'Deal with the devil': Killer Bryan Kohberger spared death penalty by taking plea deal. Family of one victim explodes.



Bryan Kohberger — arrested for the gruesome murders of four University of Idaho students — avoided the death penalty by accepting a controversial plea deal Wednesday that angered a victim's family.

Kohberger, 30, is accused of murdering 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves, 21-year-old Madison Mogen, 20-year-old Ethan Chapin, and 20-year-old Xana Kernodle on Nov. 13, 2022, at an off-campus house in the city of Moscow.

Judge Hippler asked Kohberger, 'Did you on Nov. 13, 2022, enter the residence at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, with the intent to commit the felony crime of murder?' 'Yes,' Kohberger answered.

Investigators believe Kohberger stabbed the students to death with a Ka-Bar-style hunting knife, which reportedly has never been found. But investigators reportedly discovered a knife sheath near Mogen's body at the crime scene, which allegedly had Kohberger's DNA on it.

Kohberger was arrested at his parents' home in Chestnuthill Township, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 30, 2022.

Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in connection with the killings of the college housemates.

However, Kohberger walked away from death row after agreeing to a plea deal Wednesday.

Judge Steven Hippler began the hearing in Boise by addressing the controversy regarding Kohberger being spared the death penalty by agreeing to a plea deal.

Hippler noted that he had "no inkling" of a possible plea deal until Monday and was preparing for the case to go to trial.

Kohberger’s quadruple-murder trial was scheduled to begin next month, beginning with jury selection on Aug. 4 and opening statements on Aug. 18, USA Today reported.

"Once I learned of the defendant’s decision to change his plea in this case, it was important that I take the plea as soon as possible," the judge said.

Judge Hippler tackled the sensitive topic of Kohberger making a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, which has enraged at least one of the victims' families.

"This court cannot require the prosecutor to seek the death penalty, nor would it be appropriate for this court to do that," Hippler explained, according to the Associated Press.

“Court is not supposed to, and this court will never, take into account public sentiment in making an opinion regarding its judicial decisions in cases," Hippler declared. "I always will make decisions based on where the facts and the law lead me, period."

Loved ones of the murder victims cried as Judge Hippler read the names of the slain college students, the AP said.

Judge Hippler asked Kohberger, "Did you on Nov. 13, 2022, enter the residence at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, with the intent to commit the felony crime of murder?”

“Yes,” Kohberger answered.

An unemotional Kohberger calmly confessed to killing the four college students before pleading guilty.

Judge Hippler said Kohberger will be sentenced at 9 a.m. July 23.

In 2023, a judge entered a not-guilty plea on Kohberger's behalf after the suspect stood silent when asked to provide a plea.

RELATED: Court docs say DNA of Idaho murder suspect found on knife sheath. College roommate frozen in shock coming face-to-face with killer. Expert profiler believes Bryan Kohberger is an incel.

 

  

Prosecutors notified the victims' families of the plea in a letter, according to ABC News.

“This resolution is our sincere attempt to seek justice for your family,” prosecutors wrote in the letter. “This agreement ensures that the defendant will be convicted, will spend the rest of his life in prison, and will not be able to put you and the other families through the uncertainty of decades of post-conviction appeals.”

Prosecutors added, "Your viewpoints weighed heavily in our decision-making process, and we hope that you may come to appreciate why we believe this resolution is in the best interest of justice."

Steve Goncalves — the father of Kaylee Goncalves — said his family had "never even considered" a plea agreement.

"It was described to me as, like, due diligence," Goncalves told ABC News in a separate story. "We're going to, like, look at this option, see if it could fit."

The distraught dad added, "At the least, justice starts with an interview of the families to ask them what justice is. And we didn't get that."

RELATED: Chilling details revealed in Idaho college murders case — including frantic texts from roommates and new DNA evidence

 

  Photo by August Frank-Pool/Getty Images

The Goncalves family blasted the plea deal and the local prosecutor's office.

"The death penalty is merely an illusion in the criminal justice system," the family said in a statement released Tuesday. "When available, it serves as a bargaining tool for the state, and when rarely applied, it’s never enforced due to a highly inefficient appellate process. The notion that someone can plead guilty to a crime and still face years of appellate delays reveals a systemic failure."

The family continued, "The Latah County Prosecutor’s Office’s treatment of our family during this process is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone."

The family claimed that the prosecutor's office "branded" them as "adversaries."

"Four wonderful young people lost their lives, yet the victims’ families were treated as opponents from the outset," the family stated.

They added that the prosecutor's office "mishandled" the plea deal and argued that it was rushed.

The statement concluded, "Our family is frustrated right now, and that will subside, and we will come together as always and deal with the reality that we face moving forward. Once again, we thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers!"

Just hours before the hearing, the Goncalves family also slammed Moscow Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson for making a "deal with the devil."

"Right here, right now, we dig our heels into the earth and carve a line deep in the dirt," the family said in a statement on Facebook. "This ain’t justice, no judge presided, no jury weighed the truth. Thompson robbed us of our day in court. No negotiations, no jury of our peers, not even the pretense of cooperation and fairness."

The statement continued, "Cowardly men, gutless men, they scatter like roaches when the battle closes in. And Thompson? He’s retiring on this deal, his shadow slithering toward the exit, leaving only the stench of his betrayal. No spine, no shred of honor. He didn’t have the basic decency, the plain human courage, to face the families, to meet our eyes and ask, 'How do we make an offer that works?' Instead, Thompson cut his deal with the devil, his negotiations didn’t require anything other than a simple guilty plea."

The family accused Thompson of failing to "shield the innocent."

The father of Xana Kernodle also opposed the deal, the New York Times reported.

However, some of the families of the victims have been supportive of the plea deal to end this chapter of their nightmare.

Madison Mogen's family said they support the plea agreement “100%,” according to NBC News.

The family's attorney read a prepared statement outside the courthouse after the hearing, "We lost our Maddie, our kind, loving, vivacious, and caring daughter, full of purpose and promise. We are grateful for the gift of her life, and we have grieved the loss of that life during each of these 962 days."

Stacy Chapin, the mother of Ethan Chapin, supported the plea agreement, according to KGET-TV.

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Man with death wish gives chilling jailhouse confession of murdering and crucifying pastor, planned to kill over a dozen more



A man accused of the brutal murder of a beloved pastor confessed to the grisly killing, according to a chilling jailhouse interview. The suspect claimed he had a death wish and planned to kill over a dozen more pastors around the country.

As Blaze News previously reported, Maricopa County sheriff deputies discovered the dead body of William Schonemann — a 76-year-old beloved pastor — on April 28. Schonemann — affectionately known as "Pastor Bill" — reportedly was found covered in blood at his home in New River.

'I want the death sentence.'

Multiple sources informed KSAZ-TV that Schonemann appeared to have suffered from significant injuries and that his arms were spread out and his hands were pinned to a wall.

Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan described Schonemann's death as the most "tragic and bizarre" he's ever seen.

Police arrested 51-year-old Adam Christopher Sheafe in Sedona on April 30 after he allegedly burglarized a home.

Sedona Red Rock News reported that Sheafe was charged with second-degree burglary, unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, leaving the scene of an accident with an injury, criminal damage, theft or control of stolen property, first-degree trespassing, possession of a stolen vehicle, and resisting arrest.

Authorities noted that Sheafe has a lengthy criminal history across several states.

Sheafe allegedly told authorities that he broke into houses to steal needed "supplies."

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Then in a shocking jailhouse confession, Sheafe admitted to murdering Schonemann and "crucifying" the beloved man of God.

Sheafe explained the gruesome details in a startling interview with KNXV-TV, during which he also declared that he wants the death penalty.

Sheafe said he drove to Schonemann's house at "like two in the morning, maybe, and parked. And then I just went in there and did it."

In an eyebrow-raising jailhouse interview with KTVK-TV, Sheafe admitted that he planned to go on a priest-killing spree across the country. After Schonemann's death, he traveled to Sedona where he intended to kill two others, KTVK said, but he was arrested for burglary and other charges. Then came his confession.

Sheafe stated that he planned to "execute" 14 pastors across 10 states. Schonemann was the first.

“I was going to start in Phoenix and end in Phoenix and circle the nation," he said. "Starting in Arizona, where I was born. Where it starts is where it ends, like the Garden of Eden."

“From there, it was Las Vegas, Nevada; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Billings, Montana; Detroit, Michigan; New York, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Mobile, Alabama; Beaumont, Texas; and El Paso, Texas," Sheafe explained. "So four of them were going to get hit in Arizona."

Sheafe continued, "I'm not interested in executing anyone other than the pastors or the shepherds leading the flock astray."

Sheafe was asked if he was "feeling satisfied," to which he responded, "Look, it’s not my heart to go around killing people."

When asked how he would feel if someone attempted to crucify him, Sheafe replied, "Good luck trying."

Sheafe reportedly told the FBI that he wanted the death sentence.

“I told the FBI agent, 'Look, I want the death sentence,'" Sheafe told KNXV. "I'll plead guilty right now, on the spot ... I want the death sentence, and I want the execution date right now."

Sheafe told KTVK, "Well, I want to be executed quickly so we can get this show on the road and show exactly what I’m trying to do. ... All you gotta do is worship Jesus and you go to heaven; your sins are forgiven. That’s not what God said."

Sheafe argued that God will "absolutely" forgive him of his sins.

"He is a forgiving God and loving God," he said.

Sheafe declared, "It’s a commandment to rid Israel of evil."

Sheafe's father told KTVK in a separate story that his son changed after he became "extremely interested" in the Old Testament.

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The family of Schonemann — who served in the Navy, including a tour in Vietnam — told KOLD-TV in April, "Our dad had such a positive impact on people everywhere he went. We will miss the loving guidance and patience. The happiness he showed just getting to walk around an airport, getting his steps in."

The family added, "There are never enough words to say it all or to say it as well as a person would like. Simply, he is missed."

Those who knew Pastor Bill said his grisly death is "unfathomable."

"Who would do that? Why would anyone hurt Bill? I don't understand how someone could do something like that. It’s still unfathomable," neighbor Eric Asher told the Arizona Republic in May.

Mike Anders, another neighbor, said their community remains shocked over Schonemann's murder.

"I mean, we locked our doors last night. It’s just something that we are just not used to doing," Anders told KSAZ. "Everybody is just, until we know what’s going on, we don’t know if it was a family member, or, we don’t know what, who could do this to him."

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82-Year-Old Jewish Woman Dies From Injuries Suffered in Anti-Semitic Colorado Terror Attack

An 82-year-old Jewish woman who suffered severe injuries during an anti-Semitic firebombing attack early June in Boulder, Colo., has died, prompting prosecutors to file first-degree murder and more hate crime charges on Monday against suspect Mohamed Soliman.

The post 82-Year-Old Jewish Woman Dies From Injuries Suffered in Anti-Semitic Colorado Terror Attack appeared first on .

Pastor crucified in bed as anti-Christian hate turns deadly



Just down the road from my house, a pastor was crucified in his bed — crown of thorns and all.

That’s not the start of a horror movie. It’s the real story of Pastor William Schonemann of New River Bible Chapel in Arizona. His murder in May received almost no media coverage until last week, when the suspect not only confessed to the killing but admitted he had plans to assassinate four more pastors in Arizona — and others across the country.

As a pastor who lives not far from where this happened, I couldn’t help but wonder: Was I on his list?

If the killer had cited Christian teachings while attacking a Planned Parenthood activist or drag performer, Los Angeles would be on fire and the Palestinian flag would fly from city hall.

The motive? The suspect claimed to be on a divine mission to “purify Israel” of anyone who teaches that Jesus is the Son of God. His logic was as deranged as it was deadly: You can’t kill the Son of God — so Jesus isn’t the Son of God. Therefore, anyone who says otherwise must die. He targeted pastors who preach that God forgives repentant sinners through Christ.

In other words, he hunted Christians.

This wasn’t an isolated attack. Just last week, a deacon in Michigan stopped a would-be shooter from opening fire inside a church. Whether through violence or through the daily pressure campaign of soft totalitarianism from elected leftists — who impose radical gender and social ideology — Christians face growing persecution in America.

RELATED: Nigerian Christians face latest massacre by militant Muslims

  Getty Images

So here’s the question: Will these attacks on Christians be prosecuted as hate crimes?

U.S. law defines a hate crime as violence motivated by bias against a protected class. Religion qualifies. A man confesses to murdering a pastor because he preached the gospel. That’s not just homicide — it’s a textbook hate crime.

Crickets instead of courage

So where’s the outrage?

The answer is simple. We’ve allowed a media and university culture to take root that treats Christianity not just as wrong — but as evil. Christians, they insist, stand in the way of liberation, especially sexual liberation. The man who murdered Pastor Schonemann didn’t need a gender studies degree to absorb the worldview pushed by most public universities and entertainment platforms.

LGBTQ centers, DEI bureaucracies, and entire academic departments teach students that Christianity is repressive, outdated, and harmful. Professors tell them Christians cannot be victims of oppression because Christians are the majority. We must be decolonized, dismantled, or disappeared.

Curriculum has consequences.

Most people never enroll in Gender Studies 401, but they absorb the ideology from those who do. Graduates of these programs run media outlets, direct Netflix specials, and draft corporate policy. So when Amazon Prime pushes queer identity as liberation, the implied message is clear: Christian morality is the enemy. And when that message gets repeated often enough, unstable people act on it.

A chilling double standard

Now imagine the reverse. Had the victim belonged to a different religion — particularly one deemed “marginalized” or “indigenous” — CNN would run wall-to-wall coverage. MSNBC hosts would cry on air about America’s hatred. The Justice Department would announce investigations before the body cooled.

If the killer had cited Christian teachings while attacking a Planned Parenthood activist or drag performer, Los Angeles would be on fire and the Palestinian flag would fly from city hall.

But Pastor Schonemann preached Christ crucified. And so, the outrage is muted.

Time to act

Calling out this double standard matters, but it’s not enough. Pointing fingers at leftist hypocrisy only gets us so far. It’s time for action.

First, Christians must expose the incoherence of the ideologies used to justify this persecution. These movements promise justice but cannot define it. They claim to liberate, yet they demand conformity and submission. As a philosophy professor, I’ve challenged my own university’s faculty to debate these ideas. So far, silence. But shining light on the hollowness of their worldview creates space for the truth — and for grace.

Second, Christians must stop funding the institutions that despise us. Public universities are not neutral. They’ve become temples of anti-Christian dogma. Professors hide behind “academic freedom,” but the Constitution does not require taxpayers to bankroll propaganda. We must say: “No more. I won’t pay you to teach my child to hate the truth.”

After the murder, Pastor Schonemann’s son noted that the media seemed more interested in the killer than in his father’s life and witness. He’s right. And when the media finally does speak, don’t be surprised if it’s to ask: “Why do Christians deserve this?”

Universities are not neutral

Years ago, I sat on a panel at Harvard Law School. It was just before the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. One panelist — an Ivy League professor of some renown — smiled and said, “Christians like to be persecuted, so let them be.” The audience applauded. No one flinched.

It’s time for Christian parents to wake up. The age of the “neutral” university has ended. Our children are not just being taught to tolerate different views — they are being indoctrinated to hate what is true, good, and beautiful. They are told in no uncertain terms: Christianity is the problem.

Until we demand equal protection under the law — and stop funding our own cultural executioners — the attacks will continue.

The killer in Arizona refused dialogue. He chose violence to silence the truth. Ask yourself: How different is that from the message preached by DEI activists and gender ideologues who say we must either conform or disappear?

They’ve told us exactly what they believe. It’s time we take them at their word.

Former reality TV contestant shot and killed at No Kings protest by 'peacekeeper,' police say



A Utah man was killed during a No Kings protest after he was inadvertently shot at a demonstration in downtown Salt Lake City, according to police.

Around 7:56 p.m. on Saturday, a sergeant with the Salt Lake City Police Department Motor Squad reported hearing gunfire at the demonstration that drew approximately 10,000 protesters, according to a statement from the Salt Lake City Police Department.

'The shooting at tonight’s protest in Salt Lake City is a deeply troubling act of violence and has no place in our public square.'

"As panic spread throughout the area, hundreds of people ran for safety, hiding in parking garages, behind barriers, and going into nearby businesses," the Salt Lake City Police Department stated.

Officers and two Salt Lake City Police Department SWAT team members — who are also Salt Lake City Fire paramedics — located a man suffering from a gunshot wound and immediately conducted lifesaving measures.

The shooting victim was rushed to a local hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

Police identified the shooting victim as Arthur Folasa Ah Loo. Authorities said Loo had been an "innocent bystander who was not the intended target of the gunfire."

RELATED: Over 98% of Americans ignore No Kings' tired tantrum

  

Just minutes after the shooting, people at the No Kings protest flagged down police officers. The officers found 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa armed and dressed in black, wearing a black mask as he was "crouching among a group of people with a gunshot wound."

People at the protest informed police officers that there was a firearm near where Gamboa was crouching, which was described as an "AR-15-style rifle."

Two men, identified as peacekeeping members at the demonstration, informed officers that Gamboa was acting in a "suspicious" manner before the shooting.

The peacekeepers told police that they "saw Gamboa move away from the crowd and move into a secluded area behind a wall — behavior they found suspicious."

"One of the peacekeepers told detectives he saw Gamboa pull out an AR-15-style rifle from a backpack and begin manipulating it," according to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

The peacekeepers reportedly drew their guns and ordered Gamboa to drop his firearm.

Witnesses at the protest claimed that Gamboa disregarded the orders and lifted his rifle, then began running toward the crowd while "holding the weapon in a firing position."

One of the peacekeepers allegedly responded by firing three gunshots toward Gamboa, who was hit by gunfire. However, police said that one of the rounds struck Loo.

The peacekeepers immediately attempted to provide aid to Loo, according to the press release from the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Police said Gamboa was transported to the hospital.

Gamboa was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail. He was charged with murder.

RELATED: From 'F**k Trump' to handshakes: 'No Kings' rally in Texas stays civil

Police stated, "Detectives have developed probable cause that Gamboa acted under circumstances that showed a depraved indifference to human life, knowingly engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death, and ultimately caused the death of an innocent community member."

Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said, "Our detectives are now working to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident. We will not allow this individual act to create fear in our community."

Redd added, "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the 39-year-old man who was killed, and with the many community members who were impacted by this traumatic incident."

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) wrote on the X social media platform, "The shooting at tonight’s protest in Salt Lake City is a deeply troubling act of violence and has no place in our public square. This is an active situation, and we’re working closely with law enforcement to ensure accountability."

According to KSL, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall (D) said, "The purpose of today's demonstration was a powerful and peaceful expression until this event, and that cannot be overshadowed or silenced by a single act meant to harm. I want to urge everyone in the public to be calm, to give one another grace, and to look out for one another tonight in the coming days."

KSL reported that Loo was a "widely-known and accomplished fashion designer" who appeared on the 17th season of the "Project Runway" reality TV show.

Loo — who was born and grew up in Samoa — is survived by his wife.

The Salt Lake City Police Department said the investigation into the deadly shooting is ongoing.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is urging anyone who took photos and videos at the crime scene to submit possible evidence here.

You can watch the press conference from the Salt Lake Police Department on the deadly No Kings protest shooting below.

RELATED: Leftist No Kings event in Arizona draws older crowd with patriotic symbols

  

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'Monster' learns his fate for killing 2-year-old girl; officials say he 'completely severed' toddler's spine



A Florida man learned his fate for the murder of a 2-year-old girl in 2022 after the mother of the child left her daughter in his care.

On Wednesday, 27-year-old Travis Ray Thompson was found guilty of first-degree murder for the killing of Jacklyn Schwingel, according to a statement from the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.

'Life in prison is too good for this kind of evil.'

On May 3, 2022, a female toddler was rushed to the emergency room of AdventHealth Waterman, a hospital in Tavares. The child was in critical condition when she arrived.

Medical personnel attempted lifesaving measures on 2-year-old Jacklyn, but the young girl was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Hospital officials notified the Marion County Sheriff’s Office of a possible case of child abuse.

A detective with the sheriff's office questioned the mother of the deceased child, who told the detective that she had left her daughter in the care of Thompson earlier that morning so she could go to work.

The Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office noted that Thompson called the mother approximately 25 minutes after she left to inform her that Jacklyn was unresponsive.

Thompson told investigators that the girl was in another room when he heard a loud noise. Thompson claimed he found the child unresponsive.

"Instead of calling 911, Thompson waited for 30 minutes for the victim’s mother to arrive and only then began driving to the hospital," the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office stated.

The mother noted that her daughter was lifeless and had a shallow pulse and a distended abdomen.

"While en route to the hospital, the victim’s mother directed Thompson to call 911 when she realized the victim had stopped breathing altogether," the attorney's office said.

Emergency medical services personnel met Thompson and the mother at a nearby business to bring the toddler to the hospital for medical treatment.

RELATED: 21-year-old mother sentenced to life in prison for 'heinous' killing of daughter by repeatedly slamming newborn on concrete

  allanswart via iStock / Getty Images Plus

According to officials, the little girl suffered abhorrent physical abuse at the hands of Thompson. Officials added that Thompson claimed he did not know how the victim became injured despite being the only person left with the victim.

On Sept. 1, 2022, the medical examiner's office determined that Jacklyn's cause of death was traumatic injuries to her torso with a severing of her spine and internal bleeding.

"Based on the severity and nature of the break, it was determined that Thompson applied significant, gradual force to the victim’s upper and lower body and bent her backward beyond her natural range of motion until her back broke," the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office said.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office said in a statement, "Thompson physically abused the toddler while she was in his care, which resulted in her spine being completely severed."

Thompson was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail on Sept. 8, 2022.

RELATED: 'Haunt me the rest of my life': Father reportedly kills family and himself in murder-suicide on same day as son's graduation

 

  Image source: Marion County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office

 

After jurors deliberated for two hours Wednesday and delivered a guilty verdict, Judge Barbara Kissner-Kwatkosky sentenced Thompson to life in prison for Jacklyn's murder.

"This monster stole the life of an innocent child, and today, the justice system made sure he will never walk free again," said Bill Gladson, state attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. "Life in prison is too good for this kind of evil."

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods added, "I'm incredibly proud of my major crimes detectives for their relentless work on this heartbreaking case. Their dedication helped secure justice for an innocent child."

"I also want to thank State Attorney Bill Gladson and his team for delivering a guilty verdict," Woods continued. "In Marion County, we protect our children — and we hold those who harm them accountable."

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Alleged manifesto of murder suspect Luigi Mangione highlights lessons learned from Unabomber: Court docs



Police caught up with Luigi Mangione, 27, at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after he allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel last December. In addition to allegedly finding a 9mm handgun, a homemade silencer, multiple cartridges, a fake New Jersey ID, a passport, approximately $7,800 in cash, and a written admission of guilt on his person, police reportedly found a notebook detailing plans for the shooting.

Mangione's defense attorney asked the court overseeing the case to rule the notebook inadmissible, claiming the search of Mangione's backpack where it was located violated his Fourth Amendment rights. The defense also asked the court to dismiss his indictment altogether.

Prosecutors responded with a damning court filing on Wednesday containing entries from Mangione's alleged notebook, which they claim reveals "in unambiguous terms [the] defendant's intent and motive in deliberately assassinating the CEO of the country's largest health company."

'Yet another indirect victim of the long-term lunacy of Ted Kaczynski.'

In an Aug. 15, 2024, entry, Mangione allegedly wrote, "I finally feel confident about what I will do. The details are coming together. And I don't feel any doubt about whether it's right/justified. I'm glad — in a way — that I've procrastinated bc it allowed me to learn more about UHC. KMD [the initials of another apparent target considered] would've been an unjustified catastrophe that would be perceived mostly as sick, but more importantly unhelpful."

Prosecutors indicated that Mangione traveled to New York the first week of December 2024 to attend UHC's investor conference, where Thompson was scheduled to speak. Thompson was, however, shot outside the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan hours prior to his presentation.

The entries shared in the court documents indicate that the author initially contemplated killing many more people, possibly by way of bombing; however, he decided against it, citing lessons learned from Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski, a domestic terrorist who targeted businessmen, scholars, and random civilians with homemade bombs from 1978 to 1995, injuring 23 victims and ultimately killing three people.

James R. Fitzgerald, a retired supervisory special agent with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit best known for his role in the Unabomber investigation, told Blaze News, "It seems Brian Thompson, after his December '24 execution-style murder by an unhinged, misguided, and misinformed young zealot, is yet another indirect victim of the long-term lunacy of Ted Kaczynski, aka the Unabomber."

RELATED: Dear Uncle Ted

  Mugshot of domestic terrorist Ted Kaczynski. Photo by Bureau of Prisons/Getty Image

On Oct. 22, 2024, Mangione allegedly praised Kaczynski, the so-called Unabomber, but noted what he apparently got wrong.

"The problem with most revolutionary acts is that the message is lost on normies," says the entry. "For example, Ted K makes some good points on the future of humanity, but to make his point he indiscriminately mailbombs innocents. Normies categorize him as an insane serial killer, focus on the act/atrocities themselves, and dismiss his ideas."

'There's an implied sense of superiority in how he critiques Kaczynski’s failure to communicate his message.'

The Unabomber condemned all forms of technology and advocated for cultural primitivism in his 35,000-word manifesto titled "Industrial Society and Its Future," which he submitted to the Washington Post for publication. Whereas Mangione appears to enjoy standing in the spotlight, Kaczynski was a recluse who evidently preferred to remain planted in his remote Montana cabin.

"Most importantly — by committing indiscriminate atrocities — he becomes a monster, which makes his ideas those of a monster, no matter how true," continued the entry in the notebook attributed to Mangione. "He crosses the line from revolutionary anarchist to terrorist — the worst thing a person can be."

Dr. Kimberly Przeszlowski, assistant professor of criminal justice at Quinnipiac University, told Blaze News, "Mangione's reference to 'normies' misunderstanding Kaczynski as merely an insane serial killer reveals more than just admiration — it signals a detachment from mainstream society and a belief that he perceives the world more clearly than others."

"There's an implied sense of superiority in how he critiques Kaczynski’s failure to communicate his message, as if he believes he could do it better," continued Przeszlowski. "His alleged decision to avoid using bombings — unlike Kaczynski — seems deliberate, a way to present himself as a more focused and effective messenger."

Given the adoration of Mangione by elements of the American left, it appears he has been somewhat successful in this regard.

RELATED: ‘Saint Luigi’? America’s moral compass couldn’t be more broken

  Photo by Guy Smallman/Getty Images

Przeszlowski suggested that the alleged author of the journal entries does not necessarily regard himself "as someone trying to refine an ideology, but as someone capable of packaging and delivering it in a way that gains broader acceptance or resonates with a larger audience."

Clinical psychologist Franklin Carvajal suggested to Blaze News that Mangione is neither a psychopath nor a serial killer but rather an individual desirous for a "new cultural norm to emerge based on what he sees as his idea of justice."

"When he says 'normies' he means the average person who has been indoctrinated in what he believes is a different cultural framework or perspective," said Carvajal.

The psychologist noted that Mangione shares in common with Kaczynski and Timothy McVeigh the belief that "the end justifies the means."

Przeszlowski suggested that "while their tactics and time periods differ, [Mangione and Kaczynski's] underlying motivations share common threads — anti-modern views, deep distrust of institutions, and the belief that violence can serve as a wake-up call."

Mangione allegedly noted further in the notebook entry, "This is the problem with most militants that rebel against often-real injustices: They commit an atrocity whose horror either outweighs the impact of their message, or whose distance from their message prevents normies from connecting the dots. Consequently, the revolutionary idea becomes associated with extremism, incoherence or evil — an idea that no reasonable member of society could approve of."

The entry hints that the author contemplated bombing insurance companies' headquarters but ultimately determined that "bombs=terrorism" and would read as the "unjustified anger of someone who simply got sick/had bad luck and took their frustration out on the insurance industry."

Rather than engaging in bombing as Kaczynski had, the author of the entry suggested that one should instead "wack [sic] the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention," adding that the message the "greedy bastard ... had it coming" would be abundantly clear.

'These parasites simply had it coming.'

"As I had to constantly remind myself during my time on the UNABOM Task Force in the mid-1990s, while reading and rereading the 'Manifesto' day after day, one's actions greatly supersede one's words in any supposedly 'civilized' society," said Fitzgerald. "That is, in this context, unprovoked violence ultimately weakens one's argument. It certainly doesn't strengthen it. But to the unbalanced, that doesn't wholly register and/or guide them accordingly."

'The Kaczynskis and the Mangiones of the world are poor substitutes for great thinkers or philosophers," added Fitzgerald. "Their homicidal actions in the long run devalue their words — except to the also unhinged, misguided, and misinformed among us."

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  Photo by Steven Hirsch - Pool/Getty Images

Prosecutors' Wednesday filing also included the note police reportedly found on Mangione at the time of his arrest, which states, "To the Feds, I’ll keep this short because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly I wasn’t working with anyone. This was fairly trivial, some elementary social engineering, basic [computer-aided design], and a lot of patience."

"I do apologize for any strife or trauma, but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming," continued the note.

Mangione, who faces both New York state and federal charges in the murder of Thompson, has pleaded not guilty to murder as an act of terrorism as well as weapons charges.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has impressed upon federal prosecutors the need to seek the death penalty against Mangione, noting in an April 1 release, "Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America."

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'King of the Hill' voice actor allegedly shot dead by neighbor; tributes pour in: 'A terrible tragedy'



"King of the Hill" voice actor Jonathan Joss was shot dead in Texas following an argument with a neighbor, according to reports.

At around 7 p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a reported shooting at a residence in San Antonio, according to WOAI-TV.

'He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other.'

Officers with the San Antonio Police Department discovered a man near the road suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but the 59-year-old victim reportedly was pronounced dead at the crime scene.

The victim was identified as Joss — an actor who has appeared in several popular TV shows.

Police identified the shooting suspect as 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, according to NBC News, which added that Ceja was arrested and charged with Joss' murder.

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  Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja. Photo by Bexar County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images

TMZ reported that Ceja and Joss had lived two doors down from each other and that they had gotten into a "fiery dispute" Sunday that led to the fatal shooting. The outlet added that the pair had reportedly gotten into "verbal and physical fights in the past."

Joss’ husband — Tristan Kern de Gonzales — told the Associated Press that the person who killed the voice actor screamed "violent homophobic slurs" before firing his gun.

"He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other," de Gonzales declared to the AP, adding that the shooter was "openly homophobic."

But police dispelled rumors that the murder was a hate crime over Joss being gay.

"Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that Mr. Joss’s murder was related to his sexual orientation," police said in a statement. "SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, the suspect will be charged accordingly."

Joss was best known as the voice of John Redcorn, a character on the "King of the Hill" animated TV series that ran from 1997 to 2009. A "King of the Hill" reboot is scheduled to premiere in August on Hulu.

According to Variety, Joss already had recorded dialogue for the series' reboot.

Just days ago, Joss was seen on video promoting the reboot during a panel at the ATX TV Festival in Austin.

Joss has 49 acting credits to his name, including his recurring role as Chief Ken Hotate in "Parks and Recreation." Joss also appeared on "Tulsa King," "Ray Donovan," "Walker, Texas Ranger," "True Grit," and "The Magnificent Seven."

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Tributes to Joss rolled in from celebrities.

"Parks and Recreation" co-star Chris Pratt wrote on Instagram, "Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in 'Parks and Recreation' and was also in 'The Magnificent Seven.' Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones."

Fellow "Parks and Recreation" actor Nick Offerman told People magazine, "The cast has been texting together about it all day, and we're just heartbroken. Jonathan was such a sweet guy, and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy."

De Gonzales stated, "To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family."

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