Idaho murders: Forensic expert claims Bryan Kohberger most likely struggled with 'cannibalistic urges'
This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently.
MOSCOW, IDAHO: The quadruple murder suspect Bryan Christopher Kohberger, who was held without bail, is alleged to have struggled with "cannibalistic urges," according to a forensic expert. According to forensic psychiatrist Carole Lieberman, Kohberger's alleged "obsessive-compulsive eating habits" show he was concerned about developing a meat addiction. "He was not only vegan, he refused to eat off of pots or plates that had meat on them. Psychologically, this represents his struggle against his cannibalistic urges," she said. "He was afraid that if he let himself go to taste meat once, he would become addicted to it— like he had become to heroin — and start killing and eating people," she added.
Kohberger, a 28-year-old PhD student and teaching assistant in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Washington State University, was detained on Friday, December 30 at his parents' residence in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. Details of Kohberger's life have come to light in the days following his arrest, including the fact that he maintains a strict vegan diet and has allegedly battled heroin addiction in the past, Newsweek reported.
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Kohberger's food restrictions were described as "very, very weird" by a relative, who also claimed that the man appeared to have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). An unnamed woman who previously married into Kohberger's family said: "It was above and being vegan. His aunt and uncle had to buy new pots and pans because he would not eat from anything that had ever had meat cooked in them."
In a video uploaded to TikTok, Kohberger's friend Casey Arntz said that he had been "a heavy heroin user" in high school. Casey Arntz and Kohberger were friends in middle and high school. Another friend from Northampton Community Undergraduate who attended Kohberger's college years revealed that his drug addiction issues persisted throughout those years.
Kohberger's lawyer, Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar, has said that his client was "eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible." Kohberger waived his right to extradition during the court hearing, as reported by the media representative inside the Pennsylvania courtroom. The next legal proceeding will take place after the accused is taken to Idaho where he will make an initial appearance before a magistrate before the hearings. The 28-year-old is facing four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary in the killings of Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin at a home close to the University of Idaho campus in November 2022.
In a statement, Kohberger's family expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and promised to uphold Kohberger's "presumption of innocence." "We care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them," the statement said. "We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family, we will love and support our son and brother." They added that they have fully cooperated with law enforcement in a bid to "seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions."