Criminologist Turned Criminal: The Case of Brian Coberger

That’s an interesting way to flunk out of criminology school.

Brian Coberger earned his PhD in Criminology from Washington State University and then drove to Moscow, Idaho, where in 2022, he committed a horrific act by killing four college students at the University of Idaho.

For this act, he certainly deserves an “F.”

It’s not that he lacked awareness. Coberger seemed to understand basic investigative methods and even tried to clean his vehicle afterward. He was pretty meticulous about it.

But his efforts were, well, somewhat lackluster, which made things even more suspicious, according to prosecutors.

Experts believe he exhibited more caution than typical killers but still made glaring errors.

“He’s certainly smarter than many criminals,” said former federal prosecutor Neema Ramani. “However, it wasn’t a complete crime.”

Ramani noted that it took quite a while for authorities to track him down, which is “unusual with current technological advancements.”

Here are some of Coberger’s key missteps.

Left Behind DNA Evidence

No murder weapon was found, but a knife sheath, stained with male DNA, became critical evidence for the prosecution.

Ramani asserted that Coberger underestimated how difficult it would be to carry out such a violent act.

Another prosecutor, Vinny Politan, observed the circumstances of the victims. For instance, Madison Mogen wasn’t alone when attacked; she was in bed with her best friend, Kaylee Goncalves.

They were the first ones targeted, and it’s possible that a struggle occurred, suggested Politan, pointing to the dropped sheath as an indication.

“The woman fought back during the struggle,” he speculated about how the evidence was left behind.

Purchasing Murder Weapons Online

While living at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, Coberger ordered a military-style knife and sheath through Amazon.

It seems he took precautions, using gift cards for anonymity and even trying to clear his purchase history.

But why order online when knives can be bought with cash at local shops?

Defense attorney David Seltzer mentioned that Coberger made it easy for investigators, though the reason behind these decisions remains a mystery.

Seltzer also suggested that mental health could be a contributing factor in Coberger’s actions.

Driving to the Crime Scene

Coberger’s white Hyundai Elantra was one of the first leads for detectives.

Surveillance footage captured the car circling the victims’ block before speeding away post-crime.

Authorities had been keeping an eye on his movements near the University of Idaho leading up to the incident.

Prosecutors noted that he cleaned the inside of his car thoroughly afterward, but that only added to the suspicions surrounding him.

“If you look at your own car, you can see how things accumulate,” said Lata County Prosecutor Bill Thompson. “Coberger’s was meticulously maintained.”

Also telling was that Coberger had academic experience related to crime scene evidence.

His cell phone traced his trips to Moscow at least 23 times before the murder.

Using a Trackable Phone

Unlike the typical burner phones that might be expected in such situations, Coberger had a phone that could be tracked.

He had turned it off before driving to Moscow during the early hours of the murder, but the device had been active previously.

Rahmani reflected that Coberger should have simply left the phone at home.

“He was cautious,” the lawyer said. “But not brilliant.”

Disposing of Evidence

Coberger was aware that his DNA could link him to the crime. He consistently wore gloves while shopping to discard items containing his hair and saliva.

In the days just before his arrest, FBI agents were monitoring him, even catching him attempting to dispose of evidence from his home.

It’s clear he recognized that investigators might search for discarded items, yet the possibility that agents might have eyes on his residence didn’t seem to register.