Abstract
The recent murders of four college students by Bryan Kohberger, a criminology student and teaching assistant at a university, raise troubling concerns about the nuanced reasons behind such horrible actions. This report investigates whether Kohberger’s interest in the psychology of murder, together with a desire to comprehend his psychological tendencies or morbid curiosity, may have been what drove him to carry out these terrifying acts. Kohberger’s academic background in criminology and his position as a teaching assistant suggest an interest in understanding the psychological causes of criminal behavior. It is conceivable that his academic curiosity went too far and turned into a violent obsession. The paper also considers the likelihood that Kohberger’s intentions were influenced by both emotional and intellectual elements and the possibility that his academic curiosity may have driven him to act on a solid emotional motive that he could not control or comprehend.
Introduction
Bryan Kohberger’s latest case, in which he brutally murdered four college students. In contrast, still a criminology student, serves as an unsettling reminder of the complex motivations that often drive such terrifying actions. It implies that the need to understand one’s own psychological inclinations or morbid curiosity may be the driving force behind a killing motivated by both passion and curiosity.
Given his criminology degree and position as a teaching assistant at a university, Kohberger could have been interested in the psychological causes of criminal conduct. However, it is likely that this curiosity went too far and became an obsession with murder. He may have killed in an effort to fulfill his fascination with the subject and learn more about his psychological tendencies. It is also conceivable that Kohberger’s motivation resulted from intellectual and emotional causes. His academic interest in the psychology of murder may have encouraged him to act on powerful emotional urges that he could not understand or control.
Findings
Kohberger was born on November 21st, 1994. He graduated with an associate degree in psychology from Northampton Community College in 2018 before attending DeSales University to finish his undergraduate studies in 2020. Kohberger was a Ph.D. criminology student and teaching assistant at Washington State University’s Pullman campus at the time of his arrest. According to a DeSales administrator, he maintained his graduate work at the institution after that, finishing it in 2022 (CBS News, 2023). One of Kohberger’s neighbors in Pullman, Washington, said that the suspect spoke with him about the killings a few days after they occurred.
By mentioning the deaths and referring to them as a “crime of passion,” Kohberger suggested that he was either involved in or had knowledge of the crime. His use of language and informal attitude might also suggest that he has little sympathy for the victims, which a jury can perceive negatively. This claim might also be psychologically investigated to understand Kohberger’s character and criminal intentions better. It is essential to remember that this is only one piece of evidence in the case and that it should be balanced against other evidence and witness testimony.
Further information may be found that can help investigators understand Kohberger’s intentions and mental processes; thus, it is essential to remember that the investigation is still ongoing. The psychological assessment of suspects and criminals who have been found guilty can provide many details about their conduct, events in the past, and thought processes. Kohberger may have expressed a desire for attention or infamy, which is a trait frequently found in serial killers, in his utterances. They can try to become well-known people to fulfill their desire for dominance and control over others. Kohberger’s remarks could also be an effort to minimize the seriousness of his actions or lead investigators astray.
To avoid taking responsibility for their conduct, some offenders may pretend to have a mental illness or try to invent a different story about their behavior. In an effort to create “profiles” of violent criminals, investigative profilers at the FBI’s Behavioural Science Unit (BSU) have been analyzing crime scenes (Lankford & Silver, 2020). Data aggregated from many sources is used to create profiles highlighting specific features peculiar to the offender. In turn, these profiles are intended to help law enforcement officials identify and apprehend violent criminals, especially serial murderers.
Additional Aspects to Consider
Mr. Kohberger authored self-critical postings on the internet. At the same time, he was a teenager, during which he also expressed his sentiments of alienation from society and a lack of purpose in life. He also talked about having mental health problems, including suicidal ideation, anxiety, sadness, and depersonalization (Gillespie, 2023).
While some of his friends considered him intelligent, he could also be rude and aggressive. He bullied peers in college by over-explaining and acting patronizingly toward female students (Sager, 2023). He submitted a Reddit request for ex-offenders to research how emotions and psychological characteristics impact criminal decision-making while a student at DeSales University, which he said was authorized by the institution (Gillespie, 2023).
Although Kohberger expressed interest in studying criminal justice in college, his addiction is said to have disrupted those intentions (Sager, 2023). Some of his classmates remembered him being interested in serial killers and developing theories on crime scenes based on photos presented in class (Baker & Bogel-Burroughs, 2023). However, they did not perceive any threatening behavior at the time.
At Washington State University, which is just eight miles from the Moscow, Idaho home where four University of Idaho students were murdered, Kohberger was a criminology Ph.D. student. The graduate student directory for the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology was removed from the website after the tragedy (Gillespie, 2023). It was replaced with a message offering support and emphasizing their dedication to justice. The statement said the choice was taken to safeguard graduate students’ privacy.
Kohberger’s Washington State University classmate, BK Norton, regarded him as intelligent yet detached. Norton, who identifies as queer, claims Kohberger made disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ+ community, leading Norton to avoid interacting with him (Sager, 2023). Since he was a criminology student, Norton felt that Kohberger was aware of the seriousness of the accusations he may be subject to if found guilty of the killings (Sager, 2023). Norton also mentioned Kohberger’s tendency for solitude and how, following the tragedy, he had greater motivation to communicate with students.
Kohberger has primarily kept quiet despite being accused. Kohberger, according to a police source engaged in his extradition procedure, seemed to be quite worried and was reportedly talking to himself. The informant claimed that Kohberger was comforting himself at one point and that everything was fine (Gillespie, 2023).
The police source added that Kohberger briefly commented on the tragedy, saying that what happened to them was really sad, even though he avoided speaking to authorities directly about the case (Sager, 2023). Kohberger did not say anything more, the source continued, claiming he was “smarter than that” (Sager, 2023). Kohberger’s Miranda rights were read to him during the arrest, so he cannot be questioned about the incident without an attorney.
Kohberger’s now-deleted Instagram account followed the accounts of Mogen, Goncalves, and Kernodle, but none of them followed him back. Two weeks before the murders, Kohberger messaged one of the victims on Instagram many times without receiving a response. He merely said, “Hey, how are you?” in the messages (Sager, 2023).
An investigator familiar with the matter said that Kohberger remained persistent despite the victim’s lack of response and did not appear dissatisfied. In the weeks preceding the murders, Kohberger reportedly visited the Moscow restaurant Mad Greek, where Mogen and Kernodle worked as waiters (Sager, 2023). It is unclear, though, if they ever responded to or spoke to him in any way.
An essential rule of criminal law known as the “irrelevance of motive principle” holds that the reason a person committed a crime should not be taken into account when evaluating their criminal responsibility. Motivation is not a requirement for establishing guilt; it differs from mens rea, which requires the prosecution to show that the defendant intended to commit the crime (Gillespie, 2023).
The probable cause affidavit in Kohberger’s case states that there is no established reason for the murders of the college students. The absence of motivation may make the crime more troubling. However, it has no bearing on the proof connecting Kohberger to the crime scene, including his DNA on the knife sheath, phone ping information, and security video (Sager, 2023). Although it may help comprehend the perpetrator’s actions, knowing the perpetrator’s purpose is not necessary to determine criminal liability. Kohberger, for instance, could have been driven by a sick obsession with criminology or a desire to carry out the ideal crime, but it does not justify what he did.
Third-Party Investigation
In January, the Pennsylvania State Court extradited the suspect to Idaho. Brian Koberger is awaiting trial, which is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2023. Despite the severe evidence, the graduate student continues to make statements about his innocence through his lawyer.
The lack of reliable information further provoked netizens, and many enthusiasts began investigating (Baker & Bogel-Burroughs, 2023). Moreover, they managed to discover something interesting. Internet detectives found a Facebook account named Papa Rodger (Gillespie, 2023). They assumed that, with a high degree of probability, it belonged to the killer. The user was a member of the University of Idaho Murders — Case Discussion group, where high-profile murders were discussed and actively participated in (Baker & Bogel-Burroughs, 2023).
One detail attracted the attention of curious users. In one of the posts, Anonymous Papa Rodger suggested that the killer lost a knife case at the crime scene. However, official information about this appeared in the local press later.
In December, the same mysterious user already assured everyone that the white car from the surveillance cameras had nothing to do with the case. Moreover, on the day of Koberger’s arrest, Papa Rodger’s account was blocked. Whether it belonged to the killer or was just a series of strange coincidences (Gillespie, 2023). Later, we found another post that was already on Reddit. There, a man who introduced himself as Brian Koberger, a student, approached people who had committed crimes to participate in a study to understand how emotions and personality traits affect the decision to commit a crime.
In an interview with reporters, 33-year-old Michelle Bolger, an associate professor at DeSales University, talked about her experience teaching Brian Kohberger while he was still a master’s student (Gillespie, 2023). For ten years of teaching, she recommended only two students for the doctoral program, and he was one of them. Criminal profiling specialist Enzo Jaksic suggested that Brian Kohberger may have studied criminology to investigate his alleged homicidal tendencies (Baker & Bogel-Burroughs, 2023). Thus, several people are particularly skeptical about the motive of this crime.
Crime
Initially, examining crime scenes indicated a binary distinction between organized and disorganized crime. Kohberger’s case can be characterized as an organized crime, as he intended to do those killings. In his case, it seems that the victims were selected randomly, and there is no point in focusing on them. Investigative profiling has advanced over time, becoming more sophisticated and including other elements like motive, personality, and even geography (Lankford & Silver, 2020).
Profiling is intended to help law enforcement focus their search and identify prospective culprits. It is critical to remember that profiling is not always accurate and can occasionally misdirect investigators. Investigators in Kohberger’s case may find profiling to be a valuable tool for better understanding his motivations and any probable psychological issues that may have contributed to his acts. It might also shed light on his behavioral patterns and aid in detecting any looming dangers. It is essential to remember that profiling is only one aspect of an investigation and should be used with other methods.
There are several plausible explanations for why a killer might pick their victims at random. These theories may be grounded in psychological concepts or real-world events. People who murder at random sometimes do so just for the thrill of it. The sense of control and power they gain from taking another person’s life may appeal to them, and the fact that their victims are chosen at random may add to the unpredictable nature of their behavior.
Mental disease is another conceivable explanation. People who suffer from certain mental diseases, such as schizophrenia, may act aggressively without having any discernible reason for doing so. In these situations, the offender might pick victims at random based on imagined dangers or irrational notions.
Dehumanization is a theory that could explain why a killer might pick their victims at random. According to this hypothesis, the offender may think less of their victims than themselves, making it more straightforward for them to defend their acts (Lankford & Silver, 2020). This mindset might be affected by things like watching violent media or having experienced abuse or trauma in the past. Considering outside influences that might lead to violent, random acts is vital. For instance, a perpetrator who has personally endured severe trauma or abuse may be more inclined to act violently.
With regards to the murderer’s personality, Kohberger may have suffered from child abuse during his early years. Information regarding his family and childhood is not shared, yet it may be the cause of his violent behavior. According to the scholarship, a serial killer’s “profile” frequently involves childhood maltreatment (Marono, Reid, Yaksic & Keatley, 2020). Depending on how much the abuse has been perceived as severe or unpleasant, this may be the result of habit and pain tolerance (Marono et al., 2020). Childhood abuse has also been linked to subsequent cognitive processing issues, such as encoding mistakes, hostile attributional biases, accessibility of aggressive reactions, and positive assessments of aggressiveness, that may result in an aggressive thought pattern.
The psychological and social elements that influence criminal conduct are critical to criminology research. Kohberger probably had access to information and resources as a teaching assistant that helped him to learn more about this area of research. It is also conceivable that he became focused on the topic due to learning this knowledge and being dangerously curious about how murder is committed. He may have finally been so fascinated by the subject that he turned to murder to fulfill his curiosity and learn more about his psychological tendencies. It is significant to highlight that fascination with violent crime or murder is frequent, particularly among people interested in criminology (Huidu, 2019).
Although it seldom results in violent action, it is typically an intellectual interest instead of a personal one. In Kohberger’s case, there may have been a risk that his intellectual curiosity turned into a personal infatuation with murder. It is also crucial to consider any possible overlap between Kohberger’s emotional and intellectual aspects. There may have been underlying emotional issues in addition to his intellectual curiosity about what led him to perpetrate the murders.
Some believe that Bryan Kohberger’s involvement with criminology and criminal justice may have played a vital role in the University of Idaho murders. At DeSales University, renowned for its comprehensive criminal justice program and practical training, Kohberger studied criminology and criminal justice (Gillespie, 2023). The institution contains a complete crime scene house for training exercises, gathering evidence, and handling problems (Gillespie, 2023). When investigators examined Kohberger’s parents’ house, they discovered a book on criminal psychology and records from DeSales University.
According to the university’s assistant vice president for marketing and communications, the institution did not prohibit students from speaking to the media and was willing to help when necessary. Although it does not necessarily establish Kohberger’s guilt, the fact that he had studied criminology and criminal justice is considered a clear perspective in the case (Baker & Bogel-Burroughs, 2023). However, police thought highly of his studies based on discovering the criminal psychology book and DeSales University records over the inquiry (Gillespie, 2023). Furthermore, Kohberger’s involvement in criminal justice raises concerns regarding the possible contribution that his academic pursuits may have had to the murder.
The study of criminal conduct, the social and environmental elements that affect it, and the strategies for preventing and managing crime are all included in this multidisciplinary topic. Understanding the motivations and actions of criminals is just one aspect of the study of criminology; another important aspect is figuring out how to lower crime rates (Burt, 2020). Understanding the true motivations of offenders is one of criminology’s key objectives. Criminologists seek to find effective methods to stop similar crimes from happening in the future by studying the motivations behind criminal behavior (Burt, 2020). To do this, criminologists research a range of variables, such as biological, psychological, social, and environmental ones, that may have an impact on criminal conduct.
It is crucial to remember that a desire to murder someone does not always result from studying criminology. In reality, criminology is a discipline that places more emphasis on stopping and lessening crime than on fostering it. Criminologists aim to comprehend the underlying reasons for criminal conduct and provide efficient solutions to stop it (Burt, 2020).
However, those with a history of being interested in violent conduct will probably find criminology interesting. These people could be driven by a desire to understand the methods and techniques employed by criminals to better understand their own violent tendencies. It is crucial to remember that these people do not accurately reflect the more considerable discipline of criminology, which comprises experts committed to preventing and lowering violent crime.
Criminology studies may help us understand criminals’ true motivations and create effective treatments to stop criminal conduct. Nonetheless, it is essential to recognize that an urge to commit murder is not necessarily caused by studying criminology. The more extensive science of criminology is committed to preventing and eliminating crime rather than encouraging it, even if some people may be driven to it because of preexisting interests in violent conduct.
Conclusion
Kohberger may choose victims at random for several reasons, such as thrill-seeking, mental illness, retaliation, escalation, and impulsive behavior. Investigation profiling is a valuable tool for figuring out the intentions and tendencies of the perpetrator, but it should be combined with other types of proof and investigation methods. In the end, each case is unique, and it is the responsibility of the investigators to compile and assess all available information to ascertain the criminal’s motivations.
Moreover, the reasons for a violent act committed at random can be intricate and varied. Investigators and academics must consider a wide range of variables when seeking to comprehend the psychology underlying these crimes. This entails looking into the victim’s past, relationships with others, and any possible outside influences on their behavior.
His criminology background and position as a teaching assistant at a university point to a sincere desire to comprehend the psychological causes of criminal conduct. However, it is also plausible that his initial interest in criminal psychology evolved into a lethal obsession with the murder itself. This interest and specific emotional causes may have driven him to perpetrate those awful crimes. Important considerations concerning the relationship between academic curiosity and individual attraction to violent crime are raised by this instance. Knowing when curiosity exceeds a boundary and assumes a personal and perhaps dangerous nature is critical since studying criminology may be a valuable tool for understanding the reasons behind criminal behavior.
References
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Burt, C. H. (2020). Self-control and crime: Beyond Gottfredson & Hirschi’s theory. Annual Review of Criminology, 3(1), 43–73. Web.
CBS News. (2023). Suspect in Idaho triple murder claims he’ll be exonerated. CBS News. Web.
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Marono, A. J., Reid, S., Yaksic, E., & Keatley, D. A. (2020). A behaviour sequence analysis of serial killers’ lives: From childhood abuse to methods of murder. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 27(1), 126-137. Web.
Sager, J. (2023). Idaho murder suspect: What we know about Bryan Kohberger. Peoplemag. Web.