While millions of families were celebrating Christmas Day in 2022, investigators say Bryan Kohberger was sitting behind a screen, diving into the minds of some of America’s most notorious serial killers.
Weeks after the shocking murders of four University of Idaho students, digital forensic experts discovered that Kohberger had downloaded information about more than 20 serial killers — including Danny Rolling, the man known as “The Gainesville Ripper.”
The discovery raised new questions about what was happening inside Kohberger’s mind after the killings.
Rolling’s crimes had disturbing similarities to the Idaho case: he targeted college students, broke into homes, and used a KA-BAR knife during his attacks. Investigators found that Kohberger had specifically researched Rolling’s case, adding another chilling layer to the evidence surrounding the former criminal justice student.
But the most shocking detail wasn’t just what Kohberger searched for — it was what he failed to erase.
According to digital forensic experts, Kohberger attempted to remove traces from some devices, but investigators were still able to recover data from his Android phone. The files revealed a pattern of interest in notorious murderers and violent crimes that continued after the Idaho killings.
For investigators, the question became even darker: Was Kohberger simply studying criminal cases, or was he searching for comparisons, mistakes, and similarities?
The Christmas Day downloads offered a rare glimpse into the digital trail left behind by a man who prosecutors said carried out one of the most shocking college murder cases in recent American history.
