Bryan Kohberger is seen in the Ada County Courthouse during his sentencing on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho. He was convicted of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students nearly three years earlier. (AP Photo)
Bryan Kohberger, who murdered four University of Idaho students in 2022, had already developed a troubling reputation during his graduate program at Washington State University. Former classmates and faculty members told investigators that his behaviour alarmed many people, especially women in the program.
Faculty members described him as sexist, rude, and intimidating. According to documents, one professor warned colleagues that if Kohberger ever became a professor, he would likely harass or abuse his students. She pushed to cut his funding so he would not remain in the program.
“He is smart enough that in four years we will have to give him a Ph.D.,” she said, warning that he would become a predator as a professor.
Reports of Creepy and Intimidating Actions
Investigators learned Kohberger often cornered female graduate students by blocking office doors. One faculty member recalled hearing a woman say she needed to leave, so she stepped in to help her.
Police were also told that someone broke into a female student’s apartment months before the murders. Perfume and underwear were stolen. Some faculty members suspected Kohberger might have been responsible, though this was never confirmed.
Other students reported that he often made inappropriate comments. One Ph.D. student said he enjoyed conflict and spoke down to women. He also liked to talk about crimes such as sexual burglary, which made others deeply uncomfortable.
Nine Complaints Filed Against Him
According to police reports, Washington State University received nine complaints about Kohberger’s behaviour. Students and staff said he regularly belittled women and treated them disrespectfully.
The university held a mandatory training session on proper conduct for graduate students after the complaints. One instructor, assigned to work with him, said much of her time was spent addressing complaints about him from both students and professors.
Odd Behaviour After the Killings
Kohberger murdered students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in November 2022 at an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho. He later received a life sentence without parole.
After the killings, classmates noticed a shift in his behaviour. One student said he used his phone constantly before the murders, but suddenly stopped bringing it to class. He also looked more unkempt and never joined discussions about the case, which struck classmates as unusual.
Another student recalled seeing him with bloody knuckles before the murders. She said his hand looked like he had been punching something. Concerned, she later called a police tip line to report what she had seen.
A Community Still Shaken
Kohberger’s behaviour left classmates and professors with lasting unease. Many now believe his actions in graduate school offered warning signs. Some faculty members regret that the concerns they raised were not taken more seriously.
