> At a Glance
> – Bryan Kohberger’s sister Mel tells The New York Times he overcame heroin addiction before starting a Ph.D.
> – Mel says the family was “so proud” after his recovery and academic turnaround
> – Kohberger is now serving four consecutive life sentences for the 2022 Idaho student murders
> – Why it matters: The interview reveals the stark contrast between Kohberger’s praised recovery and the brutal crimes that followed
In a revealing interview, Bryan Kohberger’s sister described his journey from heroin addiction to doctoral studies-just before he admitted to murdering four University of Idaho students.
From Addiction to Academia
According to Mel, Kohberger was bullied as an overweight child and later developed a heroin habit. She recalled that he once sold her phone at the mall to buy drugs.
After treatment, Kohberger:
- Earned a psychology degree from DeSales University
- Enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Washington State University
- Studied fewer than 10 miles from the Moscow, Idaho, crime scene
Mel told the Times:
> “We were all so proud of him because he had overcome so much.”
The Murders and Arrest
On November 13, 2022, four students-Kaylee Goncalves (21), Madison Mogen (21), Xana Kernodle (20), and Ethan Chapin (20)-were fatally stabbed off-campus.
Investigators traced Kohberger’s DNA on a knife sheath left at the scene. He was arrested December 30, 2022, at his Pennsylvania family home.
In 2025 Kohberger pleaded guilty under a deal that removed the death penalty. He received four consecutive life sentences without parole.
Sister’s Shock
Mel said she was stunned by the arrest and insists she would have reported him had she known:
> “I have always been a person who has spoken up for what was right. If I ever had a reason to believe my brother did anything, I would have turned him in.”
Key Takeaways
- Kohberger’s family celebrated his recovery and academic success
- His crimes occurred while attending a nearby university
- The guilty plea spared him the death penalty
- His sister maintains she had no prior knowledge of the murders
The interview underscores the jarring divide between Kohberger’s once-praised turnaround and the brutal reality of his crimes.
