Bryan Kohberger, a former graduate student charged with the murders of four Idaho college students, has agreed to plead guilty on all counts and will face four consecutive life sentences, according to multiple news reports.
Kohberger will not face the death penalty in exchange for his guilty plea, and will next appear in a court hearing on July 2, when he’s expected to formally enter it.
As part of the deal, Kohberger will plead guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. He’ll also waive his right to appeal and to serve his prison sentence without the possibility of parole.
Kohberger stands accused of stabbing three University of Idaho roommates — Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21 and Xana Kernodle, 20 — as well Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, during a 2022 attack at their off-campus house.
The killings, which took place in the early morning of Nov. 13, 2022, spawned a weekslong manhunt in the area and thousands of tips as police sought to track down a suspect. Two other roommates inside the home survived.
Kohberger, then a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, was apprehended by police in December 2022 based on DNA evidence, his white Hyundai Elantra and cellphone records, according to court documents.
Kohberger’s plea comes just weeks ahead of his trial, which was set to start in August. Prosecutors have said that they met with available members of victims’ families this past week to discuss potential options after Kohberger’s defense requested an offer.
A judge had previously entered “not guilty” pleas on Kohberger’s behalf to all counts. His defense team had also attempted to introduce evidence of a slate of alternative suspects, a move that a judge rejected.
“This resolution is our sincere attempt to seek justice for your family,” the prosecutors reportedly wrote in a letter to the victims’ family members. “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.”
The relatives of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the victims, expressed anger at the development on Facebook on Monday.
“It’s true! We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho. They have failed us. Please give us some time. This was very unexpected. We appreciate all your love and support,” read a post from The Goncalves Family Page.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.