Boise, ID — Incarcerated at Idaho’s maximum-security prison for less than a month, Bryan Kohberger, the man convicted of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, has already lodged five formal complaints to prison staff. His grievances include being threatened with sexual violence and facing harassment from other prisoners.
Kohberger Faces Threats of Sexual Violence in Prison
Kohberger, 30, who confessed to the brutal murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, arrived at the Idaho Department of Correction facility on July 23, 2024, hours after being sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Since moving to the state prison complex near Boise, Kohberger’s stay has been anything but peaceful.
The first signs of trouble came when Kohberger requested a transfer to a different part of the prison after he was warned by fellow inmates of impending sexual violence. According to prison records, officers heard one of the threats firsthand, but no further action was taken because the speaker could not be identified.
“There had been an argument followed by shots fired, striking Brown,” said an Idaho Department of Corrections report.
— Idaho Statesman, Aug. 4, 2024
Trouble from Day One: Harassment and Food Complaints
After his transfer to administrative segregation in J Block, Kohberger filed his first formal complaint on July 29, alleging that other inmates harassed him with minute-by-minute verbal threats. He also reported that his cell was flooded, an issue Kohberger complained about in a resident concern form. The prison responded, with a high-ranking officer assuring Kohberger that such flooding was “rare” and that the conditions on J Block were “fairly calm”.
“Food items were missing on several occasions from his meal tray,” Kohberger wrote in another grievance. “I wish to, without exception, receive these replacements.”
The complaints grew more urgent when Kohberger noted the missing meals and asked that nutritional standards be maintained. Despite his complaints, the situation didn’t improve, and Kohberger insisted on receiving full meals as per his nutritional rights.
Prison System Response: ‘Give it Time’
Despite these difficulties, prison officials have repeatedly assured Kohberger that things would calm down after the news coverage surrounding his case subsides. A housing committee met on Aug. 12 to address Kohberger’s request for protective custody. While the committee agreed to maintain his placement in administrative segregation for his safety, the committee noted that shared recreation might be possible in the future.
“Give it some time,” said Capt. Brian Crowl of the Idaho Department of Corrections. “Another area of the prison would not be any better for him.”
Kohberger also expressed a desire to work and be productive in prison and mentioned that he would eventually like to participate in shared recreation with others, similar to another high-profile prisoner in the same facility.
Legal and Public Reactions to Kohberger’s Complaints
The prison’s handling of Kohberger’s complaints has raised questions among legal experts. Ingrid Batey, a former prosecutor in the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, said that while she understood the anger from the victims’ families, violence in prison should never be condoned.
“Obviously as a prosecutor, I don’t condone any violence against anyone,” said Ingrid Batey. “These families’ statements are really just a reflection of the pain and hurt that they are in.”
While Kohberger’s request for more privileges and his complaints about prison life have garnered attention, prison officials emphasize the importance of maintaining security for both staff and inmates.
“Incarcerated individuals commonly communicate with each other in prison,” said Sanda Kuzeta-Cerimagic, an Idaho prisons spokesperson. “Bryan Kohberger is housed alone in a cell, and IDOC security staff maintain a safe and orderly environment for all individuals in our custody.”
As Kohberger navigates his new life behind bars, the story of his imprisonment and its ongoing challenges continues to unfold.
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