Bryan Kohberger could face a vicious initiation into prison after his shocking admission to killing the four Idaho students.
Kohberger, 30, took a plea deal last week in exchange for pleading guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students, Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21, in their home as they slept in November 2022.
As part of his plea deal, he escaped the death penalty, but will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Experts warn, however, that the former criminology student might have signed up for an unofficial death sentence.
‘He’s going to have a target on his back as soon as he walks in the door in general population,’ former prison pastor, Keith Rovere, told Fox News.
‘Those who are doing life have nothing to lose. The badge of honor they would receive will get them and respect in the prison and probably get them countless letters from the outside world.
‘Funny how notoriety will get you killed and how notoriety will get you respect in the same prison.’
Seth Ferranti, a former-prisoner-turned-filmmaker, agreed, telling the outlet: ‘The convicts are going to eat him up in Idaho state prison.’
Although Kohberger may receive additional security due to how high-profile his case was, he won’t be living in isolation like the death row prisoners, who spend 23 hours a day locked up in their cells.
He’ll also have to work in prison, leaving him in constantly in contact with other inmates and exposed, whereas, death row prisoners are served meals to their cells and have very little contact with others.
Add on that Kohberger has been diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum by a psychiatrist hired by his defense, who found he had ‘poor insight into his role in relationships’ and often spoke in canned phrases.
This means the murderer might not always be able to identify if an inmate is being a threat to him.
He also doesn’t have any fight training, despite his father taking him to a boxing coach to boost his confidence. His former coach told the jury that he never actually worked out in the gym, only showed up on the advice of his father.
‘He’ll probably get protective custody, because of the high-profile case,’ Ferranti told Fox News.
‘But killers don’t respect people who kill kids or students. He will get attacked even in protective custody, and some lifer might just end his miserable existence.’
The Idaho Department of Corrections does allow vulnerable inmates to be housed with higher security, but Rovere suggests the quadruple murderer seek to transfer to an out-of-state prison.
Regardless, he could still face danger in other states.
‘You also have to take account of how many friends and family members of the victims might have a friend in there. Or a friend of a friend of a friend, who they can reach out to and make sure he’s taken care of – or at least beaten very badly,’ he said.
Kohberger is likely to spend the remainder of his days inside Idaho Maximum Security Institution after he pleaded guilty to four counts of murder.
He is likely to be transferred out of maximum security at Ada County jail and into Idaho Maximum Security Institution after his sentencing hearing on July 23.
The prison, which has been open since 1989, is home to the state’s ‘most disruptive male residents’ and violent offenders, according to the facility’s website.
The double perimeter fence surrounding the prison is reinforced with razor wire and an electronic detection system, along with a 24 hour armed patrol to ensure prisoners cannot escape.
It holds a capacity if 549 inmates at any given time, including a dedicated section for mental health offenders.
The prison offers restrictive housing beds, disciplinary detention and is the state’s death row facility.
