Could Bryan Kohberger have been stopped? Allegations university didn’t follow own threat assessment
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The lawsuit by the Idaho murder victims' families claims WSU enabled Bryan Kohberger by ignoring over a dozen formal complaints about his predatory behavior.
- ❖Kohberger was described by fellow students and staff as a 'stalker or sexual assaulter type' and a 'possible future rapist' prior to the murders.
- ❖Female students and staff were so uncomfortable with Kohberger that they required security escorts and developed internal warning systems.
- ❖A WSU professor warned colleagues that Kohberger was a 'predator' who would harass and abuse students if given a PhD.
- ❖WSU's Office of Compliance and Civil Rights received at least 13 formal complaints but the individual in charge never met or spoke with Kohberger.
- ❖The university's supervising instructor for Kohberger reportedly feared a civil lawsuit from him if he were removed from the program.
- ❖WSU had a formal threat assessment team and protocols (like Waiver 21) but allegedly failed to apply them to Kohberger's case.
- ❖A former FBI agent stated that even one stalking allegation should immediately trigger a threat assessment, and Kohberger's profile would score high on such assessments.
- ❖WSU's police department had a history of internal misconduct and understaffing, potentially contributing to its inability to handle such threats effectively.
- ❖After the murders, before Kohberger was identified, his supervising instructor and fellow graduate students immediately suspected him due to his behavior and observed injuries.
Insights
1Extensive Pre-Murder Complaints and Fears
Before the Idaho murders, Washington State University received at least 13 formal complaints regarding Bryan Kohberger's inappropriate, predatory, and menacing behavior. Female students and staff were deeply uncomfortable, describing him as a 'stalker or sexual assaulter type' and a 'possible future rapist.' They resorted to personal safety measures, including arranging security escorts, keeping office doors open for refuge, and even creating a '911' email code for emergencies.
The lawsuit details multiple instances: a fellow graduate student believed Kohberger would do 'something inappropriate' (), another described him as a 'possible future rapist' (), security escorts were arranged for multiple females (), and one WSU employee told a colleague to email '911' if help was needed (). A professor warned colleagues, 'Mark my words, I work with predators. If we give him a PhD, that's the guy that in many years... will hear is harassing, stalking, and sexually abusing his students' (, ).
2Failure to Utilize Formal Threat Assessment Protocols
Despite having a formal threat assessment team and utilizing established protocols like the 'Waiver 21' for identifying and managing individuals who pose a risk, WSU allegedly failed to apply these processes to Bryan Kohberger. This inaction allowed his dangerous behaviors to escalate while he continued to receive financial support, housing, and access to university resources.
The lawsuit states, 'Despite having a formal threat assessment team... WSU wholly failed to follow that process with Coberger' (). Former FBI agent Steve Moore confirmed, 'If we had one allegation... it would be immediately elevated to our threat assessment committee' (). Moore also noted that based on the complaint, Kohberger's profile would score 'way up there in threat potential' on the Waiver 21 protocol ().
3University's Fear of Lawsuit from Kohberger
A significant factor in WSU's alleged inaction was the concern among professors and administrators that removing Kohberger from his employment or the PhD program could expose the university to a civil lawsuit from him. This fear seemingly outweighed the immediate safety concerns of students and staff.
Kohberger's supervising instructor was 'concerned that removing him from employment at WSU would open the university up to a civil lawsuit from Cobberger' (). Steve Moore acknowledged this as a 'valid concern of a lot of people in universities' but stressed that a university's reputation and the safety of its students should take precedence ().
4WSU Police Department's History of Dysfunction
The lawsuit also highlights a 'long troubling and sorted history' of the WSU Police Department tolerating and fostering inappropriate sexual behavior within its own ranks, discouraging accurate reporting of misconduct. This internal dysfunction likely contributed to the department's inability or unwillingness to effectively address the numerous complaints against Kohberger.
The lawsuit mentions the WSU chief of police being demoted in 2007 for inappropriate emails () and WSU being fined $80,000 by federal officials for un-reported sexual assaults (). In 2022, the police chief, assistant chief, and captain resigned due to allegations of improper sexual activities (). Steve Moore suggested this indicates an 'out of control police department' focused on internal fires rather than campus safety ().
5Immediate Suspicions Post-Murders
After the quadruple murders, but before Bryan Kohberger was publicly identified as a suspect, his supervising instructor and fellow WSU graduate students immediately considered him as the perpetrator. This indicates the profound level of concern and fear his behavior had instilled in those around him.
The lawsuit states that after the murders, 'Kobberger's supervising instructor at WSU considered the possibility that Kobberger had committed the murders' (). Similarly, 'fellow WSU graduate students also immediately thought that Coberger committed the murders' ().
Lessons
- Implement and strictly adhere to formal threat assessment protocols for all reported concerns, regardless of perceived severity or potential legal repercussions from the accused.
- Prioritize student safety over potential public relations issues or civil lawsuits from individuals exhibiting predatory behavior.
- Ensure university police departments are adequately staffed, well-trained, and free from internal misconduct to effectively respond to and investigate student and staff safety concerns.
- Conduct comprehensive background checks for all incoming students and employees, especially those in positions of authority or living in campus housing, to identify significant red flags.
- Foster an environment where students and staff feel safe and confident reporting inappropriate behavior, knowing that their concerns will be taken seriously and acted upon by the institution.
Quotes
"Mark my words, I work with predators. If we give him a PhD, that's the guy that in many years when he's a professor we will hear is harassing, stalking, and sexually abusing his students."
"A university can always find another student, but they can't get their reputation back."
"If somebody comes to you and takes that step, even as fearful as they are of reporting a threat that they feel, you better take it seriously. There's no ethical or moral reason not to."
Q&A
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