Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with killing four University of Idaho students, pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder Wednesday as part of an agreement with prosecutors that allows him to avoid the death penalty.

Kohberger admitted to the slayings before entering a formal guilty plea in a deal with prosecutors that will allow him to avoid the death penalty.

Kohberger, who was a criminal justice graduate student at nearby Washington State University, admitted to the killings before entering a formal guilty plea.