Kohberger’s Life Behind Bars Will Cost Idaho About $1 Million

The state of Idaho was rocked to the core yesterday when the news broke about Bryan Kohberger agreeing to a plea deal in the University of Idaho quadruple murder case. It was reported that Kohberger took the deal to avoid the death penalty, which means Kohberger will spend the rest of his life in prison.

What Age Will Bryan Kohberger Most Likely Die In Prison?

Many people across the state and country are sickened by the plea deal because Kohberger gets to live his life despite taking four lives and ruining the lives of countless others.

It's probably safe to say that many were hoping that Kohberger, if found guilty through a trial, would be on the receiving end of Idaho's new firing squad. That won't be the case, however, as per Kohberger's deal, he'll live out the rest of his days in prison.

But, what would that cost the state of Idaho? We did some math using various data we found to determine an estimated cost.

ALSO READ: Kohberger Accepts Plea Deal In Idaho Murder Case

Bryan Kohberger is currently 30 years old and turns 31 in 143 days on November 21. According to one study from Prison Policy Initiative, "each year in prison takes two years off an individual's life expectancy." The life expectancy in the state of Idaho, according to the CDC, is 77.2 years.

If Kohberger hypothetically is looking at 36+ years in prison starting this year, based on the life expectancy study, he wouldn't survive past 35 years old. But, as we all know, that study just doesn't seem right.

How Much Will It Cost To Keep Bryan Kohberger In Prison For Life?

We did find another study that says "incarcerated individuals are approximately 10 to 15 years older physiologically than their community-dwelling peers" and will likely develop geriatric conditions earlier in life.

Using THAT number, we can technically assume that the life expectancy for a prisoner serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison is between 62 and 67 years in Idaho, which seems more probable for Kohberger than 35 years old, barring any accidents, serious injuries, or illnesses.

With that info, we can estimate that Kohberger will spend between approximately 31 years, 140~ days (or ~11,455 days), and 36 years, 140+ days (or ~13,280 days) behind bars.

According to the Idaho Department of Corrections, the cost per day to house a prison resident in Idaho prisons was $74.34 in 2020.

Using that data, the minimum cost to keep Bryan Kohberger alive through the age of 62 is about $851,564.70 over the course of his lifetime to 62 years of age. Now, assuming Kohberger's life behind bars ends in 36 years, 140+ days, the maximum cost to keep him in there is about $987,235.20.

The Financial Burden on Idaho Taxpayers

Allow us to say, this is all estimation and guess work using life expectancy, and we're not accounting for medical attention, preexisting health conditions, and other variables we may have missed. Those numbers obviously go up the longer he lives in prison.

How do you feel about Kohberger's plea deal? Do you think it's worth the money to keep him behind bars for the rest of his life? Share your thoughts with us HERE.