Bryan Kohberger’s Initial Police Encounter

Bryan Kohberger, the man responsible for the tragic deaths of four University of Idaho students, maintained a composed demeanor during his initial police interview. This interaction, detailed in a newly released summary by the Moscow Police Department, took place at the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Stroudsburg. Officers present included Moscow Police Cpl. Brett Payne and Idaho State Police Det. Darren Gilbertson. Kohberger, 30, acknowledged receiving a crime alert from Washington State University (WSU) and admitted awareness of the killings but invoked his Fifth Amendment rights when pressed for further details.

Discussion on Academic Pursuits

During the interview, Kohberger openly discussed his academic journey, emphasizing his pursuit of a Ph.D. in criminology. He expressed that knowledge held more value to him than financial gain and shared his fondness for college life. Kohberger revealed that he applied only to WSU and UC Irvine due to their GRE waiver policies and had recently returned to Pennsylvania after a cross-country drive with his father.

Shift in Conversation Topics

The conversation transitioned from small talk about WSU sports to Kohberger questioning the officers about their presence. When asked about his awareness of the situation in Moscow, he deflected, preferring the police to explain their visit. Det. Gilbertson mentioned their presence was related to events in Moscow but withheld specific details.

Personal Reflections and Observations

Kohberger shared personal anecdotes, including his recent road trip with his father for Christmas Break, where they took an alternate route to avoid snow. He spoke about the beauty of nature and its connection to spirituality, mentioning his Christian upbringing and skepticism except when confronted with natural beauty.

Concluding Remarks

When informed that their visit was due to the Idaho student murders, Kohberger requested legal counsel before discussing further details.