Ex-FBI agent suggests Bryan Kohberger may have killed due to 'incel complex'
This article is based on sources and we have been unable to verify this information independently.
MOSCOW, IDAHO: A former FBI investigator has suggested that Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger may have been driven to kill by his history of social issues and a possible “incel complex". "The murders may have been… an effort to assert some type of dominance,” former FBI agent and security expert Pete Yachmetz explained.
Kohberger is accused of brutally murdering University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. All of them were stabbed to death in their off-campus three-story rented home on November 13, 2022.
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“I believe a continued stabbing of a victim indicates…an uncontrollable rage and extreme anger,” Yachmetz told New York Post, adding that Kohberger has been described as “socially awkward with a long history of interpersonal problems.” “I think he may have developed a sort of incel complex,” he said.
In the past, forensic psychiatrist Dr Carole Lieberman had said that Kohberger fits the incel profile, according to CourtTV. “I’ve been saying from the beginning that he’s an incel,” Lieberman said, adding she was mostly convinced because of the suspect's "choice of victims". "Incels like to be known for when they kill people, or when they have a conquest like this,” she said, adding, “On the one hand, he wanted to commit the perfect crime and not be caught, but on the other hand, he did want to be caught, and be proud, in a sense, of what he did.”
What is an 'incel complex'?
The incel theory related to Kohberger surfaced again after he appeared in court. In the past, internet sleuths had the same speculation. Kohberger waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing as he appeared in court on Thursday, January 12, 2023. He will not be appearing in court again until June 26. This week, the suspect and his defense team reportedly filed adiscovery requesty, asking for information about a "co-defendant" in the case.
An incel is typically a member of an online community of young men dealing with a complex that they are unable to sexually attract women, prompting them to become hostile towards women and men who are sexually active.
A report by Psychology Today stated, "In a fundamental sense, incels are characterized by their identity being framed around a perceived lack of ability to form and maintain sexual and/or romantic relationships. In the media, they are often portrayed as hating women, harmful online, and misogynistic in their attitudes and behaviors."
It added, "It must be noted that public attitudes about incels are driven in large part by high-profile acts of violence that become attached to the community. In the most famous example of this, mass killer Elliot Rodger wrote a long manifesto detailing his sexual frustrations and linked these to his violence, while Alek Minassian attributed his killing of 10 people in Toronto to his hatred of "Chads" (sexually successful men) and "Stacys" (attractive, but choosy, women)."
The internet reacted to the incel theory yet again, with one user writing on Facebook, "I’ve been thinking this all along. Even before he was caught." "He should rot in hell and can only hope they put a needle in his arm.. still getting off easy," another said.
"No, he’s a psychopath and would’ve become a serial. That’s what “drove” him to kill. Incel doesn’t automatically mean murderer," one user said, to which another replied, "You're right, it doesn't. But it absolutely CAN mean that. We'll have to wait until more details come out. I'm definitely very curious to find out (hopefully) what his motive was."
"Geez. I wouldn't be surprise if he did have or had inmate partners, but who would come forward? So they can be bombarded about their relationship status and if they saw any warning signs," one user said on Reddit.
Another wrote, "It would be interesting to know the truth because people are often labeled incels for just even raising questions about feminism. Like was he truly a part of the community, posting on boards, saying hateful things about women, etc.? Or was he just another male intellect who pissed off some feminists?"
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.