Newly released selfies of convicted murderer Bryan Kohberger, taken in the days following the fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students, have surfaced, offering a disturbing glimpse into his demeanor after the November 13, 2022, crime. The images, obtained by NewsNation from forensic analysis of his cellphone, show Kohberger appearing pale and gaunt, posing shirtless in his Washington State University apartment with a visible cut on his knuckle—potentially linked to the attack. One photo captures him saluting the camera while flexing, while another features a contorted, toothy grin reminiscent of horror film villains, drawing comparisons to Jack Nicholson’s “The Shining.”

Kohberger, 30, pleaded guilty on July 2, 2025, to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. Sentenced to four consecutive life terms plus 10 years on July 23, 2025, by Judge Steven Hippler in Boise, he waived appeals in a deal sparing him the death penalty. The victims were stabbed multiple times in their off-campus home at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, with autopsies revealing defensive wounds, particularly on Kernodle, who suffered over 50 stabs while awake.

A Ph.D. candidate in criminology at Washington State University, Kohberger lived nearby in Pullman, Washington. Cellphone data placed his device near the scene multiple times before the murders, including the night of, and he returned hours later—lingering for 10 minutes before bodies were discovered. Upon returning to his dorm, he snapped a grinning thumbs-up selfie at 10:31 a.m., which prosecutors used to match his “bushy eyebrows” to a surviving roommate’s description of the intruder.

The new selfies, recovered by digital forensics experts Heather and Jared Barnhart of Cellebrite, reveal a pattern of vanity: numerous half-naked mirror poses, emotionless expressions, and flexing, evoking comparisons to American Psycho. The knuckle wound on his ring finger aligns with a bandaged finger in an earlier post-murder selfie, possibly from a victim’s resistance. Kohberger’s phone also contained searches for serial killers like Ted Bundy, the “University of Idaho Murders,” and images of naked women, alongside Britney Spears’ “Criminal.”

Prior to his arrest on December 30, 2022, in Pennsylvania, Kohberger stalked two female WSU students, visiting their workplaces daily and making uninvited home appearances. One reported a window knock while changing; the other noted his persistent advances despite rejection. Amazon records showed a Ka-Bar knife purchase months earlier, matching the sheath left at the scene with his DNA.

The case gripped the nation, with Kohberger’s odd behavior in jail—obsessive handwashing, long showers, and weight loss—noted by inmates. Defense claimed autism spectrum disorder, but prosecutors dismissed it as irrelevant to culpability. Families, especially Goncalves’, expressed outrage over the plea deal, with Steve Goncalves viewing the thumbs-up selfie as defiance.

Now at Idaho Maximum Security Institution, Kohberger faces isolation and taunts, filing complaints about harassment and vegan meals. A judge recently blocked graphic crime scene photos to spare families further distress.

These selfies, while not trial evidence post-plea, humanize—or dehumanize—the killer, showing a stark contrast to the victims’ vibrant lives. As the community heals, the images serve as a grim reminder of unchecked darkness, with no motive ever clarified—possibly random or fascination-driven. Kohberger’s story, from aspiring criminologist to inmate, underscores justice’s finality in a case that shattered Moscow’s innocence.