Experts Reveal Twisted Reason Idaho Killer Bryan Kohberger Murdered His Only Male Victim

Experts have shared theories about the death of Bryan Kohberger's male victim and the other victims following the recent release of crime scene photos by authorities.

The images, which were later deleted, showed the gruesome aftermath of the murders of the University of Idaho students, including bloodstains throughout their off-campus home.

This comes amid reports that Bryan Kohberger has been struggling to adjust to prison life after being taunted by other inmates.

Kohberger's killing spree in the early hours of November 13, 2022, left the families of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin grieving, not only for their untimely deaths but also for the brutal manner in which their lives were taken.

For the families, justice came in the form of four consecutive life sentences for their children's killer, who is currently incarcerated at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution.

However, the question of why the murders occurred remains unanswered, as Kohberger never revealed his motive, even when given the opportunity to do so during the victim impact statement at a hearing following his plea deal last year.

Following the emergence of since-deleted crime scene photos, former FBI agents Jennifer Coffindaffer and Tracy Walder have shared their theories on why some of the victims were targeted and Kohberger's mindset during the killings.

Coffindaffer suggested that the male victim, Chapin, was killed because he was perceived as a threat to another male.

"He killed the guy because he needed to neutralize the threat," she revealed, per the Daily Mail.

On the night of the murders, Chapin sustained 17 wounds, including one to the jugular, with injuries also observed on his chest, scalp, face, neck, and both upper and lower extremities.

The female victims suffered wounds in similar locations, but in higher numbers. Goncalves was stabbed at least 38 times, Mogen received roughly 10 fewer, and Kernodle tragically sustained the most, with 67 stab wounds documented.

According to Coffindaffer, the number of wounds indicates that the convicted murderer "enjoyed killing the women," a notion reinforced by the severity of some injuries, which were deep vertical, wide horizontal, and even penetrated bone.

"When you really look at the numbers now that have been released… it brings to light the true barbarian nature of this crime," Coffindaffer said of the murders, with a reported 150 stab wounds.

"This wasn't a murder – this was a slaughter," she added about the gruesome killings.

Since that tragic night, theories have also emerged about who Kohberger's primary target may have been. Walder believes Mogen holds that distinction, a conclusion she said can be drawn from the crime scene photos.

She noted that the knife sheath, which reportedly contained the murder weapon, was found in Mogen's bedroom and nowhere else in the off-campus Idaho home where the victims were discovered.

According to the former agent, this suggests the crime began in Mogen's room, and because it was located on the third floor, it further indicates that Mogen was likely the primary target.

"Who walks all the way up to the third floor first unless someone was their target?" Walder asked.

In the room with Mogen at the time of the murder was Goncalves. Both were found dead on the bed and were reportedly asleep when they were killed, due to fewer defensive wounds and little sign of struggle in the room.

Despite the similarly gruesome nature of the murders, Walder believes Goncalves was merely collateral damage in Kohberger's attempt to kill Mogen, much like Chapin.

As for Kernodle, Walder suggested that there was a significant struggle between her and Kohberger before he ultimately killed her.

She pointed to the chaos in Kernodle's bedroom and noted that the victim likely ran into Kohberger on his way down from killing Mogen and Goncalves on the third floor. The ex-agent also hinted that Kernodle was likely picking up her DoorDash and returning to her room when she encountered the former PhD student.

"I think Xana encountered him on his way out. I don't think he intended to get her,' Walder said.

She went on to claim that the crime scene photos don't show Kohnberger as a "process-oriented killer," but rather as someone who killed just to fulfill a fantasy he had.

"I think this is someone that just wanted to see what it was like to actually kill someone and see if he could do it," the ex-law enforcement agent concluded.

Kohberger has since been incarcerated at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, where he will spend the rest of his life after he was given four life sentences.

The killer is said to be housed in the J Block unit of the facility and stays put in his cell for 23 hours a day.

According to reports, Kohberger has found it difficult adjusting to prison life and has made multiple complaints about the food he gets fed and other inmates taunting and "harassing" him.