Bryan Kohberger, convicted of murdering four University of Idaho students, was reported to have bragged that the killer ‘must have been pretty good,’ according to a police report released in newly disclosed documents. His behavior before the murders included sexist and creepy actions that alarmed peers and faculty.
Who: Bryan Kohberger is a 30-year-old former criminology student at Washington State University who was sentenced to life in prison without parole in July 2025 for the stabbing deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The reports involve interviews with fellow graduate students, faculty members, and investigators from Idaho state police.
What: Kohberger made the comment praising the murderer’s skill approximately three weeks after the November 2022 killings, as documented in police reports. Additionally, he exhibited a pattern of sexist and creepy behavior, including physically blocking doors in offices where female students worked, making disparaging remarks about women, and discussing topics like sexual burglary, which was his field of study.
When: The bragging incident occurred in late November or early December 2022, but the police reports containing these details were released in August 2025 in response to public record requests. The publication of this news occurred on August 19, 2025, making it recent.
Where: The events took place primarily at Washington State University, where Kohberger was enrolled in the criminal justice program, and the murders happened at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus in Moscow, Idaho. The investigations and interviews were conducted by Idaho state police.
Why: Kohberger’s behavior raised significant concerns among students and faculty, with some speculating he might be an ‘incel’ (involuntary celibate) or a future predator. The release of these documents aims to provide transparency into the investigation and shed light on his character, potentially informing discussions on criminal psychology and campus safety.
How: The information was gathered through summaries of interviews with over 550 pages of investigation documents. Faculty and students reported multiple complaints about Kohberger’s conduct, leading to disciplinary meetings and mandatory behavior training for graduate students. One student even called a police tip line after noticing changes in his behavior post-murders, such as no longer bringing his cellphone to class.
Impact: This revelation adds depth to the public understanding of Kohberger’s mindset and the warning signs that were present before the murders. It may influence ongoing legal discussions, victim advocacy, and academic policies regarding student conduct and mental health support. However, since Kohberger is already convicted and sentenced, it does not alter the legal outcome but could affect societal perceptions of such crimes.
What’s next: With Kohberger serving a life sentence, the immediate focus is on the closure for the victims’ families and the potential for these documents to be used in future research or educational contexts about criminal behavior. There might be continued public interest and media coverage, but no further legal actions are anticipated directly from this report.