Bryan Kohberger has filed a handwritten petition to withdraw his guilty plea, alleging his former attorney misled him into accepting a life sentence without parole.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Kohberger claims his trial lawyers were “ineffective” and that he did not enter his plea “knowingly or voluntarily.”
He asserts that his former lawyer insisted he lie in court and plead guilty to avoid the death penalty, despite Kohberger maintaining his innocence.
Kohberger alleges that his legal team fabricated a “horrific experience” touring a death row cell and made false promises about what a life sentence would entail, pressuring him and his family to accept the plea deal.
Kohberger is currently serving life without parole for the 2022 murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
He pleaded guilty in July 2025.
The handwritten petition seeks to overturn his conviction and sentence, arguing that his plea was coerced.
