Idaho student murders: Convicted killer fights guilty plea, family calls him 'narcissist'
The family of one of the victims of Bryan Kohberger has expressed anger after the convicted murderer announced he is challenging his guilty plea for the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students.
Kohberger was sentenced last year to four consecutive life terms after pleading guilty to murder charges. He told the New York Times he now intends to withdraw that plea, claiming it was based on 'false promises and blatant disinformation'.
The family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the victims, released a statement calling Kohberger a 'narcissist' and criticising his change of position. 'He chose not to leave his fate – or the facts of the case – to a jury,' the statement said. 'He never cried foul, never claimed he was uninformed or pressured, and never suggested there were problems with the discovery materials.'
Kohberger was convicted of stabbing to death Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen at their off-campus home on 13 November 2022. The case shocked the small town of Moscow, Idaho, and drew national attention.
Kohberger, a former criminology doctoral student at Washington State University, never provided a motive. Investigators presented compelling evidence linking him to the crime scene, though no direct connection to the victims was established.
In his statement, Kohberger protested his innocence and said he was offering prosecutors another chance to seek the death penalty if they wished. Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador expressed support for the victims' families, saying his office would 'do whatever is necessary to ensure justice is fully carried out'.
Legal experts say Kohberger's attempt to reverse his plea faces significant hurdles. Sam Newton, associate professor at University of Idaho College of Law, noted that Kohberger had testified under oath that he understood the plea deal and was acting voluntarily. 'Courts don't take kindly to walking a voluntary plea back without hard proof that something went seriously wrong behind the scenes,' Newton said.
