Bryan Kohberger claims family joined plea talks as he seeks to withdraw guilty plea: court docs
Fox News · R · trust 32/100
Video Judge approves new lawyer for Bryan Kohberger in Idaho murder trial A judge approved Bryan Kohberger's request for a new lawyer in his attempt to secure a new trial, despite his previous guilty plea for murdering four University of Idaho students in 2022. Legal analyst Mehek Cooke discusses the high bar for overturning a guilty plea, while the victim's family expresses the pain of reliving the tragedy.
Bryan Kohberger says his family was involved in plea discussions as he seeks to undo his guilty plea, newly released court documents obtained by Fox News Digital reveal.
The convicted killer, who pleaded guilty to stabbing and killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, recently filed a petition for post-conviction relief seeking to withdraw the guilty plea he entered last year in exchange for prosecutors dropping the death penalty.
In his handwritten petition filed on Monday, he wrote that "members of Kohberger's immediate family" were present during attorney-client discussions.
Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse for his sentencing hearing on July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho. (Kyle Green-Pool/Getty Images)
Kohberger claims that he was "convinced to falsely confess," claiming his high-profile defense team of Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth and Bicka Barlow didn't tell him about "exculpatory discovery" — evidence mentioned in the recent " Broken Plea " book but never vetted in court.
IDAHO MURDERS: NEW BOOK ON KOHBERGER REVEALS PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN EVIDENCE, CLAIMS SHEATH COULD BE INADMISSIBLE
In a message to the New York Times, Kohberger claimed that "justice was not served" and that it was "circumnavigated by a broken plea."
Bryan Christopher Kohberger is seen in a booking photo after his arrest on Dec. 30, 2022, in Pennsylvania. (Monroe County Correctional Facility via Getty Images)
"Broken Plea" is the title of a recent book about the case that shed new light on what the defense may have looked like at trial — and his use of the term surprised author Chris Whitcomb, who says he had never spoken to Kohberger.
Whitcomb told "Crime & Justice" podcast host Donna Rotunno on Thursday he has never communicated with Kohberger or any member of his family, and Whitcomb has no information on whether Kohberger or any of his family members read the book.
As for his petition, Kohberger claims his attorneys misrepresented what Idaho’s death row would be like.
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE
He alleges one attorney told an elaborate story about personally "touring an actual 8-foot-by-8-foot death-row cell," which Kohberger said was "fabricated."
BRYAN KOHBERGER'S MOTHER CALLED HIM 'MY ANGEL' AND INSISTED POLICE MADE A 'REALLY, REALLY BAD MISTAKE': BOOK
People leave the Ada County Courthouse after the Bryan Kohberger sentencing Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho. (Drew Nash/AP Photo)
He said this information was communicated to him and his family and was used to frighten or pressure him into accepting the plea deal.
On Wednesday, Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler granted Kohberger's request for court-appointed counsel, directing the Idaho State Public Defender to appoint a new attorney to represent him in all post-conviction proceedings .
Fox News Digital has reached out to Kohberger's former defense team .
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use , and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
Read the original at Fox News →
Open in TruthVane →