• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Forensic psychiatrist gives chilling theory behind Bryan Kohberger’s motive after he confessed to Idaho murders

Home> News> US News

Published 17:03 6 Jul 2025 GMT+1

Forensic psychiatrist gives chilling theory behind Bryan Kohberger’s motive after he confessed to Idaho murders

Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to murder earlier this week

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

A forensic psychiatrist has provided a theory behind Bryan Kohberger’s motive after he confessed to murdering University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen.

Mogen and Goncalves, 21, and 20-year-olds Chapin and Kernodle were all found dead at their off-campus home in Idaho on November 13, 2022.

Kohberger was later charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in connection with their deaths.

He previously pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, however, his recent plea deal saw him admit to the murders means he will not be handed the death penalty.

Advert

Instead, Kohberger will be sentenced to ten years for the burglary charge, on top of a fixed life sentence on the four counts of homicide, according to the plea agreement.

Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty earlier this week (Kyle Green-Pool/Getty Images)
Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty earlier this week (Kyle Green-Pool/Getty Images)

Kohberger admitted to murdering the four students in on Wednesday (July 2).

NewsNation's Brian Entin revealed that Kohberger was asked if he 'stabbed and murdered' Mogen, 'deliberately killed and murdered' Goncalves, as well as taking the life of Kernodle and Chapin, to which Kohberger responded with 'yes'.

Advert

Trying to find answers as to why a murderer has committed such dreadful crimes is near impossible, but that's where Dr Carole Lieberman comes in.

The forensic psychiatrist told the Daily Mail how Kohberger's rage could have been triggered by a psychological pattern.

"It is especially significant that Maddie and Kaylee look like the blonde cheerleader who rejected him in middle school," Dr Lieberman told the Mail.

"He took out the rage that he built up over the years, towards this first love and all the subsequent women who rejected him, with each bloody stab of the knife."

Advert

Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were murdered last year in their Idaho home (Instagram/@kayleegoncalves)
Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were murdered last year in their Idaho home (Instagram/@kayleegoncalves)

The expert has looked into Kohberger's demeanour during the plea agreement, and there was certainly a lot of red flags.

"He was so angry, so defiant," Dr Lieberman said. "He certainly wasn’t remorseful."

The forensic psychiatrist went on to tell the Mail that she's decided to share her theory now to help the victims' families in what is an extremely difficult time.

Advert

"They are not going to hear it from his mouth... so I just wanted to try to give them some idea of why this happened," she added. "Their children didn’t do anything wrong, and what happened is not because of anything their children did. I am worried that they are thinking that."

The recent plea deal was reportedly made just days after prosecutors met with the victims' families to discuss the plans.

Featured Image Credit: Pool/Getty

Topics: Bryan Kohberger, Crime, US News

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Never-before-seen interview reveals Bryan Kohberger said victim's name on night of Idaho murders
  • Chilling footage of 'Bryan Kohberger in jail' shows killer with red hands, sparking new investigation
  • Bryan Kohberger demands prison transfer after receiving sickest threat imaginable
  • Newly released image shows Bryan Kohberger just moments after Idaho murders arrest

Choose your content:

24 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • 24 mins ago

    Health officials issue warning as US man tests positive for plague that killed millions

    A health warning has been issued after a man from California tested positive

    News
  • an hour ago

    Disturbing reason Donald Trump 'specifically requested' to have the Mexican border painted black

    Some people have questioned whether this will actually have any kind of impact

    News
  • an hour ago

    Doctors issue severe vape warning as teens are already showing 'gateway' signs

    10% of children aged between 11 and 15 are regular vapers, according to NHS figures.

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Prince Andrew book removes claim about Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein after Hunter Biden threatened with $1 billion lawsuit

    The book included a claim that Melania Trump and her lawyers have firmly denied

    News