Bryan Kohberger alleges coerced plea and dismisses his attorneys

University of Idaho murderer Bryan Kohberger has dismissed his legal team, asserting that his counsel convinced him to falsely confess and accept a plea deal. In a petition filed with the Ada County District Court, Kohberger claims he was coerced into pleading guilty to the 2022 killings of four students – Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin – by promises of leniency and threats of a death‑row sentence.

The petition, submitted shortly after Netflix released a documentary on the case, requests post‑conviction relief and argues that his original plea was not entered knowingly or voluntarily. A public defender has been appointed to replace his former sentencing attorney, Anne Taylor. Kohberger maintains that ineffective counsel and misrepresentations about death‑row conditions influenced his decision to plead.

The case, which resulted in four consecutive life sentences plus additional time, remains under scrutiny as Kohberger seeks to overturn his conviction and potentially face a new trial.