For the first time, a member of convicted killer Bryan Kohberger's family has spoken publicly about his horrific crimes, revealing the poignant meaning behind a 'creepy' drawing he was seen with during his sentencing.
A Symbol of Unbroken Family Ties
In a revealing interview with the New York Times, Melissa Kohberger sought to explain the black heart drawing her brother was photographed pondering as he was sentenced to life without parole last July. She said it was not a sinister symbol, but a sign of support from his family to show they still loved him.
According to the account, Melissa remained at the family home in Pennsylvania to care for her father, Michael, who has heart trouble. Wanting her brother to know he was not disowned, she created the drawing. It was photocopied and given to Bryan Kohberger in court as he received four life sentences for the murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in November 2022.
Two Chilling Pre-Arrest Conversations
Melissa Kohberger stressed that her family's pain pales in comparison to that of the victims' families. She revealed the two instances she discussed the murders with her brother before his arrest in December 2022.
After the killings first made news, Melissa called Bryan out of concern for his safety, knowing he enjoyed late-night jogs and often left his doors unlocked. "Bryan, you are running outside, and this psycho killer is on the loose. Be careful," she told him. Kohberger assured her he would be safe.
The next discussion happened the following month, after Kohberger drove his white Hyundai Elantra to Pennsylvania for Christmas. Days before his arrest, he remarked in passing that Idaho police were still hunting for the killer.
A Family's Struggle and a Killer's Confession
Melissa recalled the moment her sister, Amanda, called to say the FBI had raided their home, handcuffed Bryan, and taken him away. Hearing he was suspected of being the Idaho murderer plunged her into a state of nauseous shock.
She said her family fully accepts the gravity and evil of Kohberger's crimes but continues to talk to him, struggling to reconcile the man they knew with the infamous killer he became.
Kohberger's motive remains unknown. Prosecutors believe he intended to kill someone that night and had planned for months, purchasing a KaBar knife from Amazon in March 2022 as the murder weapon. After two years of claiming innocence, the former PhD student confessed as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
