🚨 “I know him” – Shocking words from a sister’s classmate unmasking Bryan Kohberger’s dark high school secrets! 😱 From bullied teen to brutal killer, what twisted path led to the Idaho murders? Uncover the chilling memories that haunted his past… Tap now for the full bombshell! 🔍💀

In a chilling revelation that has reignited interest in one of America’s most notorious cases, a former classmate of Bryan Kohberger’s sister has come forward with haunting memories of the convicted killer’s early years, uttering the now-infamous words, “I know him.” This personal account paints a picture of a secluded, self-destructive teenager from a seemingly ordinary Pennsylvania family, far removed from the PhD criminology student who would later confess to the savage stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in November 2022. Kohberger, now 30, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, earning four consecutive life sentences plus 10 years without parole. As the nation grapples with the “why” behind the brutality, these glimpses into his past offer a glimpse into the making of a monster.

The classmate, speaking in an exclusive interview featured on the “Drop Dead Serious with Ashleigh Banfield” podcast, described the shock that rippled through their small Pennsylvania community when Kohberger’s face appeared in headlines tied to the Moscow, Idaho, slayings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. “When Bryan Kohberger’s name first hit the headlines, his small Pennsylvania hometown was stunned,” the podcast episode notes, with the interviewee recalling him as “the quiet kid in the background, the one no one ever imagined would be accused of such horrific crimes.” Growing up in Effort and later Albrightsville, Kohberger was the youngest of three siblings in a middle-class family headed by parents Michael Kohberger Jr., a maintenance worker, and Maryann Kohberger, a former paraprofessional in the Pleasant Valley School District. His older sisters, Melissa and Amanda, both pursued careers in mental health fields—Melissa as an art therapist who lost her job amid the scandal, and Amanda as a school counselor who appeared in a minor film role early in her career.

The classmate’s memories, shared through the lens of knowing the Kohberger sisters, highlight a family dynamic that appeared stable on the surface but hid underlying tensions. Kohberger was remembered as overweight and a frequent target of bullying during his high school years at Pleasant Valley High School, a period marked by social isolation. Two other former classmates told “48 Hours” in 2023 that he shed about 100 pounds by his senior year, a transformation that coincided with reports of heroin use and increasingly self-destructive behavior. “You just saw him becoming more self-destructive,” one classmate, Bree, recounted anonymously. “He really stayed secluded.” This seclusion extended to his interactions with his sisters’ social circles, where he was often the overlooked younger brother, blending into the background of family gatherings and school events.

The “I know him” moment underscores the disbelief that gripped the community. New pictures of a teenage Kohberger surfaced on Reddit around the time of his arrest, showing a lanky, unassuming youth far from the calculated killer who stalked his victims. The sister’s classmate, who knew the family through school ties, expressed horror at connecting the dots: a boy from their midst, now linked to one of the most gruesome campus crimes in recent history. The murders, discovered on November 13, 2022, involved Kohberger allegedly breaking into an off-campus home and stabbing the four students in their sleep, leaving a scene of unimaginable horror that terrified the University of Idaho community.

Kohberger’s educational path seemed promising despite his personal struggles. After earning an associate’s degree in psychology from Northampton Community College, he transferred to DeSales University, where he obtained a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in criminal justice. At the time of the murders, he was a PhD student in criminology at Washington State University, working as a teaching assistant. Classmates there described him as an “odd ball,” with one, Josh Ferraro, noting his peculiar demeanor in the Amazon Prime docuseries “One Night in Idaho: The College Murders.” Female students reportedly avoided being alone with him, and a faculty member warned of his potential as a “future rapist,” according to digital forensics insights shared post-conviction.

Family incidents further complicate the narrative. In 2014, Kohberger was arrested for misdemeanor theft after allegedly stealing and selling his sister Amanda’s phone—a case his father reported to police, though no jail time was served. This sibling rift hints at deeper family strains, echoed in online discussions where Redditors speculated about the Kohbergers’ upbringing and why the sisters, both in psychology-related fields, didn’t intervene in Bryan’s apparent mental health decline. Post-arrest, digital evidence revealed limited communication; Kohberger’s phone contacts were dominated by his parents, saved simply as “Mother” and “Father,” with minimal outreach to friends or peers.

The family’s courtroom presence added layers of tragedy. At Kohberger’s July 23, 2025, sentencing in Boise, Idaho, his mother Maryann and sister Amanda attended, but he ignored them as he exited, leaving Maryann visibly distraught—shuddering and burying her head in her hands. Prosecutors considered calling family members as witnesses but opted against it, citing their protectiveness and lack of specific contributions. Melissa stayed away entirely, having already faced professional fallout. The family’s sole public statement post-arrest expressed support for Bryan while sympathizing with victims’ families, urging respect for the legal process.

New forensic details emerged in September 2025, showing Kohberger’s mother discussed the murders with him via phone before his arrest, though the context remains unclear. This, combined with his parents’ involvement in driving him back from Washington— in a white Hyundai Elantra later tied to the crime scene—fueled speculation about family knowledge. Yet, investigators interviewed them in January 2024 without charges, and a judge allowed their trial attendance without witness conflicts.

Victim impact statements at sentencing amplified the horror. Alivea Goncalves, sister of Kaylee, confronted Kohberger fiercely: “Kaylee would’ve kicked your f****** ass,” memorizing her words to maintain eye contact. Madison Mogen’s grandmother, Kim Cheeley, expressed pity for Kohberger’s family amid the pain inflicted on others. The plea deal avoiding the death penalty drew backlash from some victims’ relatives, who preferred a full trial.

Kohberger now awaits transfer to a maximum-security prison, possibly out-of-state for safety. His story, from a bullied teen known to his sister’s classmate to a confessed killer, serves as a stark reminder of hidden darkness. As the classmate’s “I know him” echoes, it begs the question: How many signs were missed in the quiet corners of suburbia? The Kohbergers, once private, now embody the fallout of unimaginable evil, their lives forever altered by a brother’s descent.