Bryan Kohberger pleads guilty to murdering four students - so he can dodge death penalty

Bryan Kohberger - the man charged with the brutal murders of four university students - has made a shocking last-minute decision to plead guilty to all counts.

It means Kohberger, 30, will avoid the death penalty as he was previously facing execution for the savage stabbings. Instead, it is likely the killer will spend the remainder of his life in prison.

This unexpected turn of events was disclosed in a letter sent to the heartbroken families of the victims, marking a significant twist in a case that has captivated the nation. Kohberger will be sentenced on Wednesday to four consecutive life sentences and forfeit his right to appeal the conviction.

This surprising plea deal emerges just weeks before his trial was due to commence, with jury selection planned for August 4 and opening statements set for August 18. Kohberger was indicted on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in relation to the murders of flatmates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, reports the Mirror US. The four victims were fatally stabbed in the girls' off-campus flat in Moscow, Idaho, on the morning of November 13, 2022.

READ MORE: Parents accused of murdering their two-week-old baby at Yeovil District Hospital

The family of Goncalves expressed their disagreement on social media with the state's decision to allow Kohberger to plead guilty and evade the death penalty.

The Goncalves Family, reeling from the horrific events in Idaho, expressed their heartache on social media: "It's true! 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," as they posted on the family Facebook page.

Two roommates miraculously survived the massacre in 2022. One witness even spotted a figure in black attire and mask near the murder scene.

The small university town of Moscow was left in shock following the gruesome killings of four students, leading to an intensive manhunt that spanned over seven weeks, ending with the arrest of suspect Bryan Kohberger, then a criminology PhD student, at his family house in Pennsylvania in December 2022.

Kohberger grew up in small-town Pennsylvania, where he lived with his parents, Michael and Maryann, and two sisters, Amanda and Melissa. The Kohbergers lived for years in Effort, a community in Monroe County, 90 miles north of Philadelphia.

Kohberger went to Pleasant Valley School District, where his mother was also employed. Nick McLoughlin, 28, who attended classes at Pleasant Valley High School with Kohberger told The Daily Beast the man had been interested in becoming a police officer and took criminal justice courses. Speaking after the man's arrest, she added: "He was just a regular 12th grader, had a few friends, was a good student."