Bryan Kohberger's Criminology Papers: A Chilling Peek into the Idaho Murders

Okay, let's talk about something truly unsettling. We just got a look at Bryan Kohberger's old school papers. These aren't just any notes; we're talking almost 700 pages from his criminology Ph.D. studies at Washington State University. Think about it: this was just before he allegedly stabbed four Idaho college students to death in November 2022. Idaho State Police just put these documents out. They give us a chilling peek into a student who... well, became a killer.

So, what are these papers all about? They're part of a huge pile of records released after Kohberger's July 2025 sentencing. He got life without parole for killing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle. Here's the wild part: these papers show a guy obsessed with understanding crime. He studied it. He theorized about it. But the big question: what happens when all that deep study turns into something horrific in real life?

A Scholar Who Became a Killer? Talk About a Paradox.

This wasn't just some light reading for Kohberger. Not at all. He dove deep into how criminals think and why they do what they do. He even pushed for studying how offenders make decisions and feel things. He wrote, "Not all criminal actions reflect a rational, instrumental process." That's what he meant. Some crimes, he said, are 'crimes of passion' – all about raw emotion. Others? Pure 'cold, calculated plans.' No feelings, just strategy.

The tragic irony? He explored these two sides of crime in his studies... then went and committed brutal acts himself. His academic journey to understand violence took a really twisted path. It makes you stop and think: where's the line between studying something and actually doing it? What does that tell us about the human mind?

Peeking Inside the Criminal Mind: Kohberger's Own Framework

His schoolwork shows he really wanted to crack the code of criminal behavior. He even thought about doing "in-person, semi-structured" interviews with people in jail to get inside their heads. Now, for most criminology students, that's a normal, even key, part of learning. But for Kohberger? It feels like a chilling hint of what was to come.

• Emotions and How Decisions Get Made. Kohberger really dove into how emotions – good or bad – change how someone decides to commit a crime, both before, during, and after. This is super important stuff in behavioral criminology. Get this: a Criminology journal article from late 2024 even explored the brain science of violent urges. It totally fits that 'crimes of passion' idea Kohberger was studying. Even wild, emotional acts can have patterns. He was clearly trying to figure that out.

• Calling Out Injustice and False Confessions. He didn't just study the crime. Kohberger also picked apart the justice system, writing tons about "procedural injustice." He said it leads to "many false confessions." His idea? Fake guilty pleas happen because judges aren't paying enough attention. And plea deals often force people to confess, especially when prosecutors threaten harsh charges if you don't say yes.

  • This isn't just Kohberger talking. The Innocence Project, for instance, reported in March 2025 that over 1,200 people have been cleared of crimes since 1989 – without DNA! Many of those cases had forced confessions or bad police work. So, the problems Kohberger studied were very real. The irony? He'd soon be up against the very system he criticized.

When Theory Meets Reality: A Chilling Foreshadowing

When investigators looked through Kohberger's belongings, these papers screamed at them. Prosecutors even planned to use his schoolwork. Why? To show he had "deeply studied crime" and knew exactly how to cover his tracks. Lead prosecutor Bill Thompson said at the July 2 plea hearing that Kohberger knew just how to get away with it.

• Surveillance: A Double-Edged Sword. Get this: Kohberger also pointed out issues with "eyewitness misidentification." His fix? "Increasing video surveillance in public places." How messed up is that, when surveillance footage often helps crack big cases – like his own?
  • It's still a hot topic. The Wall Street Journal just said last month (August 2025) that cities like New York are adding more AI-powered cameras and 'predictive policing' tech. It just brings up that old argument Kohberger mentioned: how much privacy do we lose for safety? And does all that surveillance even help?

The Death Penalty: His Academic Views, His Personal Irony

Maybe the most chilling bit? An essay quiz from October 19, 2022 – just weeks before the killings. Kohberger questioned if the death penalty actually works. He wrote, "there is no evidence of deterrent effects" and said it might even make things worse instead of better. Talk about dark irony: his own lawyers later tried using some of the exact court cases he cited in his papers to fight the death penalty at his trial. They didn't win, but wow.

• And it's not just him. The Death Penalty Information Center reported in mid-2025 that states like Oklahoma and Arizona are still wrestling over lethal injection rules. These ongoing debates perfectly mirror Kohberger's school-day doubts. A truly disturbing connection between his studies and his own end.

Experts Weigh In: More Than Just Academic Curiosity

Ed Jacobson, a former FBI Acting Supervisor, kept it simple: "That, in and of itself, would not make him a criminal." He's talking about Kohberger's studies. Jacobson pointed out that lots of folks are super fascinated by criminals, but would never dream of doing a crime themselves. But here's the twist: after Kohberger's arrest, the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit combed through everything. They wanted to get a handle on his "thinking patterns" and "potentially motive."

Experts are still scratching their heads, trying to figure out how someone's academic interest can suddenly turn into actual criminal acts. Dr. Alexia Smith, a forensic psychologist, told CBS News that understanding criminal psychology is massively helpful for police and researchers. But, she warned, "it becomes a dangerous weapon when wielded by someone lacking empathy and moral compass." The American Society of Criminology even released a paper in early 2025. Their big message? Researchers need super strict ethical rules when working with vulnerable people. It's a sharp reminder of the huge responsibility that comes with digging into these intense topics.

So, Bryan Kohberger's case? It's a powerful, chilling reminder. It shows us how studying something and then doing it can get twisted in the worst possible way. His schoolwork, which was supposed to explain crime, now feels like a ghostly preview of his own horrific acts. It really makes you pause and think about evil itself, and the minds that try to grasp it.