Bryan Kohberger, who admitted guilt last year in the killings of four University of Idaho students, is now seeking to challenge his conviction, newly filed court records show.
On Monday, Kohberger submitted a petition for post-conviction relief in Ada County District Court. The court docket indicates he is currently acting as his own attorney.
Kohberger was arrested in connection with the 2022 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin. The four were killed inside the women’s off-campus home.
Investigators said DNA recovered from a knife sheath left at the scene was a “statistical match” to Kohberger. Court filings also stated that Kohberger’s cellphone had been near the victims’ residence at least 12 times before the killings, with all but one of those instances occurring late at night or in the early morning hours.
In July 2025, just weeks before his trial was scheduled to begin, Kohberger pleaded guilty to all charges. Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors removed the death penalty as a possible punishment.
He was sentenced to four consecutive life terms for the four first-degree murder counts, along with an additional 10 years for burglary. Kohberger, who was studying criminology at Washington State University when the murders occurred, did not speak in court during his sentencing.
At the time, authorities said they still had not determined a motive and did not know whether one of the victims had been specifically targeted.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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