A 30-year-old man has admitted to murdering four roommates in a small Idaho college town in 2022, as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
Bryan Kohberger, who was a PhD criminology student, was set to stand trial in August over the attacks that shocked America.
During a hearing on Wednesday, Judge Steven Hippler read the details of the agreement, stating that Kohberger had agreed waive his right to appeal the case or ask for leniency.
Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were killed in their off-campus home in the city of Moscow, in November 2022.
“Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?” Judge Hippler asked the defendant.
“Yes,” Kohburger replied.
Before beginning proceedings, the judge stated that his office had received numerous messaged and voicemails from members of the public that sought to “influence my decision making”.
He said he had not read or listened to any of the messages, and urged people to stop sending them.
The judge then read out the charges against Kohburger – one count of burglary, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and four counts of first degree murder, which each carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
He pleaded guilty to all the charges.
The brutal nature of the murders, the age of the victims and the suspect’s background in criminology sparked intense public interest in the case.
The plea deal has divided the families of the victims.
“We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho. They have failed us. Please give us some time. This was very unexpected. We appreciate all your love and support”, the family of Kaylee Goncalves family said in a statement.
The family also wanted a full confession, including details about the location of the murder weapon and confirmation the defendant acted alone.
However Madison Mogen’s father, Ben, told the BBC’s US partner CBS he was relieved at the outcome.
“If you get that quick death sentence, you don’t have to spend decades thinking about how terrible you made the world,” he said.
Kohberger, who was a student at nearby Washington State University, was charged in January 2023. He had to this point maintained his innocence, and prosecutors were yet to allege a motive. It’s not believed he knew the victims personally.
He will be sentenced at a later date, but is expected to receive a life order.
The defendant was arrested at his Pennsylvania family home weeks following the stabbings, after investigators said they found DNA evidence on a “leather knife sheath” at the crime scene. He was indicted by a grand jury in May 2023.
Court documents revealed police recovered a knife, a Glock pistol, black gloves, a black hat and a black face mask during a search of Kohberger’s family home.
His defence team questioned the accuracy of the DNA evidence and succeeded in its bid to move the trial location, after arguing their client would not receive a fair hearing from local jurors.
But they had failed to remove the death penalty as a sentencing option, after citing an autism diagnosis for Kohberger.
Idaho is one of 27 US states that allows for capital punishment, but there have been no executions since 2012, according to a database by the Death Penalty Information Center.
