Video Shows Bryan Kohberger Being Pulled Over Months Before Murders — and Saying He Was Being ‘Honest’

Video Footage of Bryan Kohberger’s Traffic Stop Months Before Idaho Murders Surfaces

Newly released body camera video footage has emerged showing Bryan Kohberger being pulled over by police months before he brutally murdered four University of Idaho students. Kohberger, 30, who has recently been convicted and sentenced to four life terms in prison for the quadruple murders, was captured in the video being questioned by a Latah County Sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop in Moscow, Idaho, on August 21, 2022. The Idaho Statesman obtained and published the footage, which sheds light on Kohberger’s demeanor during the interaction.

During the traffic stop, Kohberger was pulled over for traveling at 42 mph in a 35 mph zone, and he admitted to not wearing a seatbelt when he was stopped. In the footage, Kohberger can be heard saying, “I’m just being honest with you,” to which the deputy responds, “Yeah, I appreciate that.” Despite the minor violation, Kohberger was only issued a $10 citation for not wearing a seatbelt and received a warning for speeding. This incident was one of two times Kohberger had encountered law enforcement before committing the heinous murders.

On November 13, 2022, Kohberger fatally stabbed Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20, at an off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho. Two other roommates survived the attack. The video reveals a snapshot of Kohberger’s activities leading up to the tragic event, providing insight into his behaviour and interactions with law enforcement prior to the murders.

In a separate incident on October 14, 2022, Kohberger was stopped near the Washington State University campus after allegedly running a red light, as per court documents cited by CNN. Despite this encounter, Kohberger was released without further action being taken. The newly surfaced video was initially intended to be used as evidence by prosecutors during Kohberger’s trial. However, he ultimately accepted a plea deal on July 2, which spared him from the death penalty in exchange for pleading guilty to the murders and one count of burglary.

Prosecutors revealed that Kohberger was linked to the crime scene through DNA found on a KA-BAR knife sheath left at the scene, leading to his arrest in Pennsylvania in December 2022. At his sentencing hearing on July 23, the former criminology student was handed four life sentences without the possibility of parole and ordered to pay $270,000 in fines and civil penalties. The sentencing was an emotional event, with victims’ friends and families delivering impactful victim impact statements in court.

Kohberger’s motive for the gruesome murders remains unclear, and he displayed no emotion during the sentencing proceedings. Currently undergoing a two-week evaluation, the Idaho Department of Corrections will determine the facility where he will spend the rest of his life. The case has raised questions about mental health, criminal justice, and the devastating impact of violent crimes on communities.

As the investigation continues and the community seeks closure, the emergence of the traffic stop video adds another layer to the complex narrative surrounding Bryan Kohberger’s actions leading up to the tragic events in Moscow, Idaho. The video serves as a chilling precursor to the harrowing events that unfolded, offering a glimpse into the life of a man now condemned to spend his days behind bars for one of the most horrific crimes in the region’s recent history.