Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to the brutal stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students just weeks before his highly-anticipated trial was expected to begin.
Sources confirmed to NewsNation’s Brian Entin on Monday that the prosecution had proposed dropping the death penalty in exchange for Kohberger pleading guilty to committing the murders and serving life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The 30-year-old will be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences and waives all right to appeal, ABC News reported.
A hearing for a change of plea will be held on Wednesday.
Kohberger is accused of killing Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves at an off-campus home in Moscow in November 2022.
Weeks later, he was arrested in Pennsylvania after police allegedly linked him to the crime scene using DNA recovered from a knife sheath, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Investigators also traced his location using his cell phone and obtained surveillance video showing a car appearing to be the same make and model as his driving away from the scene of the murders.
The highly anticipated trial was scheduled to begin in August, with opening arguments on August 18.
Last week, Judge Steven Hippler issued a written ruling denying the defense’s motion asking to delay the trial.
This week, several potential defense witnesses from Kohberger’s home state of Pennsylvania were expected to appear for multiple hearings on whether they must testify.
