After two and a half years of desperately searching for answers in the deaths of four Idaho college students, the case reached a bitter resolution as Bryan Kohberger admitted guilt for the first time.

Childhood friends of Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty Wednesday to stabbing four University of Idaho students to death in November 2022, have tracked his murder case from afar and said they felt shocked the former Pennsylvania resident suddenly agreed to a plea deal to spare his life.