Bryan Kohberger Makes Frequent Calls to New Lawyers as He Tries to Undo His Guilty Plea

Bryan Kohberger, the man serving four consecutive life sentences for the murders of four University of Idaho students, is reportedly making frequent phone calls to his new legal team as he attempts to challenge the guilty plea that ended the high-profile case.

According to a report published by the Daily Mail and republished by AOL on October 26, 2026, Kohberger has been speaking regularly with attorney Jason Goldman while preparing his post-conviction legal challenge. Goldman said the former criminology doctoral student is actively involved in discussing his case and directing aspects of the legal work.

“Conditions are tough, no matter what jail you’re in,” Goldman said, describing the challenges of incarceration. He also noted that Kohberger remains engaged in his defense rather than leaving all decisions to his lawyers.

Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to killing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were stabbed to death in November 2022 at a house near the University of Idaho campus in Moscow, Idaho. He also pleaded guilty to burglary. The plea agreement allowed him to avoid the possibility of the death penalty, and he was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without parole, plus 10 years for burglary.

More than a year later, Kohberger began seeking to withdraw his plea. In filings, he has alleged that his former defense team misled or pressured him into accepting the agreement and that his plea was not made knowingly and voluntarily. Those claims have not been established in court.

His current legal effort faces significant hurdles. The original plea included an admission of responsibility, and prosecutors could pursue the death penalty again if the plea were successfully withdrawn and the case proceeded to trial.

The case remains under post-conviction review. A judge has scheduled a status conference for June 2027 to consider the next steps, but an evidentiary hearing has not yet been approved.

For now, Kohberger’s calls with his lawyers are part of an ongoing legal effort that could determine whether the guilty plea and sentences remain in place.

Source:  DAILYMAIL