Criminal cases in 2025 featured five widely followed, unusual trials.

Five high-profile criminal cases drew nationwide attention in 2025. Outcomes included guilty pleas and convictions, acquittal on major charges in one trial, and continuing pretrial rulings in another.

Several high-profile criminal trials occupied national headlines in 2025. The cases involved allegations ranging from murder to federal sex-related charges and raised questions about evidence, procedure, and civil claims. Results varied across the matters reported, with some defendants convicted or pleading guilty and others seeing charges dismissed or acquitted on major counts. Media coverage and courtroom developments kept these matters in public view. Key points reported: - United States v. Luigi Mangione: Mangione was taken into federal custody after the alleged killing of a corporate CEO and received broad public attention. Some federal charges described as terror-related were later dismissed, while a second-degree murder charge remains pending; judges have reviewed whether certain evidence should be excluded and a trial date is under consideration. - State of Pennsylvania v. Bryan Kohberger: Kohberger reached a plea agreement in 2025 on multiple counts tied to an earlier campus killing. He pleaded guilty to avoid capital punishment and received consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole and related penalties; he is serving his sentence in Idaho. - United States v. Sean Combs: Federal proceedings that included trafficking and related counts concluded midyear with at least one conviction. The defendant was sentenced to slightly over four years and is serving time at a federal facility, with a multi-year projected release date noted in court records. - Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Karen Read: After an earlier mistrial, Read was acquitted on the most serious homicide-related charges in a 2025 trial and received a probationary outcome for an impaired-driving offense. Read later filed a civil suit alleging misconduct by law enforcement, and parts of that claim were moved toward federal court with a scheduled hearing delayed. - Case against Craig: A jury found Craig guilty of first-degree murder and several related offenses tied to poisoning allegations reported in prior filings. The court imposed life without parole plus additional consecutive terms, and the defendant is held in a state correctional facility. Summary: These five matters illustrate a range of legal outcomes in 2025, from guilty pleas and convictions to acquittal on major counts and dismissed charges. Several cases prompted further legal steps, including motions over evidence, civil filings, and scheduling of future hearings. Undetermined at this time: final trial dates or the full resolution of some pending appeals and civil claims.