Bryan Kohberger Moves to Withdraw Guilty Plea While Serving Four Life Sentences/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Bryan Kohberger plans to seek post-conviction relief after pleading guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students, according to two sources. Although his plea agreement waived direct appeal rights, Kohberger reportedly intends to argue that his legal representation was inadequate and that his plea should be withdrawn. Court records indicate that a petition was filed Monday, but the filing itself was not immediately available for review.
Quick Look
- Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to four murders.
- He received four consecutive life sentences without parole.
- An additional 10-year sentence was imposed.
- He waived his right to a direct appeal under the plea agreement.
- Sources say he is pursuing post-conviction relief.
- Kohberger reportedly plans to challenge the performance of his attorneys.
- He now claims an “absolute claim of innocence.”
- The petition’s complete contents were not immediately available.
- Idaho’s attorney general said the state is prepared to defend the convictions.
- Relatives of the victims expressed surprise and renewed distress.
Deep Look
Kohberger Pursues Post-Conviction Challenge
Bryan Kohberger is seeking post-conviction relief after pleading guilty to killing four University of Idaho students, according to two sources familiar with the case.
Court records reportedly show that Kohberger filed a petition Monday. However, the document itself was not immediately available, leaving the precise legal arguments and requested remedy unclear.
Sources told Fox News that Kohberger intends to argue that he received inadequate legal representation.
The filing represents a collateral challenge to his convictions rather than the direct appeal he waived as part of his plea agreement.
Plea Agreement Waived Appeal Rights
The four students were stabbed to death inside an off-campus home near the University of Idaho on Nov. 13, 2022.
Under the plea agreement, Kohberger waived his right to appeal and avoided a trial at which prosecutors intended to seek the death penalty.
He received four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 10-year sentence.
An appeal waiver can restrict ordinary appellate review, but defendants may still attempt certain post-conviction claims. Whether Kohberger’s plea agreement or Idaho law permits his specific challenge will be determined by the court.
Kohberger Claims “Actual Innocence”
The New York Times first reported the new legal effort after Kohberger contacted one of its reporters.
He asserted an “absolute claim of innocence” in what the outlet described as his first public comments outside court.
“My actual innocence is my truth, and the plea, hinged on by false promises and blatant disinformation, MUST be withdrawn,” Kohberger said.
The statement conflicts with his guilty plea and courtroom admissions.
He also claimed that “justice was not served” and had been “circumnavigated by a broken plea.”
Full Petition Was Not Immediately Available
Because the filing itself was unavailable, it was not immediately possible to determine what alleged promises or misinformation Kohberger was referencing.
It was also unclear which attorneys he was accusing of deficient representation or what evidence he would submit in support of his claims.
A post-conviction allegation does not automatically invalidate a guilty plea or sentence. Kohberger would need to satisfy the applicable legal standards and persuade a court that relief is warranted.
Attorney Says High Legal Standard Applies
Joshua Ritter, a California defense attorney and Fox News contributor, said Kohberger would face a demanding burden.
“He would have to show ‘manifest injustice,’” Ritter said. “Essentially his lawyers lied to him.”
The quoted assessment represents Ritter’s interpretation and not a court ruling in Kohberger’s case.
One theory discussed in “Broken Plea,” a recently published book about the case, is that Kohberger may not have fully understood or meaningfully participated in the decision to plead guilty.
Author Chris Whitcomb said Kohberger’s use of the phrase “broken plea” surprised him because he had never spoken with Kohberger.
State Says It Is Prepared to Respond
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said his office would defend the outcome of the case.
His office assisted Latah County prosecutors in opposing pretrial efforts by Kohberger’s defense to suppress evidence.
Labrador said the state is “ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure justice is fully carried out.”
“My heart goes out to the families of Madison, Kaylee, Xana, and Ethan, who have already endured unimaginable loss and now must face today’s deeply painful news,” he added.
Guilty Plea Came Weeks Before Trial
Kohberger entered his plea weeks before his scheduled trial.
Prosecutors had built a case involving cellphone-location information, digital records and other evidence. His defense had filed numerous motions seeking to exclude evidence before trial.
Labrador’s office helped prosecutors defeat nearly all of those suppression efforts, according to the supplied report.
Kohberger’s guilty plea eliminated the need for a trial and removed the possibility that he would receive the death penalty.
Victim’s Mother Expresses Surprise
The new filing surprised some relatives of the victims, who believed the plea agreement had ended Kohberger’s ability to challenge the outcome.
“I didn’t think he could do that, since that was part of the stipulation in the first place — he wasn’t going to be able to do that,” said Cara Northington, Kernodle’s mother.
The court must now determine whether Kohberger’s petition can proceed despite the waiver in his plea agreement and whether his allegations justify further hearings or other relief.
His convictions and sentences remain in force unless a court rules otherwise.
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