Bryan Kohberger has pleaded guilty to all counts.
A judge sentenced Bryan Kohberger to serve four life sentences without parole for the brutal stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students nearly three years ago.
In Wednesday's hearing, families of Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Kaylee Goncalves described the anguish they've felt since their loved ones were killed in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022.
MORE | Judge sentences Bryan Kohberger to life in prison for murdering 4 University of Idaho students
The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.
"Today we are here to finish what you started," Goncalves said.
Kohberger nodded subtly in response.
"You tried to break our community apart, you tried to plant fear, you tried to divide us. You failed," he said sharply.
Maddie Mogen's dad, Ben Mogen, was choked up in court as he said, "Maddie was my only child. ... I thought we would have the rest of our lives together to be together and know each other, and I really took her for granted."
"Karen and Scottie did such a great job raising her after Karen and I split up, and I'm so thankful for Scottie and the role he played in her life when I wasn't able to," he said, recalling his battle with addiction. "But we got to spend a lot of great times together, Maddie and I. She was my favorite person to go to a concert with."
Mogen read in court the last thing Maddie wrote to him -- a Father's Day card: "I hope you have the best day, I can't wait 'til we can hang out again soon. ... I love the birthday card you sent me, by the way. ... I hope you're doing well. I'm proud of how far you've come. Thank you for always encouraging me to do my best. Love you lots and lots."
"I'm so glad I still have it," he said of the card.
Maddie Mogen's grandmother Kim Cheeley said in court that, after her murder, the "foundation fell out of our world."
"Initially the fear was truly debilitating," she said, and after Bryan Kohberger's arrest, her family has lived "with the effects of traumatic grief."
Cheeley said she's experienced depression and anxiety and has tried to cope with grief classes and EMDR therapy.
She said she's grateful her own mother died several months before Mogen was killed so she did not live through "the horror."
The family of Kaylee Goncalves was initially outspoken in their opposition to the plea deal that took the death penalty off the table.
"Society needs to be protected against this evil," Laramie said.
But Mogens' stepfather declined to address Kohberger directly.
"We will not waste the words. Nor will we fall into hatred and bitterness. Evil has many faces, and we now know this, but evil does not deserve our time and attention. We are done being victims. We are taking back our lives," he said, before thanking the judge.
