Bryan Kohberger’s Sister Listed as Key Witness Before Plea Deal

Boise, Idaho – Bryan Kohberger avoided a trial by accepting a plea deal, but new documents reveal that his sister, Amanda Kohberger, was listed as a potential witness for the prosecution.

Amanda was the only immediate family member included in a witness list made unsealed by Ada County Judge Steven Hippler. This revelation comes just days before Kohberger accepted a plea deal on June 25, 2025.

The court notes that Amanda might have been called to testify due to a past incident in 2014 when Kohberger was charged with misdemeanor theft for allegedly stealing her cell phone. Kohberger’s father reported the theft to the police.

Aside from Amanda, the unsealed documents listed over 180 potential witnesses, including surviving roommates Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, as well as siblings Hunter and Mazie Chapin, the immediate family of victim Ethan Chapin.

Stacy Chapin, the mother of Ethan and his siblings, expressed relief that her children and the surviving roommates would not have to testify in a traumatic trial.

The defense also submitted its witness list that includes Amanda, along with Kohberger’s parents and another sister, Melissa. They were listed as potential testimonies to possibly lessen his culpability in the murders of Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves, and Madison Mogen.

Another notable name on the defense’s witness list is Washington State University professor John Snyder, who previously worked as a teaching assistant for Kohberger. Snyder’s presence on the list raised eyebrows due to past complaints he made about Kohberger after a verbal altercation.

On July 23, 2025, Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to the murders. His sister Amanda and mother Maryann attended the sentencing, where he reportedly expressed deep remorse.