Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty on Wednesday to the 2022 killings of four Idaho college students, officially admitting to the crimes as part of a plea deal that will spare him the death penalty.
“Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?” the judge asked during the hearing, per the New York Post.
“Yes,” Kohberger replied.
He continued by responding “yes” again when asked if he had killed each of the victims: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
Under the terms of the agreement, Kohberger will serve four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, along with an additional 10 years for a burglary charge. He will not be allowed to appeal his conviction.
While Kohberger has now admitted to the murders, the plea deal does not require him to provide an explanation or motive for the killings. Despite the lack of answers, the families of Ethan Chapin and Madison Mogen said they support the agreement to avoid the emotional toll and media attention of a public trial.
Kohberger’s legal team had previously fought to exclude evidence and maintain his innocence. His guilty plea was initially expected to shed light on the details of the attack, but it remains unclear if any further explanation will ever be offered.
