“There’s a Psycho Killer on the Loose”: Bryan Kohberger’s Sister Speaks Out in NYT Article

Bryan Kohberger's family, including his sisters Mel and Amanda, were 'dumbfounded and devastated' by his arrest and subsequent confession. They maintained public silence for three years, despite facing intense speculation and vilification, out of respect for the victims' families and to avoid causing further trauma.

Mel Coberger says that she and her mom and her dad and her sister Amanda were all dumbfounded and devastated to learn what the investigators suspected and then of course what her brother eventually admitted to. They stayed quiet because she said she recognizes how brutal this has been for the victim's family members and that that's why they stayed quiet, just to not traumatize these family members.

During Christmas break in 2022, after the murders but before his arrest, Bryan Kohberger was home with his family. The family discussed the Idaho murders, with Mel expressing concern for Bryan's safety, telling him, 'Brian, you're running outside and this psycho killer is on the loose. Be careful.' Bryan thanked her and assured her he would stay safe, despite knowing he was the perpetrator.

According to Mel and she says she was concerned because Brian Coberger didn't lock his doors and was known to go out on these late night runs and drives uh and was almost like worried about him because there was this killer on the loose. I guess little did she know it was actually her brother. She said, 'Brian, you're running outside and this psycho killer is on the loose.' She remembers telling him, 'Be careful.' and he thanked her uh for checking on him and assured her that he would stay safe.

Mel Kohberger recounted an incident where she cut her finger on foil in the kitchen, and Bryan was 'grossed out by the blood' but still helped her bandage it. This reaction is perplexing given the extremely violent and bloody nature of the murders he committed, suggesting a profound psychological disconnect or 'two personalities.'

Mel cut her finger um on foil... it was bloody and Brian made a comment about it... he was like grossed out by the blood and still helped her to bandage it. All I kept thinking was like, you've just caused one of the biggest blood baths in true crime history and there you are with your sister in a little tiny cut with blood uh grossed out by it. It almost makes you wonder if he, you know, had like almost two personalities way, you know.