Convicted murderer Bryan Kohberger filed a court petition in Idaho on July 27, 2026, seeking to withdraw his guilty plea and face trial for the 2022 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students.
The filing for post-conviction relief, posted to the state's court records website on Monday, includes handwritten documents requesting legal counsel.
Kohberger, sentenced to four consecutive life terms in July 2025, claims his original plea was based on faulty advice and misrepresentation.
The move comes roughly a year after Kohberger avoided a capital murder trial by entering a guilty plea, waiving his direct appeal rights to avoid a potential death penalty for killing Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
In a direct statement provided to media outlets, Kohberger maintained his innocence while criticizing the legal proceedings that led to his conviction.
"My actual innocence is my truth, and the plea, hinged on by false promises and blatant disinformation, MUST be withdrawn," said Kohberger.
Speaking by phone from a maximum-security prison south of Boise, Kohberger expressed a desire to challenge the prosecution's case in open court.
"Why am I breaking my silence? A lot went wrong in those plea discussions.
I really do want to be heard," he said.
Despite waiving standard appeal rights during his sentencing before Judge Steven Hippler, precedent under a 2019 U. S.
Supreme Court decision allows prisoners to seek post-conviction relief regarding ineffective counsel. Under Idaho law, Kohberger has until early September 2026 to finalize his petition.
Reopening the case could expose Kohberger to reinstated capital murder charges and potential federal prosecution.
The family of victim Kaylee Goncalves welcomed the prospect of taking the case back to trial.
"We're not scared of it," said Steve Goncalves, father of Kaylee Goncalves. "I always stood by the work of the FBI agents and other people.
If he wants to fight for the death penalty, that's exactly what we'll go for, and that's what he's facing.
There's so much evidence against him in this case. So we're not scared of a trial, not one bit."
Legal records analyzed by the Idaho Statesman indicate that public defense and prosecution efforts in the case have already cost taxpayers over $8 million.
