Episode Overview

Podcast: Drop Dead Serious with Ashleigh Banfield
Episode: “Disturbing Selfie Trove Found on Bryan Kohberger’s Phone | Idaho Student Murders”
Date: September 9, 2025
Host: Ashleigh Banfield

In this episode, Ashleigh Banfield delves into the chilling trove of selfies and personal photos uncovered on Bryan Kohberger’s cell phone, presenting these images as a disturbing window into the mind of the accused Idaho student murders. The episode explores what these photos might reveal about Kohberger's personality and psychological makeup, as well as the unsolved questions about his motivations for the horrific crime.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Unanswered “Why” Behind the Murders (00:35)

• Ashleigh opens with the persistent question at the heart of the case: Why did Bryan Kohberger commit the murders of four Idaho students?

• She emphasizes that even the smallest details, like the selfies discovered, form critical “pieces of the puzzle” for understanding the killer’s psyche:

  “Every tiny detail adds one piece to a puzzle. It may be a small piece, but it leaves the solution to the puzzle to continue.” (00:47, Ashleigh Banfield)

2. The “Chilling” Selfies: A Window Into Kohberger’s Mind (03:00 – 11:00)

• Dozens of selfies, many never sent to anyone, were discovered on Kohberger’s phone—depicting him flexing, posing, sometimes half-naked, and in a variety of settings.

• Most notably, these include disturbing parallels to the now-infamous bathroom selfie taken just hours after the murders, in which he appears freshly showered and gives a thumbs up.

  “What I’m about to show you tonight is just a piece of the puzzle... these are chilling as they are selfies, and there are dozens of them.” (02:15, Ashleigh Banfield)

• The selfies were analyzed by digital forensic experts Heather and Jared Barnhart, who confirmed these were strictly private—even “creepy”—not for social media or sharing.

  “He just did them for himself. They were his own personal photo album, his own little selfie album to check himself out.” (04:45, Banfield paraphrasing Jared Barnhart)

3. Analysis of Notable Photos (11:10 – 31:00)

Banfield provides a photo-by-photo rundown, with commentary on what each might reveal:

a. Hiking and Outdoor Shots

• Several images depict Kohberger hiking, with a consistent use of a specific Swiss Gear backpack.

• Smiling or stone-faced, sometimes with a thumbs-up, these photos suggest a duality: attempts at normalcy, but often tinged with inauthenticity.

  “He seems to think that’s joy... this one made me sick because, you know, he’s doing the thumbs up just like he did after the butchering of four kids.” (14:40, Banfield)

b. The Iconic Bathroom and Mirror Selfies

• Shots in his Pullman, WA apartment’s bathroom—many carefully analyzed for their location features (e.g., plug placement, double sink, heater).

• The bathroom is determined, through forensic details, to be the same as in police photos, underscoring the importance of these seemingly mundane images to the criminal investigation.

  “We’ve gone through a lot of markers that indicate this is indeed his Pullman, Washington bathroom in the same place where he took his foul selfie.” (25:50, Banfield)

• The infamous “post-murder” selfie: Kohberger, freshly showered, button-down shirt, giving a thumbs-up.

  “Looking like he’s freshly showered with a button down shirt, giving the thumbs up in his bathroom. I did it. I pulled off the murders.” (35:00, Banfield)

c. Physical Self-Scrutiny and Self-Objectification

• Several mirror selfies indicate a preoccupation with appearance: flexing, checking his physique, trying on new jeans with price tags still attached.

• Even after losing weight (possibly tied to past heroin use), Kohberger still possessed “love handles”—a detail Banfield points out as further evidence of his self-regard.

  “He’s got the selfie cam taking a picture into the mirror so he can look at his ass in a new pair of jeans that still has the price tag on it.” (23:10, Banfield)

• Banfield speculates about whether these images were part of his preparation or ritual before the crime.

d. Early and Social Photos

• High school yearbook photos, group images at a friend’s wedding (post-rehab), and a rare in-class photo, presumably taken by someone else.

• These snapshots provide a timeline, illustrating his physical transformation and hinting at a possible double life.

  “I want to know who took this picture. I want to know if he asked someone to take this picture of him, wanted to look studious, wanted a little piece in his collection...” (30:15, Banfield)

4. Lingering Questions and Evidence Speculation (31:10 – 36:00)

• Banfield muses about the importance of specific items—the Swiss Gear backpack, the missing shower curtain—and theorizes they could play a role in uncovering hidden evidence.

• The presence of a band-aid on Kohberger’s finger in the post-murder selfie sparks questions about possible self-inflicted injuries during the crime:

  “You can see a band aid on his ring finger…I'd like to know what kind of shape was his right hand in because he may have slipped a few times with all the blood on his hand on the knife, and maybe he's cut his hand.” (36:17, Banfield)

• She speculates on Kohberger’s current state in prison, reflecting on what he might see in the mirror now:

  “When he looks in the mirror in the bathroom in the prison at the Idaho Max, what does he think now? Is he proud? Does he think he pulled it off even though he’s stuck behind bars for the rest of his life? Or does he just see the same empty, evil eyes that we do?” (37:05, Banfield)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the meaning of evidence:
  “Every tiny detail adds one piece to a puzzle…It is a critical piece, even if it’s small.” (00:47)

• On the private nature of the selfies:
  “He just did them for himself. They were his own personal photo album, his own little selfie album to check himself out.” (04:45, paraphrasing Barnhart)

• On the disturbing post-murder selfie:
  “He’s probably eating crow on that one. As he stares at the four walls at the maximum security institution in Idaho.” (03:30)

• On the exploration of identity and double life:
  “What do the photos tell us about the double life that this criminology PhD student was living?” (05:10)

• On the chilling consistencies in facial expressions:
  “We have a really tough time…getting over that stare and the evil behind those eyes. And it's really exemplified in this photo.” (27:00)

• On the burning motive question:
  “If you remember one thing from this episode, it’s that the truth isn’t just serious, it’s drop dead serious.” (39:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:35 – Introduction to the main question: “Why did he do it?”
• 03:00 – Details about the discovery of the selfie trove and digital forensics experts’ involvement.
• 11:10 – Photo-by-photo breakdown begins: hiking, smiling outdoor selfies.
• 14:40 – Reflection on the “thumbs up” motif in both outdoor and bathroom selfies.
• 23:10 – Analysis of the bathroom jeans selfie and the forensics confirming the apartment location.
• 31:10 – Discussion of early, social, and academic-life photos, and speculation about self-image.
• 36:00 – Examination of the post-murder selfie, including the band-aid and speculation on injury.
• 37:05 – Insights into Kohberger’s possible current mentality in prison.

Episode Tone and Style

Banfield’s style is direct, irreverent, and deeply personal—the narrative interweaves pointed skepticism with forensic curiosity, and often pivots from descriptive detail to sharp, emotionally charged commentary. Her deep familiarity with the investigation is evident in her references and her candid speculation.

Final Reflection

Ashleigh Banfield’s episode turns the lens not just on Kohberger’s actions, but on seemingly trivial details—his selfies, his apartment—that become crucial in piecing together the riddle of motive. The episode closes with the recognition that, for all the photographs and forensic breadcrumbs, the burning questions of “why” and “how” may remain just out of reach:

“Every single tiny detail of this story helps to get that much closer to figuring out the final answer. Which is why? How? How could you? Why them? I don’t know if we’ll ever get there, folks, but I for one, am waiting for that jailhouse interview...” (38:55, Banfield)

For listeners seeking a visual reference, Banfield directs them to the Drop Dead Serious YouTube channel for further photo analysis.