mogan as a sister too. I'm not here today to speak in grief. I'm here to speak in truth because the truth is, my sister, Kayley and her best friend Mattie were not yours to take. They were not yours to study, to stalk, or to silence. They were two pieces of a whole, the perfect yin and yang. They are everything that you could never be loved, accepted, vibrant, accomplished, brave

Instead, I will.

Call you what you are, sociopath, psychopath, murderer. I will ask the questions that reverberate violently in my own head, so loudly that I can't think straight most any day. Some of these might be familiar.

So sit up straight.

When I talked to you, how was your life right before you murdered my sisters? Did you prepare for the crime before leaving your apartment? Please detail what you were thinking and feeling at this time? Why did you choose my sisters before making your move? Did you approach my sisters? Do you tell what you were thinking and feeling before leaving their home? Is there anything else you did? What were Kaylee's last words?

Her poise was unbelievable, her telling the murderer sit up straight when I talked.

To you, Yes, did you tell what you were thinking and feeling before leaving the home? And she was doing these things because of the Reddit survey Brian Coberger did exactly she was. She was mimicking him, and I loved it because it's like it's an inside thing, right.

And it doesn't know what that is.

You know.

Something that we always thought was very interesting and troubling was that when Brian Coberger was getting his you know, PhD in Criminology, smarty pants that he is, he had done this really strange survey where he sent out questions to prisoners asking very specific questions that were kind of daunting, I mean in retrospects, like straight up scary, horrifying in a real tell. And those questions are what Kaylee Gonzalveez,

She was mocking him. She started off by saying, you're a psychopath. You're a sociopath. Then she proceeds to mock him. And narcissism is you know, he's a narcissist, and she's saying to him, you have no power over me. Here I am another young, beautiful woman looking in the face telling you how small you are.

No.

What else I really love was when Steve Gonsalvez, the father one of the victims, Yes, got up there, so the podium was sort of facing the judge. Okay, he physically turned the podium very abruptly, I might add, to face Brian Coberger and he was literally talking directly to him.

Today, we are here to finish what you started today. You've lost control.

Today.

We are here to prove to the world that you pick the wrong families, wrong state, the wrong police officers, the wrong community. You tried to break our community apart. You tried to plant fear, You tried to divide us.

You failed.

Looking back, when the police officers knocked on my door, told me what happened to my child, told me what happened to Mattie May. I don't think he was even out of the driveway before my kids turned around, looked at me and said what do we do?

Dad?

I told him you get to work, You get your ass to work. And we started calling, We started texting, we started emailing, and you know what, within hours, within hours, we had your white car on a camera. We knew, we knew from the very beginning, we had you. Police officers tell us, within minutes, they had your DNA like a calling card. You were that careless, that foolish, that's stupid, Master degree, You're a joke, complete joke.

And he just lays it out. You're a joke. And the only thing you've done is unite people in our vendetta against you. And he presented this really great united front from all of the victims' families. They're all united. They might disagree on certain things like the death penalty, for instance, but they are all united in their disdain for him.

Can you imagine the actional level of grace for the actual family members. It's really just a testament to the human spirit, and you know, just as a reminder of the stuff that we all complain about, our stress about, or we get stirred up, and then you hear these incredible humans and they have this fortitude to push on and to see a better day ahead.

Xanna Kernodle's aunt, Kim stood out to me in a particular way.

My name is Kim Karnodle. I'm Xana's aunt. It's very blessed to have her in my life, in our family. And I thought I had everything in my head what I wanted to say, but it kind of went out and I try. I'm I'm always looking for the positive thing because evil hate can destroy people, and that's what it started doing with our family. Bran, I'm here today to tell you I have forgiven you because I no longer could live with that hate in my heart and for me to become a better person.

I have forgiven you.

And anytime you want to talk and tell me what happened yet my number. I'm here no judgment because I do have questions that I want you to answer and I'm here. I'll be that one that'll listen to you.

Let's stop here for a break. We'll be back in a moment here again, Journalist angrenatte Levy from the Law on Crime Network.

I was shocked when Xana's aunt said she had forgiven him and she wanted answers and that he could call her any time. There isn't no contact order, but still, I mean, wow, I thought that very powerful. And he just sat there, you know, he just sat there. He does not deserve the grace that she offered him.

Ethan Chapin's family did not attend Brian Coberger's sentencing hearing. Instead, they chose to spend the day together as a family. A few days later, they released a statement thanking law enforcement for their hard work and honoring their son and brother. Quote, from the time you were a baby to when we dropped you off at college, you were an absolute joy and the glue that held our family together. We love you,

Him, mister Coburger, you have an opportunity to make a statement if you wish to.

I take it you were declining.

I respectfully declined.

Here's Stephanie Leideker with crime analyst Body Movin and former homicide prosecutor Jarrett Farantino, he.

Was asked this, and his quote was, I respectfully decline. I almost threw the television again.

What were you expecting? Though I was expecting. I'm so sorry. Oh my gosh, No, that is not who BK is. I know it's so hard to demand him to be normal because he's not.

Why was there no elocution? Why did he not have to speak?

Well, he just doesn't have to. I hate to set the answer. He doesn't have to. The prosecutor could not have forced him to do that. He could have leveraged that and made that request and made it a condition of the plea. But you cannot compel a factual elocution of that nature.

Could Bill Thompson has said something like this. Could he have said, we're going to take the death penalty off the table and give you life in prison, but you have to tell us where the knife is, tell us where the murder weapon is, and if we go dig it up and it ain't there, you're not getting the deal. Could they have done something like something like that?

Yeah?

Right, I think so he could have.

The thing is he did. Bill Thompson was saying in his press conference afterwards, we saw an opportunity to resolve the case and the litigation, not through the trial. And he specifically said we wouldn't have believed what he said anyway.

Who is he to decide that though, But you don't have to believe him.

If he tells you where the knife is and you go dig it up and stare, then you know he's telling the truth. What does it matter if he's lying or not?

Like you know, he could have asked that, and he had leverage at that point because you didn't agree to the deal and Culberger's life still hung in the balance, and say, all right, Brian, you want us to take the extreme step.

Of taking death off the table, you've got to give us something other than saying you did this. So you've got to tell us why, how, where? What are we missing? Exactly? Do that. He's trying to take some of the sensationalism out of this. I'm describing as a very by the book prosecutor. He only wants enough details out to secure the conviction and move on. He's really trying to downplay this, and that's not a rub against him. That's a style, that's an.

Approach to this.

I don't see that. It's just not effective in this type of a case, you have to kind of just ride a wave a little bit and say, look, the demand of the public. They really want to know some of these details. Stop holding back.

Here's Judge Stephen Hipler in the courtroom defending the prosecution's decision.

As we sit here today, this case is ending, and we are now certain who committed these unspeakable acts of evil, But we don't know, and what we may never know is why. I share the desire expressed by others to understand and the why.

But upon reflection, it seems to me, and this is just my own opinion, that by continuing to focus on why, we continue to give mister Coburger relevance, we give him agency and we give him power. Yet, even if I could force him to speak, which legally I cannot, how could anyone ever be assured that what he speaks is the truth?

Do we really believe after all of this he's capable of speaking the truth or of giving up something of himself to help the very people whose lives he destroyed. Rather, I suspect the so called reason would be dished out in enticing, self serving and aggrandizing, untruthful bits, leaving people wanting more information, more insight, and this enhancing even further

At the end of the hearing, Judge Hitler delivered the sentence for consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. Coburger also waived his right to appeal. Brian Coberger was led out of the courtroom, his hands and feet clinking with shackles and chains. Deputies escorted him down a secure hallway into a waiting transport van. His final destination the Idaho Maximum Security institution, a place he will never leave, and that very night something else happened.

After Wednesday's hearing, the Moscow Police Department released more than three hundred documents related to the case.

The documents reveal unsettling new details about the weeks leading up to the murders.

For many, this was their first glimpse behind the scenes. For others, it was a chance to search for answers, to find even the smallest clue that might explain the questions still hanging over this entire case. Why Why did Brian Coberger take four innocent lives? In search of answers? We're going inside those documents. More on that next time. For more information on the case and relevant photos, follow