Bryan Kohberger moved to solitary confinement at Idaho max security prison

BOISE, Idaho — Convicted murderer Bryan Kohberger is now in solitary confinement inside the Idaho Maximum Security Institution after being sentenced to life in prison earlier this month. 

An Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) spokesperson on Thursday confirmed Kohberger has been moved to J Block at the prison outside of Boise. He is currently being held in long-term restrictive housing on J Block. 

Long-term restrictive housing includes single-person cells and limits outdoor recreation to one hour per day, IDOC told KTVB. Inmates are moved in restraints and provided a shower every other day. 

Officials said access to religious services, communication via JPay and placing commissary orders is allowed in long-term restrictive housing. The J Block unit houses up to 128 people in general population, protective custody, long-term restrictive housing and death row. 

IDOC confirmed Kohberger was moved to J Block midday on Tuesday, July 29, less than one week after a judge sentenced him to serve life in prison for killing four University of Idaho students. 

Judge Steven Hippler ordered Kohberger to serve four consecutive life terms without parole for the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in Moscow on Nov. 13, 2022.

Kohberger agreed to a plea deal in early-July to avoid the death penalty and months of a jury trial – which was supposed to begin in August – in exchange for life in prison. 

Hours after Kohberger’s sentencing, police and the City of Moscow released hundreds of documents related to the quadruple murder case. The materials include details from interviews with inmates who claimed to have interacted with Kohberger while in custody.

The Idaho Maximum Security Institution opened in November 1989 and houses the state’s “most dangerous and volatile male residents,” according to IDOC’s website. 

The facility in Kuna has a double perimeter fence with razor wire and touts an electronic detection system. ISMI has a capacity of 535 inmates. 

RELATED: Video shows Latah County Sheriff’s deputy pulling Kohberger over months before murders