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Here's What Experts and Lawyers Have Said About Bryan Kohberger's Motive - People.com

people.com

Experts still can't agree on why Bryan Kohberger allegedly killed four Idaho students — and the motive gap may matter more than the evidence.

Attribution TheoryDark TriadGrievance TheoryRational Choice Theory

Theory Briefing

  • Kohberger, a criminology PhD student, allegedly killed four University of Idaho students in November 2022 — his academic background fuels competing motive theories.
  • Lawyers and experts have offered diverging explanations, from rejection-based grievance to a desire for notoriety, with no confirmed motive established in court.
  • A Netflix docuseries revisiting the case premiered July 29, reigniting public debate over what drove the attack.
  • The absence of a clear motive is itself significant — prosecutors are not required to prove why, only that he did it.