Does ASD Explain Kohberger’s Behaviour in the Idaho Four Case?

Is the case as clear-cut as the media would like us to think?

All parents have experienced that fear. That momentary panic when they don’t know where their children are. That gut-wrenching feeling, as all the worst possibilities flash through your mind. Or the dread of receiving a call from a relative at an unusual hour, fearing it’s bad news.

We think we can imagine what it would be like to lose a loved one, but until it happens, we’re woefully unprepared. I don’t know how I would cope. One thing I do know is that if they were murdered, I would want the person responsible caught. Even more than that, I would want to be sure that the person convicted was the perpetrator.

Sadly, several families have been denied that certainty due to miscarriages of justice. Police certain they had the right suspect, sometimes stopped looking further.

Many such cases come to mind. Michael Stone was convicted of the murder of Lin and Megan Russell and is still serving time. Many believe Levi Bellfield may have been the actual killer. Though Bellfield is already serving two life sentences, the victims’ families may never find peace, and an innocent man in prison. Stone’s only crime may have been appearing a little odd.

Then there’s the murder of Meredith Kercher. While police pursued Amanda Knox, the real perpetrator, Rudy Guede, was ultimately charged. Yet the focus on Knox resulted in a lighter sentence for Guede. Knox’s “crime” was behaving strangely at the police station.

I fear the Idaho 4 case may follow the same troubling path.

The Idaho 4

By now, many are familiar with the case. On November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students: Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, were found brutally stabbed to death in an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho.

In these tragedies, the families always suffer. As a true crime writer, conveying how much we respect and grieve for the families isn't easy. Although we analyse the case, the victims remain at its heart. Out of respect, I will not go into graphic details of the murders.

After a weeks-long investigation, authorities arrested Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, located just 10 miles from the crime scene. He was linked to the murders by DNA on a knife sheath found at the scene, cellphone records, and surveillance footage of a white Hyundai Elantra matching his vehicle.

However, I believe the evidence isn’t as clear-cut as it first appears.

DNA Evidence

A leather knife sheath was discovered near Madison’s body. The prosecution’s theory is that Kohberger was seen by a surviving housemate and accidentally left the sheath behind. A single male DNA profile was found on the snap button of the sheath.

Initially, this DNA matched familial DNA from trash recovered in Pennsylvania. After his arrest, a direct match to Kohberger was confirmed via cheek swab.

While this does link Kohberger to the sheath, it does not definitively prove he was at the scene during the murders. The house was known for frequent parties, and the defence may argue that Kohberger’s DNA could have been transferred innocently earlier. Furthermore, the murder weapon has never been recovered, and the sheath itself has not been matched to a specific knife.

Cell Phone Data

Kohberger’s phone and his Elantra were recorded near the victims’ house on twelve occasions before the murders, mostly at night or early morning. The prosecution claim this pattern shows he was stalking the victims.

They suggest he may have visited the restaurant where Madison worked and possibly fixated on her after a perceived rejection. The other three victims are seen as having been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

However, this theory raises questions. Why would a killer eliminate three potential witnesses yet leave two alive; especially as one surviving housemate reportedly saw him?

The witness’s statement also contains inconsistencies. She described the man as having “bushy eyebrows,” but it’s been suggested that this detail was added only after Kohberger’s arrest.

While the prosecution will argue that Kohberger turned his phone to aeroplane mode during the murders to avoid detection, it’s curious that someone with criminology training wouldn’t take more extensive steps to mask his movements during the earlier alleged stalking incidents.

If Kohberger is autistic, as has been speculated, then his late-night drives could be explained differently. I have family members on the spectrum, and when agitated, they often find calm in late-night car rides. Kohberger may have used similar strategies to manage stress.

Physical Evidence

Despite the brutal nature of the murders, no murder weapon has been found, nor has any blood-stained clothing. Authorities suggest Kohberger disposed of them quickly, yet with such a bloody crime, some trace would be expected in his car or apartment. Nothing conclusive has been reported.

He was seen cleaning his car with gloves on, which some view as suspicious. But sensory sensitivities and routines are common in individuals with autism. Wearing gloves while using strong-smelling chemicals may have been his normal behaviour.

Items found in his apartment, including nitrile gloves, a vacuum cleaner, a computer tower, and various hair strands, have been listed as suspicious. But they are circumstantial at best unless those items yield DNA or direct evidence linking him to the scene.

Behavioral Evidence

This area worries me most. Kohberger’s behaviour has been described as odd by former classmates and colleagues. But again, many of these traits, awkward social interactions, intense focus, isolation are consistent with autism, not criminal intent.

He was pulled over twice while driving cross-country, yet not arrested or detained. If he were a strong suspect at the time, wouldn’t his car have been searched more thoroughly?

His academic background in criminology and interest in criminal psychology have also drawn suspicion. However, autistic individuals often fixate deeply on a subject. My own daughter’s encyclopedic knowledge of Pokémon regularly astonishes people. For Kohberger, crime may have been of special interest. That alone should not raise red flags.

Ironically, wouldn’t a criminology student attempting to commit a murder be more skilled at avoiding detection?

Theories and Questions

As with many high-profile cases, online sleuths quickly generated theories, some plausible, others harmful. Innocent people were harassed, potentially jeopardising the investigation.

Some questioned whether one person could commit such an efficient and brutal attack in just sixteen minutes. The theory of two perpetrators gained traction early on.

Other speculations included a drug deal gone wrong or even that the murders were a “false flag” event, though there’s no credible evidence for this.

The delay in calling 911 also raised eyebrows. The surviving roommates likely were terrified, unsure of what they had heard or seen, and waited for friends before acting.

Yet one question still troubles me. If a roommate saw a man behaving strangely inside the house, why was 911 not called immediately?

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Kohberger’s behaviour may seem odd, but oddness is not guilt. He remains legally innocent, and the prosecution bears the burden of proof.

I worry when media and public opinion quickly assign autism or neurodivergent traits with guilt. These behaviours are often misinterpreted, especially by those unfamiliar with the condition.

Did the police, under immense pressure to solve a case, zero in on someone who fitted a convenient profile, such as a criminology student, socially awkward, or local to the area, without thoroughly exploring other leads?

This case must be examined with empathy and scepticism in equal measure. Whether Kohberger is guilty or not remains to be seen. But the evidence must be scrutinised, and the questions raised here deserve clear, thoughtful answers. We can not convict a man because he has ASD and behaves in an odd manner.

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My friend and amazing True Crime writer Karen Marie Shelton has been studying this case for years and offers regular updates. Follow her channel if you want to know more.