The King Road Killings: An Idaho Murder Mystery Episode 4: Who is Bryan Kohberger? Release Date: June 28, 2023
Host/Author: ABC News
Host/Producer: Kayna Whitworth

Introduction

In Episode 4 of The King Road Killings: An Idaho Murder Mystery, ABC News Correspondent Kayna Whitworth delves deep into the life of Bryan Kohberger, the criminology PhD student charged with the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students in December 2022. This episode aims to humanize Kohberger by exploring his background, personality, and the events leading up to his arrest, moving beyond the courtroom images to uncover the man behind the charges.

Early Life and Family Background

Bryan Kohberger was born on November 21, 1994, to Mary Ann and Michael Kohberger, the youngest of three siblings. Growing up in the Pocono region of eastern Pennsylvania, Bryan's childhood was marked by financial struggles, with his family filing for bankruptcy twice—once when he was a baby and again in 2010. Both of his parents worked for the local Pleasant Valley School District; his father as a maintenance worker and his mother as a substitute teacher and special needs educator.

Casey Arntz, a childhood friend, recalls Bryan's mother, Marianne, as “the sweetest woman ever” ([05:08]). Marianne was actively engaged in local social and political issues, often writing letters to the editor opposing war, abortion, and the death penalty while advocating for gun regulation.

Teenage Years: Struggles and Personality

During his teenage years, Bryan began experiencing a rare medical condition known as visual snow, which causes persistent visual disturbances like flickering dots. This condition not only affected his vision but also contributed to anxiety, depression, and dissociative episodes. Bryan actively participated in online forums such as Tapatok to seek treatments, revealing his struggle with the condition through posts like:

“Being me is this horrible disease that I was given... It is as if the ringing in my ears and the fuzz in my vision is simply all of the demons in my head mocking me.” ([07:00])

To cope, Bryan adopted a strict diet eliminating grains, sugars, and yeast, which led to significant weight loss. Casey Arntz observes:

“He did lose all the weight. He came back and he looked really thin. A lot different. It was kind of surprising for a lot of people.” ([09:04])

His engagement in kickboxing and night runs with friends was encouraged by his father to build social skills and self-esteem. However, during this period, Bryan also began using heroin, which marked a significant shift in his behavior and relationships.

Thomas Arntz, Casey’s brother and Bryan's high school classmate, describes Bryan’s increasingly aggressive behavior:

“He would just grapple me and put me in headlocks and arm bars and stuff like that.” ([11:04])

Bryan's substance abuse further strained his friendships, leading to fractured relationships characterized by manipulation and gaslighting.

College Years: Academic Pursuits and Social Dynamics

After graduating from Pleasant Valley High School in 2013, Bryan worked various customer service jobs before pursuing higher education. He earned an associate's degree in Psychology from Northampton Community College, where he excelled academically, making the Dean’s List and joining the Community College National Honor Society.

Transfering to DeSales University in 2018, Bryan shifted his focus to criminal justice. His dedication was evident; he was recognized for saving a school monitor’s life by retrieving a defibrillator during an emergency incident ([15:00]). Despite these commendable actions, Bryan's social interactions remained limited.

At DeSales, Casey Arntz recounts reuniting with Bryan:

“He just seemed to be really, really good.” ([15:58])

In 2020, Bryan completed his Bachelor's degree and began a master's program in criminal justice, earning his degree in June 2022. His professors, including Professor Michelle Bulger, viewed him as brilliant and a top student, though somewhat reserved in personal interactions.

Bryan's academic interests included understanding the psychology behind criminal behavior, evidenced by his thesis research, which involved surveying individuals about their motivations and emotions related to committing crimes. This research attracted media attention and online speculation regarding a potential motive for the King Road killings, although Professor Bulger clarified it was a standard academic pursuit:

“It looks weird from the public view, but in criminology, it's a normal theory on how and why criminals commit their crime.” ([14:55])

Graduate Studies and Behavioral Shifts

In Fall 2022, Bryan began his PhD at Washington State University (WSU) near Moscow, Idaho, alongside continuing his security job with the Pleasant Valley School District. Despite his professional aspirations, Bryan faced challenges in his graduate program. Reports from his peers painted a picture of a difficult and often unpleasant individual. Thomas Arntz describes Bryan as:

“Mean in high school, eager to be seen as dominant.” ([11:04])

Bryan’s interactions with female professors were particularly problematic. His peers maintained a "Brian Tally," documenting instances where he interrupted or showed disrespect towards female faculty members. This culminated in several confrontations that led to him losing his teaching assistant position, resulting in the loss of his tuition waiver and stipend.

Final Months Before the Arrest

The months leading up to Bryan’s arrest were marked by increasing isolation and behavioral changes. In November 2022, coinciding with the timing of the murders, Bryan was involved in an altercation with a professor at WSU. Following this, his demeanor seemed to shift; his grading became unusually lenient, and he appeared more disheveled.

Hayden Stinchfield, a former student and teaching assistant, notes a significant change:

“Our midterm was right at the end of September...then we didn't have any other graded assignments until early December.” ([26:16])

On December 13, 2022, Bryan and his father embarked on a road trip from Idaho back to Pennsylvania. During this journey, Bryan was pulled over twice within nine minutes, though these stops were unrelated to the murder investigation. Shortly after arriving home, FBI agents surveilled the family home, eventually arresting Bryan on December 30, 2022.

The Arrest and Immediate Aftermath

Law enforcement linked Bryan to the murders through DNA evidence found on a knife sheath at the crime scene and DNA samples from the family's garbage bags. During the arrest, Bryan was found wearing gloves and was apprehended while descending the stairs toward his bedroom.

ABC News conducted a ride-along with Sergeant Sproat, who expressed his gut feeling that Bryan was still in the area even after their initial traffic stops. Following his arrest, Bryan was held in Monroe County Jail and signed a document acknowledging that returning to the WSU campus would result in criminal trespassing charges.

Character Assessments and Legal Perspectives

Legal experts like Jason Lebar, Bryan’s former public defender, express concern over the public’s judgment:

“He’s undoubtedly being tried in the court of public opinion.” ([38:17])

The gag order issued by an Idaho judge aims to ensure a fair trial by restricting public discussions about the case. Despite these restrictions, media coverage and public speculation have painted a largely negative image of Bryan, with few, if any, voices defending his character.

Lewar emphasizes the challenges of connecting academic interests to criminal actions:

“People had asked...I mean, certainly it’s a factor, but how much of a factor to me is very minimal.” ([40:26])

Conclusion and Looking Forward

Bryan Kohberger’s trial is set for early October, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. The defense team is preparing to challenge the evidence, highlighting the lack of direct DNA links between Bryan and the victims within his personal spaces. As the community grapples with the tragedy, the episode underscores the complexities of character assessment and the profound impact of public perception on legal proceedings.

In the next episode, ABC News plans to further investigate the evidence for and against Bryan Kohberger, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the case as it unfolds.

Notable Quotes

• Casey Arntz: “One of the last things he said to me is I love you guys...so at the time it was really endearing. Now it's kind of creepy.” ([01:39])
• Thomas Arntz: “He would just grapple me and put me in headlocks and arm bars and stuff like that.” ([11:04])
• Hayden Stinchfield: “We felt like when we did that, our grades got better.” ([26:16])
• Jason Lebar: “DNA is great at telling us who it is, terrible at telling us how.” ([41:51])

Production Credits

• Written and Produced by: Timmy Truong, Meg Fierro, Vika Aronson, Kayna Whitworth
• Supervising Producer: Sasha Islanian
• Story Editor: Tracy Samuelson
• Fact Checker: Amirah Williams
• Original Music: Soundboard
• Mixing: Rick Kwan
• Social Media Producer: Ariel Chester
• Special Thanks: Lisa Soloway, Sean Dooley, Josh Margolin, Sasha Pesnik, Santina Lucci, John Capel, Nick Cerrone, Kayla Klass, Olivia Osteen, Liz Alessi
• Director of Podcast Programming: Josh Cohan
• Executive Producer: Laura Mayer

The King Road Killings is a production of ABC Audio. For more insightful reporting, please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.