Overview

• Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty on July 2 to four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in the November 2022 killings of University of Idaho students.
• He accepted a plea deal waiving any appeal and eliminating capital punishment in exchange for four consecutive life sentences without parole.
• Evidence against Kohberger included his DNA on a knife sheath, cell-phone location data placing him near the scene, surveillance footage and records of a recent knife purchase.
• Victims’ families are split, with some condemning the deal for obscuring motive and others welcoming relief from a drawn-out trial process.
• Key questions remain unanswered, including why two roommates present during the attack were spared and what drove Kohberger to commit the murders.