Bryan Kohberger, convicted in the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, is seeking to withdraw his guilty plea. He has been appointed a new attorney, public defender Greg Rauch, after petitioning the court to revoke his plea. Kohberger had entered the plea approximately one year ago, admitting to the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, all students at the university.
In a handwritten petition filed on July 27, Kohberger stated he had an "absolute claim of innocence" and alleged that his former defense team "convinced [him] to falsely confess." He further claimed that his previous attorneys, Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth, and Bicka Barlow, did not inform him of "exculpatory discovery" regarding a hair found at the crime scene that was later determined not to be his through physical analysis. Kohberger's new attorney, Rauch, stated he had not yet spoken to his client or reviewed the case file but expects to do so soon.
The Idaho Attorney General's office, represented by Raul Labrador, called Kohberger's change of stance "deeply painful" for the victims' families and affirmed their support for them. Kohberger's guilty plea in July of last year included an agreement with prosecutors not to seek the death penalty, in exchange for four consecutive life sentences without parole. Both parties had recommended this sentence.
Despite waiving his right to appeal, Kohberger is still able to file for post-conviction relief. If successful, this could lead to the withdrawal of his guilty plea and a trial, where the death penalty could once again be considered. A spokesperson for the Goncalves family described Kohberger as "the mosquito you just can't seem to swat" and suggested his actions may be for attention, noting his prior court appearance where he admitted guilt without protest.
The four students were found stabbed to death in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. Prosecutors allege that Kohberger, then a criminology graduate student at nearby Washington State University, entered the home wearing a mask and committed the murders. He was arrested six weeks later in Pennsylvania. Investigators used DNA evidence from a Q-tip found at his parents' home and genetic genealogy to link Kohberger to a knife sheath recovered at the scene. Surveillance footage of a white sedan also aided investigators. The motive for the killings remains unclear, and no connection has been established between Kohberger and the victims or the two roommates who were home at the time. Judge Steven Hippler had previously cautioned against dwelling on the "why" of the murders, suggesting it grants the defendant undue relevance and attention.