BOISE, Idaho – The long‑running University of Idaho homicide case has reached a decisive turn: Bryan Kohberger, the former Washington State University criminology Ph.D. student accused of killing four undergraduates in 2022, is expected to plead guilty when he returns to court Wednesday after accepting a deal.

The deal involves Kohberger agreeing to plead guilty in exchange for four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, waiving all appeals and sparing himself the death penalty, according to sources close to the case.

A formal change of plea hearing is set for 11 a.m. local time Wednesday in Boise’s Ada County Courthouse. If the agreement is accepted by the judge, sentencing is expected before the end of July, closing one of Idaho’s most closely watched criminal cases.

Here’s a timeline of the events leading up to Kohberger’s plea deal.

Ethan Chapin, Kayle Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, who were stabbed to death Nov. 13. (Fox News)

Idaho families react to plea deal:

Steve Goncalves told NewsNation Monday the plea deal decision is “anything but justice.” He further commended law enforcement for their work in investigating the case, noting that “the failure was at the court level.”

“The fault is in leadership and the people that you place this evidence upon. They were weak,” Goncalves said.

Members of Kernodle’s family also condemned the plea deal. Her aunt, Kim Kernodle, told TMZ that relatives were vehemently opposed to the idea when Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson’s office first raised it over the weekend.

However, Chapin’s family indicated in a statement that they are “in support of the plea bargain” and will be present in Boise on Wednesday.

Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.