Bryan Kohberger accepted a plea agreement for the Idaho murders just days after his sister, who bears a striking resemblance to him, was named as a witness for the prosecution.
The 31-year-old, responsible for four killings, chose to confess and bypass a trial shortly after Amanda Kohberger was identified as a prospective witness. In July, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of parole.
If the trial had proceeded, Amanda would have likely been called to testify, as she was listed as a possible witness by both the prosecution and defense.
Court documents show prosecutors had 180 names on their witness list, including detectives, forensic experts and relatives of the victims.
Meanwhile defense lawyers named 56 witnesses they wanted to call to speak during the sentencing stage.
The list included nearly every member of Kohberger’s immediate family, as reported by Fox News.
Though she did not need to testify, Amanda was present in the courtroom when Kohberger admitted to the murders of Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves.
Amanda Kohberger appeared composed yet visibly shaken as she left the courtroom, giving a stare eerily similar to her brother’s haunting expression observed during the proceedings.
Bryan Kohberger is seen being led out of court after receiving four life sentences for each victim: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle.
Pictured left to right: Housemates Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee’s shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke in 2022
She and mom MaryAnn traveled from their home in Pennsylvania to witness the conclusion of one of the most infamous crimes of the 21st century.
In a chilling coincidence, Amanda – a former actress – once starred in a gory slasher movie where young students were brutally hacked to death on a camping trip.
She portrayed ‘Lori’ in the low-budget thriller ‘Two Days Back’ in 2011 – with characters being stabbed and slashed with knives and hatchets.
The film’s plot bares chilling similarities to her brother’s crime – attacking four students as they slept in the remote college town of Moscow, Idaho.
The horror film shows the group being murdered one by one by a maniac killer who won over their trust – but Kohberger’s sister is one of the few to survive the slayings.
Similarly, Kohberger spared two housemates when he carried out his rampage on November 12, 2022.
But the family – especially his sisters – faced a multitude of troubles after his arrest.
Amanda, who was working as an actress at the time, and their sister Melissa, a school counselor, were both let go from their jobs.
Kohberger’s sister Amanda, their mother MaryAnn and his defense attorney Anne Taylor were escorted out of the Ada County Courthouse by police after the intense hearing
Amanda, a former actress, portrayed ‘Lori’ in the low-budget thriller ‘Two Days Back’ in 2011 – with characters being stabbed and slashed with knives and hatchets
Amanda has since landed a new job as a counselor close to the family’s home. Public records show she got her Pennsylvania social work license in June last year.
Kohberger was arrested at his parents’ house in Pennsylvania thousands of miles away on December 30 that year, after DNA found on a knife sheath was traced to him.
He continued to deny the charges, despite mounting evidence, and appeared set to go to trial until this month when a shock plea deal was announced – sparing him the death penalty.
