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Guilty plea expected in 2022 murders of four Idaho students

July 1, 2025

Bryan Kohberger, a 30-year-old former criminology student charged with killing four Idaho college roommates in 2022, is expected to accept a plea deal to avoid the death penalty according to US media reports. The agreement, revealed in a letter to victims' families, would result in life imprisonment without parole if accepted by a judge at a hearing reportedly scheduled for Wednesday. Some family members, particularly the Goncalves family, have expressed outrage at the state of Idaho over the deal, while Madison Mogen's father supported it to avoid prolonged legal proceedings.

Who is affected

  • The families of the four victims: Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen
  • Bryan Kohberger, the 30-year-old defendant
  • The Moscow, Idaho community where the murders took place
  • The broader public who followed this high-profile case

What action is being taken

  • Prosecutors are offering a plea deal to Bryan Kohberger that would avoid the death penalty
  • A hearing for the plea deal has reportedly been set for Wednesday
  • The defendant is expected to plead guilty to all four murder charges and waive rights to future appeals
  • The Latah County prosecutor's office is communicating with victims' families about the agreement

Why it matters

  • The case represents one of the most shocking multiple homicides that gained national attention in 2022
  • The plea deal would ensure the defendant receives life imprisonment without parole possibility
  • It would eliminate the need for a trial and decades of potential appeals, sparing families additional trauma
  • It highlights tensions in how different victims' families view justice in capital punishment cases
  • The outcome affects Idaho's application of the death penalty, which hasn't been used since 2012

What's next

  • A hearing for the plea deal has reportedly been set for Wednesday
  • A judge will need to accept the plea agreement for it to take effect
  • If accepted, the defendant would be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole

Read full article from source: BBC