A professor specializing in forensic psychology is suggesting that co-ed murders involving four university students at the University of Idaho might be a topic of future study.
Dr. Katherine Ramsland, who teaches criminal justice at Desales University, shared her past experiences with Brian Coberger in an interview with News Nation on Tuesday night.
“He was polite, respectful—intense and curious,” Ramsland described when speaking with journalist Brian Entin.
She recalled, “Nothing really stood out to me,” mentioning that she didn’t notice the typical “red flags” she often looks for in subjects, unlike those associated with infamous criminals like BTK serial killer Dennis Rader.
Ramsland was also Coberger’s instructor and advisor when he enrolled in the Forensic Track program back in the fall of 2018.
She mentioned she never imagined he would journey down such a dark path, believing he was genuinely interested in forensic science as a career.
When authorities took Coberger into custody over a shocking murder case in 2022, she initially thought his claimed alibi could be beneficial. However, once it became clear how weak it was, she lost all hope.
“I was completely shocked, I couldn’t believe it. I thought I’d wait and see, as the media seemed to think he could prove his innocence,” Ramsland explained.
She pointed out that she should have recognized that what he presented really wasn’t an alibi, especially given the discussions they had in her classes years prior.
Coberger’s initial alibi, shared in August 2023, indicated he was driving somewhere unspecified during the time of the murders.
Additionally, he neglected the legal requirement in Idaho for witnesses to provide their names and addresses to corroborate his whereabouts.
Having authored 73 books and over 2,500 articles, Ramsland acknowledged that themes similar to Coberger’s appear in her work, and she’s interested in exploring “developmental trajectories” and other potential triggers through his case.
“I know that if he wants to explore this, he has the intellectual capability to do so,” she noted.
“There’s a question I’d really like to ask him, but I feel it’s one only I could ask,” she added.
Like many, including the families of the victims, Ramsland is closely following the developments of the case, hoping Coberger will allow her the opportunity to deepen her understanding during his time in prison.
Coberger is set to accept a plea deal regarding the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen to avoid the death penalty.
If the deal goes through, it would mean he must serve the sentence without the chance for parole.
The specifics of the motive for the killings aren’t required to be disclosed, but there’s a possibility that some details might come to light if a judge pushes for them.
Up until the end, Coberger maintained his innocence. It was just a month before his trial was scheduled to start that he agreed to the plea deal, shortly after the judge rejected his final attempts for delays.
