Bryan Kohberger has remained one of the most searched names in America since he was convicted of murdering four University of Idaho students. With new legal developments unfolding as recently as this week, many readers are curious not just about the case itself, but about basic facts like his exact age, birth date, and background. Here’s everything you need to know, updated with the latest information as of July 30, 2026.
How Old Is Bryan Kohberger?
Bryan Kohberger is 31 years old. He was born on November 21, 1994, in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. He will turn 32 later this year, on November 21, 2026.
Kohberger was 28 years old at the time of his arrest in December 2022, and he was 30 when he pleaded guilty in July 2025.
Bryan Kohberger’s Early Life and Background
Kohberger grew up in Albrightsville, a small town in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains region. He is the youngest of three children, with two older sisters, Amanda and Melissa. His father, Michael Kohberger Jr., worked in maintenance, while his mother, MaryAnn Kohberger, worked as a paraprofessional in the school system.
He graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 2013 before earning an associate degree in psychology at Northampton Community College. He went on to complete a bachelor’s and later a master’s degree in criminal justice at DeSales University in Pennsylvania. In 2022, he relocated to Pullman, Washington, to begin a Ph.D. program in criminology at Washington State University, located just across the state line from the University of Idaho.
The University of Idaho Murders Case
Kohberger became the primary suspect in the murders of four University of Idaho students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin — who were fatally stabbed in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, in the early hours of November 13, 2022. He had no publicly known connection to the victims. Investigators used genetic genealogy techniques to identify him as a suspect, and he was arrested at his parents’ Pennsylvania home nearly seven weeks after the killings, in December 2022.
In July 2025, Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary as part of a plea agreement that spared him the death penalty. He was subsequently sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole.
Latest Update: Kohberger Now Seeks to Withdraw His Guilty Plea
In a major development this week, Kohberger has filed a handwritten petition for post-conviction relief in Ada County District Court, asking to withdraw his guilty plea and reopen his case. According to court filings and a statement he provided to The New York Times, Kohberger claims he received ineffective legal counsel and was “convinced to falsely confess” to a crime he says he did not commit.
He alleges that his defense attorneys pressured him into the plea by exaggerating the harsh realities of death row and promising more favorable prison conditions in exchange for life without parole. Kohberger is currently representing himself in this new filing from the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, where he is serving his sentence.
Legal experts have expressed skepticism about his chances of success, noting that Kohberger’s sworn courtroom statements affirming his guilt — made under direct questioning from Judge Steven Hippler in July 2025 — carry significant legal weight and will be difficult to overturn.
Quick Facts About Bryan Kohberger
- Full name: Bryan Christopher Kohberger
- Date of birth: November 21, 1994
- Current age: 31 (as of July 2026)
- Birthplace: Albrightsville, Pennsylvania
- Education: Pleasant Valley High School; Northampton Community College; DeSales University; Ph.D. student at Washington State University
- Convicted of: Four counts of first-degree murder, one count of felony burglary
- Sentence: Four consecutive life terms without parole
- Current status: Seeking to withdraw guilty plea (as of late July 2026)
FAQs
Is Bryan Kohberger still in prison? Yes. He is serving four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution.
Can Kohberger get a new trial? He has filed a petition for post-conviction relief, a legal process separate from a standard appeal, since he waived his right to appeal as part of his plea deal. Legal experts say this is a difficult path, but not technically impossible.
When was Bryan Kohberger sentenced? He was sentenced on July 23, 2025, following his guilty plea entered on July 2, 2025.
Stay tuned as this story develops — drop your thoughts in the comments below and check back for the latest updates on this case!