Bryan Kohberger, who was convicted in the murders of four University of Idaho students, recently claimed in court documents that he has been diagnosed with several mental health conditions. These include autism (level 1), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and avoidance/restricted food intake disorder (ARFID). He reported these diagnoses before entering his guilty plea in July.
According to Kohberger, all four of these diagnoses were made in February 2025. He also mentioned his use of a medication called levothyroxine, typically prescribed for hypothyroidism.
His legal team has argued that his autism diagnosis should be considered to spare him from the death penalty, but this request was declined by the judge in April. They also wished to prevent the prosecution from labeling him as a “psychopath” if the case went to trial.
A digital forensics expert noted that there was a pattern in Kohberger’s online searches, including repeated inquiries into the term “psychopath” and related concepts. Interestingly, he was doing this during a period of significant investigation into his actions.
Kohberger had pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Zana Carnodar, Madison Morgen, and Ethan Chapin, all of whom were killed in November 2022.
Ultimately, he accepted a plea deal, thus avoiding the death penalty. He was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences plus additional years.
