Bryan Kohberger attempts to withdraw guilty plea in Idaho murders case

Bryan Kohberger, currently serving four consecutive life sentences without parole for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, is attempting to withdraw his guilty plea. Kohberger, who was sentenced in July 2025 for the killings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle, claims his previous plea was coerced by "false promises and blatant disinformation."

Kohberger has obtained new legal representation through attorney Gregory Rauch to facilitate his attempt to retract the plea and assert his innocence. During his 2025 sentencing, Kohberger had affirmed to a judge that he was pleading guilty because he was guilty, a decision made to avoid the death penalty.

The victims' families have expressed frustration with his attempts to overturn the conviction. Specifically, the family of Kaylee Goncalves stated that the energy being spent on his legal efforts should instead be directed toward honoring the lives lost.