For those who have been nervously waiting for new details surrounding the horrific case of the murders of four University of Idaho students on November 13, authorities finally made a big move over the holiday break.
Officials named and arrested suspect Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, on Friday, December 30, on charges of first-degree murder. Kohberger received a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in criminal justice from DeSales University.
He was a doctoral student at nearby Washington State University studying criminal justice and criminology during the time of his arrest.
According to classmates, the murders were discussed in class when Kohberger was present. His class was let out early the day the murders were made known to the public.
A student named BK Norton told reporters via email about taking four classes with Kohberger, according to Today.
The arrest has led those who know Kohberger to reflect on their encounters with him.
A brewery owner in Pennsylvania told Today that Kohberger was known for making “creepy” and uncomfortable comments to staff.
The behavior was so prominent when Kohberger was at the bar that staff took to writing down notes about his behavior to warn other employees.
According to Jordan Serulneck, owner of Seven Sirens Brewery Company in Bethlehem, the suspect had gone to the brewery alone on several occasions and sat at the bar.
Serulneck claimed Kohberger would make comments under his breath while at the bar, and he often made female employees uncomfortable.
Employees at the brewery started writing notes in the bar’s digital system that would appear whenever his ID was scanned.
“Staff put in there, ‘Hey, this guy makes creepy comments, keep an eye on him. He’ll have two or three beers and then just get a little too comfortable,’” Serulneck said, according to Today.
He also said Kohberger had a habit of asking female staff where they lived and what their work schedule looked like. If the staff blew him off, Serulneck said, he’d “get upset with them a little bit.”
It came to a point where the owner had to confront Kohberger one night when he entered the establishment.
“I went up to him and I said, ‘Hey Bryan, welcome back. We appreciate you coming back. …I just wanted to talk to you real quick and make sure that you’re going to be respectful this time and we’re not going to have any issues,’” he recalled.
“And he was completely taken aback. He was shocked that I was saying that, and he said, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. You totally have me confused.’”
According to the bar owner, Kohberger had one beer that night before leaving and never coming back.
