Four Killed University of Idaho

Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse for his sentencing hearing, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Boise, for stabbing four University of Idaho students to death in November 2022.

Bryan Kohberger claims he is innocent and is seeking to withdraw his guilty plea, according to a New York Times report.

Kohberger pleaded guilty to the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students in Moscow and was sentenced to four life sentences in July 2025.

Kohberger reportedly informed The New York Times that he is seeking to abandon his guilty plea, citing concerns about the plea deal.

“My actual innocence is my truth, and the plea, hinged on by false promises and blatant disinformation, MUST be withdrawn,” Kohberger said in a statement provided to The Times on Sunday night.

The Times reported Kohberger is seeking to have a lawyer appointed to help him going forward.

The Latah County Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment on the pending litigation when reached by the Daily News.

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador responded Monday to news that Kohberger is seeking to reopen the case by filing a petition for post-conviction relief. Kohberger is serving his sentence for the murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.

“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,” Labrador said in a statement. “My office stands ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure justice is fully carried out.”

Recommended for you

Welcome to the discussion!

The Idaho State Journal invites you to take part in the community conversation. But those who don't play nice may be uninvited.

Comments that are:

  • off topic
  • defamatory
  • libelous
  • obscene
  • racist
  • abusive
  • threatening
  • an invasion of privacy (doxxing)
  • profane (including attempts to misspell profanity in order to get around the profanity filter)

will be deleted. Repeat offenders will lose commenting privileges.

Comments are opinions of the author only, and do not reflect the opinions or views of Idaho State Journal.