BOISE, ID – Bryan Kohberger appeared in court Wednesday morning in Boise, where he changed his plea to guilty in connection with the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students.

A plea deal was presented to the judge, in which Kohberger agreed to accept four consecutive life sentences in prison, thereby avoiding the death penalty. Additionally, Kohberger pleaded guilty to a burglary charge, which adds 10 years to his sentence.

As part of the agreement, Kohberger also waived his right to appeal the convictions or his sentences.

The deal still requires approval from Judge Steven Hippler.  Hippler asked Kohberger if he was “pleading guilty because you are guilty?”  Kohberger responded, “yes.”  The final approval of Hippler is expected following a sentencing hearing set for July 23.

Reactions from the victims’ families have been mixed. While some support the plea agreement, others feel they were not properly consulted by prosecutors before the decision was made.

Kohberger is accused of the murders of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. The victims were killed in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022 at a rental home on King Road in Moscow.

The murder weapon, believed to be a large fixed-blade knife, was never recovered. During the investigation, authorities discovered male DNA on a knife sheath at the crime scene, which was used to link Kohberger to the case. Investigators also tracked Kohberger’s car, a white Hyundai Elantra, which matched the vehicle seen on video footage near the scene of the murders.

Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania on December 30, 2022, and extradited to Latah County on January 4, 2023.  A trial had been set to begin in August.