Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to the 2022 stabbing and killing of four University of Idaho students, is seeking to withdraw his guilty plea and secure a new trial. A judge recently approved his request for new legal representation in this effort.

Newly released court documents obtained by Fox News Digital reveal that Kohberger claims "members of Kohberger's immediate family" were present during attorney-client discussions related to plea talks. In his handwritten petition filed on Monday, he alleges he was "convinced to falsely confess" and that his defense team—comprising Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth, and Bicka Barlow—did not inform him about "exculpatory discovery," evidence referenced in the recent book "Broken Plea" but never presented in court.

Kohberger also contends that one attorney fabricated a story about personally "touring an actual 8-foot-by-8-foot death-row cell."

The convicted killer entered his guilty plea last year in exchange for prosecutors dropping the death penalty. Meanwhile, the victim's family has expressed the pain of reliving the tragedy, with Kaylee Goncalves' mother stating the family is ready for trial following Kohberger's attempt to withdraw his plea.

Kohberger appeared at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, for his sentencing hearing on July 23, 2025.

Legal analyst Mehek Cooke has noted the high bar for overturning a guilty plea in such cases.

Sources