ADA COUNTY, Idaho (Court TV) — Less than two months before opening statements were scheduled to begin in his murder trial, Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to killing four people.
Bryan Kohberger, charged in the murders of four University of Idaho students, appears at the Ada County Courthouse, Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, Pool)
Kohberger was a graduate student studying criminology at Washington State University when he was charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death. Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Kaylee Goncalves were found brutally murdered in their off-campus home on Nov. 13, 2022.
MORE | Q-tip & spotless car were key evidence in Bryan Kohberger’s murder case
At a hearing on Wednesday, Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. Under the conditions of the agreement, Kohberger has agreed to serve the maximum sentence on each count — life for each murder and 10 years for burglary — consecutively. The plea allowed Kohberger to avoid the death penalty, which prosecutors had been seeking in the case.
Kohberger spoke few words at the hearing, answering simply “Yes” to a series of questions posed by Judge Steven Hippler, including the specific question of whether he murdered each victim. Later, he reaffirmed his decision, announcing his plea of “guilty” to each charge.
Prosecutor Bill Thompson presented a recitation of evidence, which outlined a timeline of the case, beginning in March 2022, when Kohberger purchased a knife and sheath online using a gift card. By July 2022, Kohberger’s phone began to connect to a cell phone tower that serves the area of 1122 King Road, where the victims were murdered. Between July 9 and November 7, Kohberger’s phone connected to the tower 23 times, usually late at night or early in the morning.
MORE | Out-of-state witnesses ordered to travel to Bryan Kohberger’s murder trial
Thompson said that Mogen and Goncalves were murdered first and that Kohberger was either coming down the stairs or leaving when he encountered Kernodle, still holding a large knife. He killed Kernodle and then Chapin, who was asleep. Each victim suffered multiple wounds, but Thompson emphasized there was no evidence of any sexual assault.
In a statement posted to social media, Goncalves’ family expressed their disappointment, saying, “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.”
Judge Hippler acknowledged the families’ feelings, but asked for all calls for the public to contact his office with their opinions to stop, calling it “extremely disruptive” for his staff. “It’s also highly inappropriate,” Judge Hippler said. “The Court is not supposed to — and this Court will never — take into account public sentiment in making an opinion regarding its judicial opinion in cases.” He said he did not read any of the messages, nor did he listen to any of the voicemails left for him.
Under the law, Judge Hippler is not bound by the terms of the agreement; however, because the sentences agreed upon are the maximums, the judge would only be able to sentence Kohberger to less time in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23.
