A major bombshell emerged in the Bryan Kohberger case after the prosecutor made a cryptic statement suggesting not all four University of Idaho students were intended targets.
According to the Daily Mail, prosecutor Bill Thompson dropped perhaps the biggest clue yet about Kohberger's motive during Wednesday's plea hearing, stating, "We will not represent that he intended to commit all of the murders that he did that night, but we know that that is what resulted."
The revelation comes after Kohberger confessed to the brutal November 2022 stabbings of Madison Mogen, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Xana Kernodle, 20. Despite his confession, authorities have been unable to find any digital connection between Kohberger and his victims or the two surviving roommates.
Madison Mogen May Have Been Primary Target
Sources close to the investigation believe Madison Mogen was Kohberger's intended target, based partly on the killer's path through the three-story student home that fatal night. This theory suggests the other three students' deaths may have been collateral damage.
Speculation has mounted about Kohberger's possible obsession with Mogen, who worked as a waitress at the Mad Greek restaurant in Moscow—the only establishment in town serving vegan cuisine that matched Kohberger's strict dietary requirements. While there is no official confirmation, author Howard Blum suggested Kohberger may have first encountered Mogen at the restaurant.
Goncalves' parents claim to have found evidence of Kohberger's social media activity linked to Mogen, stating his name appeared under many of her Instagram photos before being deleted around the time of his arrest.
Troubled Past Points to Deeper Issues
Kohberger's history reveals a pattern of instability that may have contributed to his actions. As a teenager, he struggled with heroin addiction and was once arrested for stealing and selling his sister's iPhone.
Court documents indicate Kohberger was involved in a car accident as a child, though details remain unclear. The incident is documented in defense mental health expert reports and listed under "trauma history."
Former friends and classmates have described Kohberger as socially awkward and noted he was bullied in high school over his weight before eventually overcoming his drug addiction through rehabilitation.
Disturbing Academic Focus Raises Questions
Kohberger's academic pursuits revealed an unsettling fascination with criminal behavior. He studied infamous serial killers, particularly Ted Bundy, who was executed for murdering female students in a Florida sorority house.
In 2020, Kohberger submitted a chilling 12-page essay for his criminal justice Master's degree detailing how to handle a crime scene involving a stabbed woman. The essay outlined protective gear and techniques used to avoid leaving DNA evidence. His former professor, Dr. Katherine Ramsland, a serial killer expert, expressed concerns that she may have inadvertently inspired his crimes through her teachings about criminal psychology and forensics.
Key Evidence Points to Premeditated Act
The prosecution's statement about Kohberger's selective intent has intensified focus on evidence suggesting premeditation. Phone records revealed disturbing searches for pornography with terms like "passed out," "forced," and "sleeping" in the weeks around the murders.
A cache of images on his device allegedly included photos of female students in bikinis. Additionally, Kohberger's essay about crime scene investigation demonstrated extensive knowledge of forensic techniques. The peculiar timing of his academic work, completing his degree just months before the murders, has drawn scrutiny from investigators attempting to understand the connection between his studies and the crimes.
