Bryan Kohberger Took Plea Deal Days After Learning His Sister Was on Prosecution Witness List

Bryan Kohberger might have faced his own sister in court had his case gone to trial.

Amanda Kohberger was listed among the witnesses prosecutors could have called to testify at her brother’s murder trial. She was the only immediate family member of the Kohbergers on the witness list, which was recently ordered unsealed by Ada County Judge Steven Hippler.

Just days after the motion to unseal the list was filed on June 25, 2025, Bryan Kohberger agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors.

Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson had previously said that he did not believe Kohberger’s family had information helpful to the case, but Amanda appeared to be an exception. Her brother had once been charged with misdemeanor theft for allegedly stealing her cell phone in 2014 — a crime their father reported, according to court records.

Among the more than 180 potential witnesses were surviving roommates Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen, as well as Ethan Chapin’s triplet siblings, Hunter and Mazie Chapin. The Chapin siblings were the only immediate family members of the victims expected to testify, likely because they were present when the victims’ four bodies were discovered.

After Kohberger accepted a plea deal — pleading guilty to four counts of murder to avoid execution — Ethan Chapin’s mother, Stacy Chapin, said she was relieved her children and the surviving roommates would not have to testify or relive the trauma of that day.

Judge Hippler also unsealed the list of witnesses the defense intended to call during the mitigation phase of the trial. Amanda Kohberger appeared there as well, meaning she could have been called by both sides.

Amanda was one of 56 individuals the defense considered calling to testify in hopes of reducing her brother’s culpability in the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves, and Madison Mogen. Other family members — including his sister Melissa and parents Michael and Maryann — were also listed, along with Washington State University professor John Snyder.

Kohberger had worked as a teaching assistant for Snyder at WSU. Snyder’s inclusion was notable since he had previously complained about Kohberger following a verbal altercation, which led the criminology department to issue a warning about Kohberger’s conduct.

Two weeks before the murders, Kohberger was placed on an improvement plan for his behavior. Although his professionalism briefly improved, it declined again by semester’s end, and he was informed he would not retain his position for the next term. After his arrest, WSU issued a letter permanently banning him from campus.

There will be no trial now — Kohberger is serving four life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Amanda and their mother, Maryann, attended his sentencing on July 23, 2025. When the sentence was read, Kohberger left the courtroom without acknowledging either of them.