Idaho Murders Shocker: Kohberger Moves to Withdraw Guilty Plea
The Idaho Murders: What Happened, How the Killer Was Caught, and What’s Happening Now
Important Note: This article covers a real criminal case involving violence and loss of life. We explain it simply and respectfully, focusing on facts.
Why This Is in the News Right Now
- Netflix released a new documentary called The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare on July 29.
- The documentary focuses on the four students who lost their lives — not just the crime.
- Bryan Kohberger, the man sentenced for the murders, recently claimed he is innocent and wants to take back his guilty plea.
The Four Victims
These were real people with bright futures:
| Name | Age | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Madison Mogen | 21 | University of Idaho student |
| Kaylee Goncalves | 21 | University of Idaho student |
| Xana Kernodle | 20 | University of Idaho student |
| Ethan Chapin | 20 | Xana’s boyfriend, visiting from another college |
Director Skye Borgman said: "I felt it was important to create something that brings the focus back to who they were, the lives they lived, and the love that still surrounds them."
The Night of the Murders — November 13, 2022
Here’s what investigators say happened, step by step:
- Time: Just after 4:00 a.m.
- Place: An off-campus rental house at 1122 King Road, Moscow, Idaho
- Who entered: Bryan Kohberger, then 28 years old, a PhD student in criminology at Washington State University (about 10 miles away)
- How he got in: Through a sliding kitchen door
- What happened upstairs (3rd floor):
- He stabbed Madison and Kaylee to death
- He left a knife sheath (the cover for the knife) next to Madison’s body — this became a key clue
- Xana Kernodle had just gotten a food delivery — she was killed too
- Ethan Chapin was sleeping in Xana’s room — he was also killed
- Two other roommates were home:
- Dylan Mortensen heard crying and noises, saw a man in black walking toward her — she locked herself in her room
- Bethany Funke slept through it all
- They texted and called their friends — no one answered
- 911 was called just before noon — police found all four students dead
How Was Bryan Kohberger Caught?
There was no known connection between Kohberger and the victims. But police used science and technology to find him:
1. DNA on the Knife Sheath
- The sheath left at the scene had touch DNA (tiny skin cells)
- It didn’t match anyone in the FBI’s national database
2. Genetic Genealogy (Family Tree Search)
- Police sent the DNA to a private lab
- The lab searched public genealogy databases (like what people use to find ancestors)
- They found distant relatives of the killer
- Detectives built family trees to narrow down suspects
3. The White Hyundai Elantra
- Surveillance cameras caught a white Hyundai Elantra circling the house around the time of the murders
- Washington State University police found one registered to Bryan Kohberger — he became a top suspect
4. Phone Records & Trash DNA
- Police got a warrant for Kohberger’s phone location data — it placed him near the crime scene
- He drove to his parents’ house in Pennsylvania in late December
- Police took trash from the curb — DNA on it matched the father of the person whose DNA was on the knife sheath
- That confirmed it: the DNA on the sheath was Kohberger’s
5. Arrest
- December 30, 2022 — Kohberger was arrested at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania
The Trial and Sentencing
| Date | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Charges | 4 counts of first-degree murder + 1 count of burglary (eligible for death penalty) |
| June 30, 2025 | Kohberger accepted a plea deal (agreed to plead guilty to avoid death penalty) |
| July 2, 2025 | In court, he said "yes" to killing each victim and "guilty" to all charges |
| July 23, 2025 | Victims’ families spoke in court — Kaylee’s sister called him a "delusional, pathetic, hypochondriac loser" |
| Sentence | 4 consecutive life sentences (one for each murder) + 10 years for burglary — no death penalty |
No motive was ever given. Prosecutors could have made him explain as part of the deal, but chose not to — they didn’t believe he’d tell the truth or that it would help the families.
What Is Kohberger Saying Now?
July 27, 2026 — Over a year after sentencing, Kohberger spoke to the New York Times from prison.
His Claims:
- "I am actually innocent."
- He says he was misled into confessing — "false promises and blatant disinformation"
- He has filed a petition to withdraw his guilty plea
- He says "a lot went wrong" during plea negotiations and he "wants to be heard"
The Families’ Response:
"The real tragedy is this: If even a fraction of the energy spent trying to free a guilty man were directed toward honoring the victims, there would be statues of them on every corner, parks bearing their names, and days set aside to remember the lives they lost at the hands of a narcissist."
— The Goncalves Family
The Netflix Documentary
- Title: The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare
- Released: July 29 (on Netflix)
- Director: Skye Borgman (also made Unknown Number: The High School Catfish)
- Focus: The victims’ lives, the investigation, and the aftermath — not the killer
Summary: Key Points to Remember
- Four college students were murdered in their sleep in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov 13, 2022
- Bryan Kohberger, a criminology PhD student, was caught using DNA, genealogy, car surveillance, and phone data
- He pleaded guilty in 2025 and got life in prison without parole
- No motive was ever explained
- Now (2026), he claims innocence and wants to take back his plea
- A Netflix documentary just came out — it centers the victims, not the killer
FAQ — Questions You Might Have
1. Why did he plead guilty if he says he’s innocent now?
He took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. Sometimes people plead guilty even if they claim innocence later — but courts rarely let you take it back after sentencing.
2. What is "genetic genealogy"?
It’s when police use public DNA databases (like Ancestry or GEDmatch) to find relatives of a suspect, then build a family tree to identify the killer. It’s how the Golden State Killer was caught too.
3. Did the two surviving roommates see the killer?
Only Dylan Mortensen saw a man in black — she locked her door. Bethany Funke slept through it. Neither was hurt.
4. Can Kohberger really withdraw his plea?
It’s very hard after sentencing. He’d have to prove his plea wasn’t voluntary or that he had bad legal help. Courts rarely allow it.
5. Why doesn’t the documentary focus on Kohberger?
The director chose to honor the victims — their lives, their friends, their families — instead of giving the killer more attention.
Final Thought: This case is about four young people who had their futures stolen. While the legal process continues, the documentary reminds us to remember their names, their laughter, and the love they left behind.
