Man convicted of 2022 Idaho student murders files petition to withdraw guilty plea

Bryan Kohberger, 31, filed a petition for post-conviction relief on July 27 in Ada County District Court, asking the court to vacate his guilty plea and convictions for the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students. Court records show Kohberger is representing himself in the request.

In an interview with The New York Times, Kohberger asserted his innocence and said he was misled into confessing, but he did not provide details about evidence supporting his claim. He issued a statement to the newspaper on July 26, describing the plea as “based on false promises and disinformation” and urging its withdrawal.

Kohberger had pleaded guilty in July 2025 to the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, receiving four life sentences without parole and an additional ten-year burglary term. Prosecutors linked him to the crime through DNA evidence on a knife sheath, cell-phone data and surveillance footage.

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador responded that his office is prepared to take any necessary action to ensure justice is carried out. The family of Kaylee Goncalves criticized the media for providing Kohberger a platform to repeat his innocence claims and reiterated confidence in the evidence against him.

The petition will be reviewed by the court, which will determine whether any legal or constitutional errors justify overturning the plea.