Bryan Kohberger is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday to the murders of four University of Idaho students, a significant reversal for the former criminology student who once maintained he would fight to clear his name in the highly publicized case.

Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary for the 2022 killings of roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin. As part of the plea deal, Kohberger will avoid the death penalty and instead receive four consecutive life sentences for the murders and a maximum 10-year sentence for burglary.

According to the agreement, Kohberger will also waive all rights to appeal.

The plea comes just weeks before his trial was set to begin. Jury selection had been scheduled for August 4, with opening arguments to follow on August 18.

Prosecutors informed the victims’ families of the deal in a letter, calling it a “sincere attempt to seek justice” and highlighting the benefit of sparing families from a potentially lengthy and traumatic trial process.

However, the deal has sparked backlash. Steve Goncalves, father of 21-year-old victim Kaylee Goncalves, criticized the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office for what he called a rushed and poorly handled agreement.

“Justice should begin with asking the families what justice means to them,” Goncalves said. “That never happened.”

While the plea agreement brings legal closure to the case, it has left some families frustrated and questioning whether true justice has been served.