The Petition for Withdrawal
The formal petition filed by Bryan Kohberger to retract his guilty plea in the high-profile case involving the deaths of four University of Idaho students has been made public. The document surfaced following a report by New York Times correspondent Mike Baker, who shared the filing on social media platform X.
In the legal filing, the 31-year-old Kohberger asserts that his original confession was not voluntary. The document states:
«It is hereby declared that during attorney-client discussions, most of which included all members of Bryan C. Kohberger’s family, petitioner was convinced to falsely confess to capital murder and felony burglary by coercion, disinformation, false promises and the withholding of exculpatory discovery.»
Allegations of Misconduct and Hidden Evidence
Kohberger, who was previously represented by court-appointed counsel, alleges that his legal team failed to disclose crucial information. Specifically, he cites the discovery of unidentified hair samples located in the hands of victim Ethan Chapin as evidence that was purportedly kept from him. Furthermore, he claims that his legal representatives provided him with inaccurate information regarding the reality of life imprisonment and the conditions of death row within the state of Idaho.
In a statement provided to the media, Kohberger emphasized his stance, declaring: «My actual innocence is my truth, and the plea, hinged on by false promises and blatant disinformation, MUST be withdrawn.»
Background of the Case
The incident occurred in November 2022 at an off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho, claiming the lives of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. Two other individuals who were present in the home at the time of the attack survived the event.
Following his arrest in the months after the tragedy, Kohberger eventually entered a guilty plea in July 2025. Under the terms of the plea agreement reached at that time, he was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, alongside an additional term for burglary. Currently, Kohberger is preparing his legal challenges independently while seeking the appointment of new counsel to represent his interests moving forward.