Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to the November 13, 2022, stabbings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. While the court sentenced him to four consecutive life terms, the specific motive for the killings remains officially unestablished, leading filmmakers and investigators to analyze his history and alleged ties to online subcultures.
Skye Borgman Theory on Gender-Based Targeting
Skye Borgman, director of the Netflix docuseries The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare, suggests Kohberger targeted the off-campus home because it was primarily occupied by women. Borgman told Fox News Digital that the presence of five women in the house made it a likely target, noting that Ethan Chapin was visiting his girlfriend, Xana Kernodle, at the time of the attack.
Borgman points to a pattern of behavior reported by former classmates of Kohberger, who described him as “not particularly well liked.” According to the docuseries, some peers claimed Kohberger frequently spoke down to women. One former student reported him to Washington State University police after she believed he was following her to her car; this report led to Kohberger losing his job as a teaching assistant.
Did you know? Kaylee Goncalves previously mentioned to her roommate, Bethany Funke, that she had seen someone “staring at her” while she was walking her dog prior to the murders.
Analysis of Incel Subculture and Behavioral Patterns
The Netflix series explores whether Kohberger was influenced by the “incel” (involuntary celibate) movement. The National Institutes of Health defines incels as a subculture of men characterized by deep-seated hostility toward women and a belief that they are victims of their lack of romantic relationships.
Borgman described the link between Kohberger and this movement as “conjecture,” but noted that he appeared to struggle with his relationships with women. The theory posits that a “low regard, if not hatred, for women” may have driven the selection of the target residence, which was watched by Kohberger in the days and weeks leading up to the crimes.
Kohberger’s Attempt to Withdraw Guilty Plea
Despite his July 2025 guilty plea, Kohberger is now petitioning the court to withdraw that admission. In a statement to The New York Times from prison, Kohberger claimed he is innocent and did not intend to confess. He told the publication, “A lot went wrong in those plea discussions,” and expressed a desire for his side of the events to be heard.
This legal maneuver comes after he avoided the death penalty by accepting the four consecutive life sentences. The request to withdraw the plea creates a potential conflict between the official court record and the defendant’s current claims of innocence.
Legal Insight: When a defendant pleads guilty, they typically waive their right to a trial, which is why a specific motive—such as the “incel” theory—was never formally proven in a courtroom setting.
Comparison of Survivor and Victim Experiences
| Group | Outcome/Experience |
|---|---|
| Victims | Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin were stabbed to death. |
| Survivors | Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen survived by locking themselves in a bedroom. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Bryan Kohberger kill the students?
A formal motive has not been publicly established by the court. However, Skye Borgman suggests in The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare that he may have targeted the house due to the number of women living there.
Did Bryan Kohberger confess to the crimes?
Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025. He has since told The New York Times that he believes he is innocent and wants to withdraw that plea.
What is the current legal status of Bryan Kohberger?
He is currently serving four consecutive life sentences, though he has petitioned the court to withdraw his guilty plea.
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