BOISE, Idaho—Bryan Kohberger has asked an Idaho court to allow him to withdraw the guilty plea that resulted in four consecutive life sentences for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, arguing that his plea was not voluntary and that he received ineffective legal representation.
The petition, filed as part of post-conviction proceedings, seeks to reopen one of the most closely watched U.S. murder cases in recent years. Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to the stabbing deaths of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, as well as a related burglary charge, in exchange for prosecutors withdrawing their pursuit of the death penalty.
In court filings and a public statement released through media outlets, Kohberger asserted that he is innocent and claimed his decision to plead guilty was influenced by "false promises" and "blatant disinformation." He alleged that his former attorneys misled him about prison conditions, exaggerated the consequences of facing death row and failed to provide effective legal assistance during plea negotiations.
Kohberger also argued that potentially exculpatory evidence, including forensic material discussed in his petition, was not properly presented to him before he entered his plea. Court records show he is seeking to have his conviction vacated and to enter a not guilty plea if the court grants relief.
His current claims contrast with statements he made during the 2025 plea hearing, when he told the court he was pleading guilty because he was guilty and agreed to a factual basis outlining the killings. Under the plea agreement, he waived several appellate rights in exchange for avoiding capital punishment.
Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador said after the filing became public that his office was prepared to defend the conviction and ensure that justice was carried out. Families of the victims have expressed frustration that the latest legal challenge could prolong proceedings after they believed the case had been resolved through the plea agreement.
Legal experts have said post-conviction efforts to withdraw a guilty plea face a high legal threshold, particularly after sentencing, and generally require a defendant to demonstrate constitutional violations such as ineffective assistance of counsel or that the plea was not entered knowingly and voluntarily.
The post-conviction case remains pending. The court has appointed counsel to represent Kohberger in the proceedings, and no ruling has yet been issued on whether his guilty plea will be withdrawn.
