Bryan Kohberger, the former criminology student accused of murdering four University of Idaho students, has pleaded guilty to all charges in a sudden turn of events at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho.

Judge Steven Hippler presided over the change of plea hearing, where Kohberger admitted to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. The victims, whose names were solemnly read in court, were Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.

This plea agreement spares Kohberger from facing the death penalty. Instead, he will receive four consecutive life sentences for the murders and a maximum of 10 years for the burglary charge. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23rd.

Kohberger’s admission comes just weeks before his trial was set to begin, with jury selection originally planned for August 4. This unexpected plea has elicited mixed reactions from the victims’ families.

Prosecutors have called this plea a “sincere attempt to seek justice” for the families. However, Steve Goncalves, father of victim Kaylee Goncalves, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the plea deal, describing it as “making a deal with the devil.”

The Goncalves family had requested amendments to the plea deal, including a full confession and information about the location of the murder weapon. These requests were not accommodated, as prosecutors explained that altering an accepted plea offer would be unethical.

The evidence against Kohberger, as presented by Prosecutor Bill Thompson, includes DNA matching between the defendant and a knife sheath found at the crime scene. The alleged murder weapon, described as a KA-BAR-style hunting knife, has not been recovered.

This raises important questions about the legal process and the rights of victims’ families in plea negotiations. Idaho law requires prosecutors to communicate with victims’ families about proposed plea offers, but the final decision rests with the prosecution.

This is a developing story, and we will continue to report on any new information as it becomes available.