Newly revealed forensic details connected to Bryan Kohberger are shedding disturbing light on his online activity in the days before his arrest in the Idaho student murders case.
According to digital forensics expert Heather Barnhart, Kohberger spent Christmas Day in 2022 with his family, unaware that his freedom was about to come to an end. Later that night, investigators say he began downloading information related to more than 20 notorious serial killers, continuing well past midnight into the early hours of December 26.
Barnhart, who worked with the Latah County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and serves as Senior Director of Forensic Research for Cellebrite, examined Kohberger’s cellphone and hard drive after his arrest. While much of the data had reportedly been deleted, investigators say one critical mistake allowed them to recover a large amount of information.
According to Barnhart, Kohberger allegedly failed to clear downloads stored on his Android device despite using incognito browsing and wiping portions of his desktop and hard drive.
Investigators say the recovered files included material connected to infamous killers such as Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Ed Kemper, Dennis Rader, Gary Ridgway, and Danny Rolling, among many others.
One of the most unsettling discoveries involved Danny Rolling, also known as the “Gainesville Ripper.” Barnhart said Kohberger had downloaded information about Rolling just one week after the Idaho killings occurred.
Investigators and observers have noted chilling similarities between Rolling’s 1990 murders and the Idaho student killings. Rolling murdered five college students after entering homes through sliding glass doors and attacking victims with a KA-BAR knife — details that mirror aspects of the Idaho case involving four University of Idaho students.
Authorities have repeatedly stated, however, that there is no evidence Kohberger sexually assaulted the victims, unlike Rolling’s crimes.
Barnhart also revealed that Kohberger allegedly monitored updates from the Moscow Police Department throughout the investigation, downloading official case updates multiple times between late November and late December 2022. On December 28 alone, he reportedly downloaded four separate versions of the update.
Just days later, Pennsylvania State Police arrested Kohberger at his family home.
Barnhart said the investigation proved especially difficult because of Kohberger’s background as a criminology student and his apparent understanding of digital evidence. Still, investigators ultimately recovered critical information that prosecutors believe could help establish his mindset and interests leading up to the murders.
“In the end, everyone makes mistakes,” Barnhart said.
