Killer of Idaho Students Sentenced to Life, Faces Harsh Prison Conditions

In a recent sentencing, Bryan Kohberger, a former criminal justice graduate student, was formally sentenced to four life terms in prison without parole for the brutal 2022 murders of University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves.

Kohberger is expected to serve out his sentence at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution (IMSI), the state's only maximum-security prison. IMSI has been plagued by reports of violence, hunger strikes, and allegations of inhumane conditions in recent years, and was named one of the "15 Worst Prisons in America" in 2024.

The facility is known for its use of solitary confinement and frequent lockdowns, with many inmates spending up to 23 hours a day locked in their cells with minimal human interaction. IMSI has also faced criticism for its inadequate mental health care and numerous reports of inmate-on-inmate violence, as well as allegations of excessive force by correctional officers.

Kohberger will be housed alongside other notorious inmates, including serial killers Thomas Creech and Gerald Pizzuto, as well as Chad Daybell, who was convicted of murdering his first wife and two of his then-girlfriend Lori Vallow's children. The prison's harsh conditions and violent history suggest that Kohberger's time behind bars will be a challenging and potentially dangerous experience.