Bryan Kohberger seeks withdrawal of guilty plea in Idaho college student murders

(CN) — Bryan Kohberger, sentenced to consecutive life sentences for the murders of four people in an Idaho university town, wants to withdraw his guilty plea.

Kohberger is pushing back on what an Ada County judge told him at his July 2025 sentencing — that he would remain in the custody of the Idaho Department of Corrections until his death. On Monday, he filed a petition for postconviction relief and told The New York Times his guilty plea must be withdrawn because it relied on false promises and disinformation.

The legal maneuver reignites a murder case that drew national attention to Moscow, Idaho, where in November 2022 an assailant broke into an off-campus apartment and fatally stabbed four college students: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.

Authorities arrested Kohberger in December 2022 at his parents’ Pennsylvania home. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson last July told Judge Steven Hippler that Kohberger’s defense team first broached the possibility of a guilty plea the prior month. That happened after the judge denied Kohberger’s attempt to provide evidence that someone else was responsible for his actions, and to indefinitely postpone the trial.

Hippler asked Kohberger a series of questions at his July 2025 guilty plea hearing, including whether he killed the students and whether he was pleading guilty because he was guilty.

“Yes,” Kohberger replied.

Three weeks later, Kohberger sat quietly in a courtroom as friends and family of the victims lambasted him and asked for severe punishment. Alivea Goncalves, Kaylee’s sister, called Kohberger a psychopath and sociopath. Randy Davis, Kernodle’s stepfather, said Kohberger would go to hell.

“I know people believe in other stuff,” he added. “You are going to suffer, man.”

Kohberger said nothing at his sentencing, other than “I respectfully decline” when given a chance to speak. He’s given no motive for the slayings.

Thompson told the judge he received different views from friends and family about the plea deal, with some not agreeing with his decision. He offered Kohberger one avenue: guilty pleas to all counts in the indictment, no bargaining on the sentence and a waiver of all appeal rights. The deal removed death as a potential punishment.

Hippler at sentencing called Kohberger a faceless coward. He said Kohberger’s incompetence and intense police work led to his capture.

Prosecutors had evidence that Kohberger bought a knife and sheath online while living at his parents’ home in 2022. One item matched another that was found at the crime scene.

Also, prosecutors obtained surveillance video of Kohberger’s vehicle and cellphone data showing where his phone connected to cell towers in the Moscow vicinity on the day of the slayings.

The case led to intense media scrutiny. A Netflix documentary, “The Idaho Murders: College Nightmares,” is set to premier Wednesday.

“My heart goes out to the families of Madison, Kaylee, Xana, and Ethan, who have already endured unimaginable loss and now must face today’s deeply painful news,” Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said in a statement. “My office stands ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure justice is fully carried out.”

The Latah County Prosecutor’s Office couldn’t be reached for comment.