As a judge is poised to decide whether Bryan Kohberger can accept a plea deal that would allow him to avoid the death penalty in the 2022 killings of four Idaho college students, one victim’s father says he views the deal as a relief from the pain and spectacle of a trial,

The judge presiding over the case will consider a request from media organizations to vacate a gag order at an upcoming hearing.

Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty.

Unpacking Bryan Kohberger’s guilty plea deal to avoid death penalty in Idaho student killings By . Emma Tucker. Updated Jul 3, 2025, 8:35 PM ET. PUBLISHED Jul 3, 2025, 3:30 AM ET.

Kohberger has agreed to a plea deal just weeks before his trial for the murders of four University of Idaho students was set to begin.

The state is showing BK mercy by removing the death penalty. BK did not show Kaylee ANY mercy,” the Goncalves family wrote.

Kaylee Goncalves’ parents have revealed a harrowing detail about their daughter's final moments at the hands of Bryan Kohberger.