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Bryan Kohberger, accused of killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, has accepted a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. The 30-year-old former criminology PhD student agreed to plead guilty to four counts of murder and a burglary charge in exchange for life imprisonment without parole, as reported by CNN.
The plea deal comes as a surprise to the victims' families, who expressed their frustration and disappointment with the State of Idaho. A hearing for the change of plea is scheduled for Wednesday (July 2). Kohberger was initially set to go on trial in August, with prosecutors planning to seek the death penalty.
The case has been closely followed since the tragic events of November 13, 2022, when Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen were fatally stabbed in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. The investigation identified Kohberger as the suspect through DNA evidence, cellphone records, and his white Hyundai Elantra.
Kohberger's trial faced several delays due to disputes over evidence and a change of venue from Latah County to Boise. The plea deal requires Kohberger to waive his right to appeal, closing the chapter on a case that has gripped the small college town and beyond.