Bryan Kohberger, the 30-year-old accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in 2022, has agreed to a plea deal that will spare him the death penalty. Kohberger will plead guilty to four counts of murder in exchange for the government not pursuing capital punishment.

The victims’ families were notified of the deal via a letter from prosecutors, which they described as “very unexpected” and expressed frustration at not being consulted about the plea details. “After more than two years, this is how it concludes with a secretive deal and a hurried effort to close the case without any input from the victims’ families on the plea’s details,” the Goncalves family said in a statement.

Under the terms of the deal, Kohberger will likely receive four consecutive life sentences plus 10 years for burglary. He will also waive his right to appeal the conviction. The agreement aims to provide closure for the victims’ families by avoiding prolonged appeals and ensuring Kohberger spends the rest of his life in prison.

The case has been ongoing for over two years, with Kohberger’s trial initially set for August before being delayed due to disputes over evidence and witnesses. Prosecutors had indicated they would pursue the death penalty if Kohberger was found guilty.

The victims, Ethan Chapin, 20; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Madison Mogen, 21, were fatally stabbed in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, in Moscow, Idaho. Authorities identified Kohberger as the suspect through DNA evidence found on a knife sheath near one of the victims’ bodies and surveillance footage showing a white Hyundai Elantra matching his vehicle near the crime scene.

Kohberger’s defense team had faced several setbacks, including a judge’s rejection of their request to propose an “alternate perpetrator” theory and the exclusion of an official alibi due to lack of supporting evidence.

A hearing is scheduled for July 2, where Kohberger is expected to formally plead guilty. Sentencing will likely follow later in the month.