The aunt of the alleged Idaho killer Bryan Kohberger has said she believes her nephew will be found guilty of the grisly murders of four college students.
Kohberger is set to face trial over the fatal stabbings of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on November 13, 2022.
This case has captured the nation’s attention, with all four victims found stabbed to death in their shared home.
Kohberger was taken into custody in December 2022 and was indicted on murder charges earlier in 2023, which he denies.
Choosing to remain anonymous, his aunt admitted her difficulty in watching the news as more details of the horror murder continued to emerge.
She said: “When I saw it on TV, I was just lost for words… speechless. It’s heartbreaking; I’m a very caring person. And when I saw the news a little bit today in the living room… I couldn’t take it, hearing about them being knifed. I had goosebumps; I just cried.”
Regarding Kohberger’s upcoming trial, she expressed uncertainty about whether she would watch it if cameras were permitted in the courtroom.
She expressed a desire for answers to the many questions surrounding the murders, saying: “I just want the truth.
“I would like to see him or write to him and find out what happened.”
His aunt expressed her sympathy for the victims’ families while also noting that Kohberger had struggled with mental health issues.
She mentioned concerns about how he might cope if sentenced to life in prison, saying: “I think he may try and kill himself.”
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Kohberger.
Elaborating on the Kohberger family, she revealed that there had been “a lot of drama” between them, although she couldn’t disclose the specifics due to legal reasons.
She indicated that she hadn’t spoken to Kohberger’s parents but had heard they were devastated by the situation, and she initially refrained from discussing her nephew on advice from other relatives.
She added: “They are Christians, very religious.”
Recalling her interactions with her nephew when he was younger, she described him as a shy and troubled teenager and shared that she was aware of his struggles with depressive episodes and medication.
She said: “I don’t have an answer for why he was depressed; I guarantee he had a wonderful childhood.
“Michael [Kohberger’s dad] is a wonderful man; he was a janitor, and his wife is a beautiful woman; she’s a teacher, and they worked at the same school.”
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