The question of who Bryan Kohberger was allegedly stalking has become a central and deeply unsettling element of the investigation into the horrific 2022 University of Idaho murders. As of December 18, 2025, newly released details and unsealed court documents paint a picture of a suspect who may have engaged in a disturbing pattern of surveillance, both of the murder house and, more specifically, one of the four victims. This behavior extends beyond the 1122 King Road residence, with other college students coming forward with their own unsettling accounts of being stalked by the criminology Ph.D. student. The revelations suggest a premeditated, targeted approach rather than a random act of violence, raising profound questions about the suspect's psychological state and intent.
The latest information indicates that the alleged stalking behavior manifested in two distinct ways: a persistent physical surveillance of the victims' residence and a focused, direct attempt to contact one of the victims through social media. This dual-pronged pattern of activity provides crucial context for the events leading up to the quadruple homicide of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in Moscow, Idaho. Understanding the scope of this alleged stalking is key to grasping the full premeditated nature of the crime, as prosecutors have suggested Kohberger may have even broken into the home prior to the night of the murders.
Bryan Christopher Kohberger: A Comprehensive Profile
Bryan Christopher Kohberger, the man charged in the Latah County quadruple homicide, was a Ph.D. student whose academic focus ironically centered on the criminal justice system he is now accused of violating. His background and academic pursuits provide a chilling juxtaposition to the allegations of stalking and murder.
- Full Name: Bryan Christopher Kohberger
- Date of Birth: November 21, 1994
- Hometown: Albrightsville, Pennsylvania (also associated with Effort, Pennsylvania)
- Parents: Michael Kohberger Jr. and Maryann Kohberger
- Siblings: Two older sisters
- Education:
- Associate's Degree in Psychology from Northampton Community College (2018)
- Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from DeSales University
- Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from DeSales University
- Ph.D. Student in Criminal Justice and Criminology at Washington State University (WSU)
- Role at WSU: Teaching Assistant (TA) in the Criminal Justice program
- Arrest: December 30, 2022, in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania
- Charges: Four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary.
Prior to his arrest, Kohberger had completed his first semester in the WSU criminology program, located just a short distance from the victims' off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho. His time at WSU was reportedly marked by troubling behavior, with administrators receiving 13 formal complaints within days of his arrival, and a professor allegedly warning that Kohberger would harass, stalk, and abuse.
The Target: Social Media Messages and a Shadowy Figure
The most compelling evidence suggesting a specific target within the 1122 King Road house revolves around one of the victims, Kaylee Goncalves. While authorities have not officially named a single target, unsealed documents and media reports strongly suggest a focused interest by Kohberger.
Alleged Instagram Stalking of a Victim
Reports from PEOPLE Magazine and other news outlets indicate that Bryan Kohberger allegedly sent multiple direct messages to one of the victims' Instagram accounts in the weeks leading up to the November 13, 2022, murders. This digital pursuit suggests a direct, non-random connection and a persistent attempt to initiate contact with a specific individual at the residence.
- The messages were reportedly sent repeatedly.
- The victim never responded to the messages.
- This social media trail provides a potential motive for the crime, suggesting a fixation that escalated after being ignored.
The Victim’s Own Fear of a Stalker
In a chilling detail revealed through police documents, a friend of Kaylee Goncalves told investigators that Goncalves had mentioned having a "stalker" while they were having lunch in September 2022. Furthermore, in the weeks before the murders, Goncalves reportedly told friends she had seen a shadowy figure watching her while she was walking her dog.
This information, contained within the unsealed files, suggests that the victim's own perception aligned with the alleged behavior of the suspect. The combination of the unsolicited social media contact and the reported sightings of a shadowy figure paints a clear picture of a victim being surveilled and targeted.
The Pattern of Surveillance: Stalking the King Road House
Beyond the focus on a single victim, the investigation has uncovered extensive evidence that Bryan Kohberger allegedly stalked the King Road residence itself. The proximity of his WSU apartment in Pullman, Washington, to the Moscow, Idaho, home made frequent surveillance feasible.
At Least Twelve Visits Before the Murders
The arrest affidavit and subsequent reports indicate that Kohberger’s white Hyundai Elantra was observed in the area of the 1122 King Road house on multiple occasions prior to the night of the murders. An analysis of cell phone data and vehicle sightings suggests that Kohberger may have stalked the house "at least 12 times" in the months leading up to the homicides.
This pattern of repeated visits demonstrates a meticulous and calculated effort to monitor the house, the residents, and their routines. It suggests a high degree of planning and premeditation, a hallmark often discussed in criminology, the very field Kohberger was studying.
Pre-Crime Break-in Allegation
In a motion filed by the prosecution, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson suggested that Kohberger may have even broken into the victims' home on a prior occasion before the night of the murders. This allegation, if proven, would elevate the stalking from mere surveillance to a direct physical trespass, indicating an escalating obsession and a willingness to violate the victims' privacy and safety long before the attack.
Disturbing Behavior at Washington State University
The alleged stalking behavior was not limited to the victims or the King Road house. New documents and interviews have revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior exhibited by Kohberger while he was a criminology Ph.D. student and teaching assistant at Washington State University (WSU).
Allegations from Other Students
Two separate college students, who were not the murder victims, came forward with their own accounts of being stalked by Kohberger. They allege that Kohberger would show up at their workplace every day, and they recalled incidents where a stranger, believed to be Kohberger, was seen watching them from a distance. These claims suggest a broader, compulsive pattern of predatory behavior targeting young women in the area.
Unsettling Conduct in the Criminology Program
Kohberger's tenure at WSU was reportedly fraught with issues. He developed a reputation among his peers for being "sexist and creepy," and his unsettling conduct led to a negative impact on his peers. The 13 formal complaints filed against him, which included warnings from a professor about his potential to harass, stalk, and abuse, highlight a pattern of behavior that was alarming to those around him. These details, revealed in the hundreds of pages of investigation documents released by Idaho State Police, provide a crucial context for understanding the mindset of the alleged killer and the escalation of his alleged stalking tendencies.
The totality of the evidence—from repeated social media messages to one victim, to the victim's own expressed fear of a stalker, to the numerous pre-dawn visits to the house, and the separate allegations from other students—paints a clear and disturbing portrait of a man allegedly fixated on the victims and the 1122 King Road residence. This detailed pattern of alleged stalking is a key component of the prosecution's case, suggesting the murders were the culmination of a deliberate, calculated, and terrifying pursuit.
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