Has anyone been following the University of Idaho murders?

[StephanieStephaniya]

This is horrifying to the extreme. My god. Those poor kids and their families

But just to address what others are saying about the roommate who woke up and didn’t make a call to the police… I lived in a “party house” when I was in university. It was very normal to see strange people roaming around in your house at all odd hours (and someone in their mid 20s would not rouse suspicion the way that someone much older would. You’d assume it was someone’s friend or hookup). Masks (assuming medical mask and not ski mask) are also common these days, dark clothing is perfectly normal at night; and the roommate was probably heavily drinking / may have taken other substances that alter both perception of time and the situation.

I’m thinking back to uni days and if I would hear someone say “there’s someone in the house” I would assume either an invited friend/hookup who ran into someone else in the house or maybe a delivery guy. If I hear whimpering or yelling at night I’m assuming “oh god they’re fighting again or they’re hooking up, god please shut up and let me sleep”. And if I come out and see a strange person when I’m in my nightclothes and drunk; my paranoia probably makes me jump to “oh god strange guy, don’t want to get assaulted”. I would never think it was something to get the police involved over.
The worst conclusion I would jump to is “someone brought a guy over and he assaulted her”. https://edubirdie.com/write-my-paper is the source that is helping me write my paper and have success at my college. If I had my phone with me (sometimes after a late night we could come home and chuck our stuff down on the couch, you’d go hunting for your phone the next day) I might send my roommates a text saying “everything good?” But if I didn’t have my phone with me I’d definitely think it’s something that could wait. Never in my life - and I have some stories from uni - would I assume that the stranger in my house is a murderer.

The poor roommate. She must be feeling awful.

It's understandable to feel horrified and heartbroken for this tragedy's victims and their families... However, I remember considering the perspective of the roommate who woke up to the situation.
As a student who has lived in a similar environment during university, I can relate to how the roommate might not have immediately recognized the severity of the situation. It's not uncommon to have unfamiliar people around the house during late hours, and inebriation can impair one's judgment and ability to react appropriately. In such a situation, the first thought might be to prioritize one's safety and retreat to protecting one's room.
While it's natural to question what the roommate student could have done differently, it's essential to recognize that hindsight is 20/20. It's unfair to place the entire burden of responsibility on the roommate, who may have acted in the best way they thought possible given the circumstances.
My heart goes out to all those affected by this tragedy, including the roommate, who must feel immense guilt and grief.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I just read that the defendant has pleaded guilty to all four murders sparing him the death penalty. Didn't expect this but I guess it makes sense in light of all of the evidence against him.

 

[junebug17]

I'm hoping this will bring the families and friends of the victims some peace in the sense they won't have to suffer through the agony of a trial and go through the torture of the appeals process.

 

[RMOO]

I'm hoping this will bring the families and friends of the victims some peace in the sense they won't have to suffer through the agony of a trial and go through the torture of the appeals process.

I agree. And while no where near the suffering of the families, I am also glad that the general public won't have to hear details of the trial night after night on the news.

 

[junebug17]

I agree. And while no where near the suffering of the families, I am also glad that the general public won't have to hear details of the trial night after night on the news.

Oh yes, you're absolutely right.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I read at least one of the families is not happy about this as the death penalty is now out of the equation. However, he will never be out again and yes, being spared the gruesome details will be a blessing.

 

[Calliecake]

I was shocked he plead guilty.

Two of the families are furious and want a trial and the other two families seem grateful that there will not be one. Hopefully they will all be able to find some peace and joy in their lives going forward.

Thankfully the 2 roommates will not have to testify or go thru a trial.

 

[MissGotRocks]

A legal scholar was on the news and said that of course, juries can never be a sure thing. The prosecution thinks they have a solid case but still. . . and then if found guilty, there would be the penalty part of the trial. If all twelve jurors didn't unanimously agree to death, it would be life in prison. Just one juror could derail the death penalty and then he would be at life in prison just like he is now. I understand the family's points of view on both sides, but can't help but think this is the best outcome for all. I am sure some want him put to death just like he did their loved one, but a lifetime to think about what you did isn't necessarily a cakewalk either.

 

[RMOO]

A legal scholar was on the news and said that of course, juries can never be a sure thing. The prosecution thinks they have a solid case but still. . . and then if found guilty, there would be the penalty part of the trial. If all twelve jurors didn't unanimously agree to death, it would be life in prison. Just one juror could derail the death penalty and then he would be at life in prison just like he is now. I understand the family's points of view on both sides, but can't help but think this is the best outcome for all. I am sure some want him put to death just like he did their loved one, but a lifetime to think about what you did isn't necessarily a cakewalk either.

If he has a conscience, which is a big if. But, the rest of your life in a hellish prison is a significant punishment, like slow torture.

 

[Rfisher]

I wonder what it was that changed the perp’s mind to plea.
He held so steadfast to the alibi that with all his killer fascination and schooling, stood out as lame. Not saying he’s smart - wasn’t some of his work in school around digital evidence and digital evidence was a large part?

If he speaks at the plea or sentencing, I wonder how true, or sincere, any of it will ring. Or will it be a game, still.

Also, I wonder, if he’s received any psychological or RX treatment while he’s been incarcerated. Has that had any effect on his outlook of his plan.

I wonder how much his sisters contributed to the investigation.

I feel bad for all the families and friends. However this pans out, it’s not going to be the best scenario choice for healing for all involved. Peace to them.

 

[MissGotRocks]

If he has a conscience, which is a big if. But, the rest of your life in a hellish prison is a significant punishment, like slow torture.

Yes, no way to know how he remembers it if at all. Surely if you are doing something so heinous, you are probably able to rationalize it to make sense to you. However, death is an easy way out for him and living with it seems like it would be worse. Course we come at this with good mental functionality - don’t know exactly how his mind operates. I feel for the families and understand their disappointment. They just don’t know what the trial would have revealed and what other gruesome details they would have had to absorb. Just an unspeakable tragedy all the way around. I assume his family is devastated as well.

 

[Rfisher]

I’m almost thinking an all male, very structured environment with rules and schedules of ‘how things are supposed to be/how to act’, if he finds a group of peers to hang with- he finds mutual respect and acceptance from officers when he follows the rules,
If he doesn’t meet prison violence
Will probably appeal to him and will be a relief for him.

I don’t like that possibility for him.

 

[RMOO]

I read that one of the family’s objections to the plea is that they wanted a full confession. I would think that pleading guilty is enough of a confession, but maybe want they really want is an answer to the question WHY?! Strangely that was what entered my mind upon hearing of the plea deal: a profound sense of sadness and the question of why? More so than when he was pleading innocent, likely because in that, there is always a chance, however small, that he actually is innocent. As a family member I’m not sure I would want anymore details that could haunt me. I would like to know though, how he managed to kill without waking any of the others, especially in the room where the two victims were sleeping in the same bed.

 

[Rfisher]

Doesn’t one of the families that do not want the plea/want to know the full confession & the why, feel their daughter was the one targeted /received injuries that could be considered more personal than a random chance opportunistic attack ?

If that’s the case - I think I could understand them in that.
Random attack is just as awful and senseless, but I can empathize the difference if they feel it.

 

[Bonfire]

I certainly can’t speak for the emotions these families are going through, but having the trial with the death penalty on the table isn’t necessarily a slam dunk. Even after all the grueling testimony that may or may not give them some answers as to why and how he did it, the jury has to unanimously agree for death in most all states. Even if that happens the appeals process can go on for years before an execution actually takes place. However, I imagine living on death row for a decade or more would be worse than being in the general population for life?

Those poor families! They are living in their own hell

 

[MissGotRocks]

I read that one of the family’s objections to the plea is that they wanted a full confession. I would think that pleading guilty is enough of a confession, but maybe want they really want is an answer to the question WHY?! Strangely that was what entered my mind upon hearing of the plea deal: a profound sense of sadness and the question of why? More so than when he was pleading innocent, likely because in that, there is always a chance, however small, that he actually is innocent. As a family member I’m not sure I would want anymore details that could haunt me. I would like to know though, how he managed to kill without waking any of the others, especially in the room where the two victims were sleeping in the same bed.

I think it is just about the same thing as a confession and apparently he agrees not to file an appeal. I too would want to know why. Did he target one of the girls and had to kill the ones he encountered? Why didn’t he kill them all? Was it an experiment to see if he could do it without getting caught? It was clearly planned and he had driven by many times. Unless he ever decides to talk, guess we will never know the reason. Such senseless heartbreak for these families.

 

[Bonfire]

apparently he agrees not to file an appeal.

Let’s hope the “agreement” not to file some sort of an appeal isn’t reversed somehow. Or that he can’t recant his confession. Seems like nothing is truly ironclad with loopholes, etc. Not sure how a confession holds up legally against a conviction. I think the prosecution has it pretty well locked down in this plea agreement hopefully. I do hope he is locked away for life.

 

[Begonia]

I grieve the loss of those young people and that their own family lineage was severed. He took so much.

 

[Lookinagain]

I read that one of the family’s objections to the plea is that they wanted a full confession. I would think that pleading guilty is enough of a confession, but maybe want they really want is an answer to the question WHY?!

Even if a trial was held, he was under no obligation to testify, or to speak at all. And does not have to speak at a sentencing hearing. So the family may never know why unless he volunteers the information.

Let’s hope the “agreement” not to file some sort of an appeal isn’t reversed somehow. Or that he can’t recant his confession.

I don't see how he can appeal a guilty plea or withdraw his plea unless he could claim something like incompetence, or had ineffective counsel, or some constitutional issue. Doubt that will happen because then he'd have a trial and the death penalty would be back on the table.

 

[RMOO]

Even if a trial was held, he was under no obligation to testify, or to speak at all. And does not have to speak at a sentencing hearing. So the family may never know why unless he volunteers the information.



I don't see how he can appeal a guilty plea or withdraw his plea unless he could claim something like incompetence, or had ineffective counsel, or some constitutional issue. Doubt that will happen because then he'd have a trial and the death penalty would be back on the table.

Right, but I got the impression they wanted the full confession as a condition of the plea deal. But really the guilty plea is the admission, there is no guarantee anywhere is this process that he was going to say what they wanted to hear. This outcome is the surest way he will be in prison for the rest of his life.

 

[Bonfire]

Thank you @Lookinagain for stating the obvious! I certainly didn’t think that through before I made my comments, oops

 

[Lookinagain]

Right, but I got the impression they wanted the full confession as a condition of the plea deal. But really the guilty plea is the admission, there is no guarantee anywhere is this process that he was going to say what they wanted to hear. This outcome is the surest way he will be in prison for the rest of his life.

Well, I agree. The plea in itself is a "confession". So what they probably wanted was the explanation and I don't think that is typically forced before a plea as a condition. And honestly, he could say anything.

 

[Calliecake]

Every one processes grief in their own way so I can’t judge how any of these families feel and want to see this handled. My hope is the two families who wanted the trial are able to come to accept they may never get answers to their questions. Even if they get answers, none of this will ever make sense. It’s heartbreaking.