Local Professor Reacts to Shocking News about Former Teaching Assistant

John Snyder is a friendly older gentleman known in our small town. To many, he appears to be just an ordinary person— a married homeowner who teaches at a local university.

Having worked as a public defender for nearly three decades, he’s noticed that students in demanding fields, like law, often face burnout. His goal has been to help them understand the legal system not just through observation, but through teaching.

Over the years, I’ve gotten to know John quite well. He enjoys relaxing dinners with his wife, Alexis, who also happens to be his favorite bartender. They seem like a quintessential couple in a small-town setting.

But then, during a casual chat in the fall of 2022, John expressed frustration about his teaching assistant. He described Brian Coberger, who was driving him to distraction.

Despite the usual post-work gripes, everything changed in November 2022 when four University of Idaho students were murdered—a crime that shook this normally quiet area.

After the New Year, John came into the bar, newspaper in hand, looking visibly upset. He turned to his wife and said, “Something’s wrong.” He then revealed what the paper said: Coberger was under suspicion for the murders.

Since Coberger’s arrest, John has largely avoided the media. But out of our friendship, he agreed to chat at the Palus Cabos Bar & Grill, where my wife works.

John graduated from the University of Idaho Law School in 1988, starting his journey as a public defender. He has often pointed out that, in his experience, “criminals are more honest and likely to cooperate” than those facing divorce. This perspective, he says, stems from his sense of justice. He wants to ensure that those disadvantaged by society get a fair chance in the legal system.

Interestingly, John often relates to his clients—he’s seen a common thread of mistakes, understanding that many are simply normal people who found themselves in tough situations.

While he has dealt with serious crimes, his work mostly revolved around helping young individuals whose lives had gone off track. However, he doesn’t believe that his career has made him more aware of evil than the average person.

As a professor, John interacts with a lot of students but often doesn’t get to know them deeply. Teaching assistants usually have a more hands-on role. In this case, however, the school had randomized TA assignments, which he found surprising.

Initially, John had no reason to think much about Coberger. He was “a little strange,” which is, I guess, a common trait in academia. Even though the TA’s attendance was erratic, one female student eerily remarked early on, “The TA in my class looks like a murderer.”

John has a habit of assessing TA attributes to place them in the best spots for effective training. But with Coberger, he realized early on that he wasn’t very helpful. The TA would often linger around at the end of the day, which became a bit annoying for John.

Once, Coberger even tried to share unsolicited advice on how to handle a parking ticket. Yet, the irony was palpable since he had parked illegally himself. John often warns others that thinking they know the law well can lead to significant mistakes, but it seems Coberger didn’t heed that advice.

As their relationship evolved, John came to dread Coberger, though he never considered him a threat. The shocking news of Coberger’s arrest hit him unexpectedly while he was in his office. A custodian informed him that police had sealed off the basement.

As the situation developed, John soon found out that Coberger was indeed the suspect. His phone suddenly rang with news from his brother-in-law, confirming Coberger’s arrest. He even learned that the police had a list of unidentified women connected to Coberger—one of whom he recognized.

Having worked so closely with a murderer has left John in a state of disbelief. Although he feels like he’s experienced it all, the impact of this particular case has been unsettling for him. The university’s support system seemed ineffective for his needs, especially since it offered resources for many groups but excluded older white men like him.

Yet, the support from students—both graduate and undergraduate—has been surprisingly encouraging. After the incident, the department chair even transferred an excellent teaching assistant to help John out with his workload.

John feels that the reality of crime doesn’t disturb him as much as the motivations of those studying criminology. It’s disheartening for him to see some students looking to leverage their studies for personal gain or to become better criminals instead of pursuing justice.

The trauma of these events is something that lingers. For those affected, especially when they find themselves in close contact with someone like Coberger, the sense of safety can vanish.

This coming year might be John’s last in academia, not just because of Coberger but due to ongoing weariness from decades of striving for a just society.

He hopes that some of his students will carry on that work without falling into the same traps as Coberger. As for the former TA, John believes it would be frustrating and weak if he doesn’t face the full consequences of his actions while in prison.