Bryan Kohberger (born November 21, 1994) is an American citizen born and raised in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. He is a famous media face, entrepreneur, and student of Pullman, Washington State University, who was arrested as the main suspect of a murder case of 4 students from the University of Idaho, United States.
Early Life
Bryan Kohberger, a 29-year-old American citizen, was born and raised in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, within a Christian family. His father, Michael Kohberger Jr., is an entrepreneur, while his mother, MaryAnn Kohberger, worked as a paraprofessional under the guidance of qualified instructors. Bryan has two sisters, Amanda Kohberger and Melissa Kohberger, with the latter being a therapist.
Bryan completed his primary and secondary education at Pleasant Alley High School in Brodheadsville in 2013. He then enrolled at Northampton Community College, earning an Associate in Psychology. Seeking further education, he attended DeSales University, obtaining his B.A. in Criminal Justice in 2020 and his M.A. in the same field in 2022.
Subsequently, Bryan decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice at Pullman Washington State University. Unfortunately, his academic journey took a turn when he was arrested nine days after completing his first semester.
Career
Bryan was actively engaged as a student and a teaching assistant at his school, Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.
Currently, Bryan has yet to establish a running business known to the media.
Personal Life
Bryan is known for his discreet nature, preferring to keep his relationship life out of the spotlight. As of the latest information, he is believed to be single, never married, and has no children.
According to individuals who knew him, Bryan Kohberger was once an overweight teenager during high school, facing relentless bullying and being branded as an outsider. Girls would taunt him, subjecting him to ridicule, which led to a sense of alienation. However, a remarkable transformation occurred towards the end of high school when Kohberger underwent a significant metamorphosis. He shed approximately 36kg of weight, a transformation that appeared almost obsessive to some, and concurrently, his behavior grew increasingly assertive, causing him to withdraw further from social circles.
Dominique Clark, a fellow student who attended elementary and high school alongside Kohberger, recollected her impressions, saying, “I distinctly recall seeing him as if he were an entirely new student after his drastic weight loss. He seemed almost emaciated, and his demeanor became more forceful. He started to distance himself and struggled to find his place.”
Clark added, “When it came to romantic interests, he found it challenging to accept rejection. Rather than moving on after being turned down, he seemed unable to comprehend or acknowledge the other person’sperson’s perspective. This led to him being labeled as odd or socially inept. He gravitated towards other individuals who were also considered outsiders and made attempts to befriend those who excelled academically, but he continued to struggle to fit in.”
Casey Arntz, a friend of Kohberger, shared several videos on TikTok claiming that he struggled with anger management issues and battled addiction. However, Arntz also noted that he treated her with kindness during their time together.
Boyce Jubilan, who acted as Kohberger’s research supervisor at DeSales University, noted his preference for working independently and observed some awkward interactions with peers. Kohberger’s aspirations included joining the ranks of the Army Rangers, as evidenced by a high school yearbook photo depicting him engaging in physical training while wearing a military uniform. He also held a part-time position as a security officer in the Pleasant Valley School District for a period.
On January 1, 2023, two days after Bryan Kohberger’s arrest, his family issued a public statement expressing deep compassion for the families who lost their beloved children. They emphasized their unwavering support for their son and the importance of allowing the legal process to unfold, urging respect for privacy and refraining from making hasty assumptions based on incomplete information.
Controversies
Bryan was reportedly arrested in connection with the tragic murder of four students from the University of Idaho, which took place on November 13, 2022. The victims were identified as Kaylee Goncalves (21 years old), Madison Mogen (21 years old), Ethan Chapin (20 years old), and Xana Kernodle (20 years old). They were brutally stabbed to death while sleeping between 3-4 am. This incident shocked the city, as it had not experienced a homicide since 2015.
Bryan believed to be the main suspect in this case, was apprehended on December 15, 2022. Bryan was arrested at his parents’ house in Chestnuthill Township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, approximately 2500 miles away from the initial crime scene in Moscow, Idaho. The victims, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, and Xana Kernodle, resided together in a three-story rented apartment off-campus, while Ethan Chapin, Kernodle’sKernodle‘s boyfriend, was staying overnight on the night of the incident.
At approximately 1:56 am, all four students who were out had safely returned to their respective homes. Between 2:26 and 2:52 am, Goncalves attempted to reach her ex-boyfriend, a fellow student, with seven unsuccessful phone calls.
During the same timeframe, Mogen made three phone calls to her boyfriend, yielding similar results. After investigating these calls, law enforcement authorities concluded that the boyfriend was not believed not responsible for the crime.
When the tragic incident occurred, the two surviving roommates were located on the house’shouse’s ground floor. They had returned home around 1 am and were undisturbed, remaining unaware of the events until later in the morning.
The four victims, however, met a tragic fate on other floors of the house. They suffered fatal stab wounds without signs of binding or gagging, and bloodstains were visible on the adjacent walls.
At 11:58 am, several hours after the incident, an emergency call was made to 911. One of the remaining students in the apartment used their cell phone to report an “unconscious” individual seeking assistance.
Upon arrival, law enforcement found the house’shouse’s front door open, with no apparent signs of forced entry or damage to the property. Additionally, no belongings seemed to be missing. The surviving roommates and acquaintances of the victims were present when the authorities arrived.
It was believed that none of the victims on the second floor was responsive. The surviving roommates had invited friends to the house, who were also present when the incident was discovered.
By noon, all four victims were tragically declared deceased. Authorities located Goncalves‘s dog at the residence, which was subsequently entrusted to a responsible party. It is worth noting that the dog was shared between Goncalves and her ex-boyfriend.
On December 30, a joint operation involving the FBI SWAT team and the Pennsylvania State Police apprehended Kohberger at his parent’s residence in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania.
Following his arrest on four counts of first-degree murder and one felony burglary offense, Kohberger was remanded without bond to the Monroe County Correctional Facility in Stroudsburg. A public defense attorney was appointed to represent him, and his next court appearance was scheduled for January 3, 2023.