(NewsNation) — NewsNation has learned a plea deal has been offered to Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, and he has accepted.
Sources confirm the prosecution has proposed dropping the death penalty in exchange for Kohberger pleading guilty to committing the murders and to a burglary charge.
NewsNation has learned Kohberger must also agree to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole and must waive his right to appeal.
A court hearing for a change of plea will be Wednesday.
Kaylee Goncalves family reacts to Kohberger plea deal
In a statement on social media, the family of one of the victims, Kaylee Goncalves, said, “It’s true! We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho. They have failed us. Please give us some time. This was very unexpected. We appreciate all your love and support. #heartbroken #kayleejade4ever”
Bryan Kohberger faces 4 murder charges connected to the killings
Kohberger, 30, a former graduate student in criminal justice at Washington State University, faces murder charges for the deaths of Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves and Ethan Chapin, who were killed at an off-campus house near the University of Idaho on Nov. 13, 2022. He had pleaded not guilty.
The students were found with fatal stab wounds in an off-campus rental home in the early morning hours.
Investigators believe the four students, thought to be sleeping at the time, were fatally stabbed between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. According to the coroner, there was no sign of sexual assault.
A little over a month after the killings, Kohberger was arrested at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania on Dec. 30, 2022 and extradited to Idaho.
Court records showed that investigators identified Kohberger as the suspect through a combination of DNA evidence at the scene, cellphone records and the suspect’s white Hyundai Elantra.
A judge had granted a venue change for the murder trial from the small town of Moscow, Idaho, arguing the small local jury pool was likely tainted by pretrial publicity, after request from Kohberger’s attorneys.
Latah County Judge John Judge also agreed with Kohberger’s lawyer on the massive publicity of the case making it difficult to find impartial jurors in Latah County.
A trial date was initially set for October 2023, but after Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, it was pushed back until the summer of 2025.
Kohberger’s attorney’s had tried to delay the trial citing 68 terabytes of evidence to review.
The trial was scheduled to begin in August, with opening arguments expected Aug. 18.
The post Bryan Kohberger accepts plea deal in Idaho college murders case appeared first on WHNT.
