Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, pleaded guilty on Wednesday (July 2) to first-degree murder as part of a plea deal that removes the possibility of the death penalty. Under the terms of the agreement, the 30-year-old former Ph.D. student in criminal justice will serve four life sentences consecutively, without parole. He also waived his rights to appeal or request a sentence reduction. The plea leaves many questions unanswered, particularly regarding his motive for the killings.

Kohberger’s formal sentencing is tentatively scheduled for July 23, the same week jury selection for the trial was set to begin. He had previously pleaded not guilty. Some relatives of the victims attended the hearing, which lasted about an hour at the Fourth Judicial District Court in Boise. The plea deal drew mixed reactions from the families—some supported it, while others opposed it.

When asked by Judge Steven Hippler how he pleaded to each murder charge, Kohberger calmly replied “guilty” without showing emotion. He affirmed he was acting voluntarily, understood the consequences, and was satisfied with his legal representation. At the time of the murders, Kohberger was studying for his doctorate at Washington State University in Pullman, just a short distance from Moscow, Idaho, where the crimes took place in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022. The victims—Xana Kernodle (20), her boyfriend Ethan Chapin (20), Madison Mogen (21), and Kaylee Goncalves (21)—were all fatally stabbed in an off-campus home. Three of the victims lived there; Chapin was visiting.

Each victim suffered multiple stab wounds. Prosecutors said Kohberger had purchased the knife months before the attack and had studied crime-scene investigation. Though the sheath was recovered, the murder weapon was never found. There was no evidence of sexual assault or sexual motivation, according to authorities.

Investigators say Kohberger cleaned his car thoroughly to eliminate evidence. Cell phone records, surveillance footage, and DNA linked him to the crime. A surviving roommate told investigators she saw a man in black leaving the house that night. Kohberger was arrested several weeks later in Pennsylvania during a visit to his family and was extradited to Idaho.

Reactions to the plea deal were divided. Kaylee Goncalves’ family strongly opposed the agreement, calling it rushed and lacking family input. Her father, Steve Goncalves, said the sentence was not true justice. In contrast, Madison Mogen’s mother and others expressed full support for the deal, calling it the best outcome for all involved.