Bryan Kohberger agreed to the plea deal in the past few days, just weeks before his trial was to begin, after his attorneys tried but failed to have execution stricken as a possible punishment.

As Bryan Kohberger has reportedly agreed to plead guilty in the University of Idaho murders case, the victims’ families are responding with a mix of support and sharp criticism.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students as part of a deal to avoid the death penalty, an attorney for one victim’s family said.