Bryan Kohberger Researched Serial Killers on Christmas After Idaho Murders, Digital Expert Reveals

Imagine celebrating Christmas with family just weeks after brutally murdering four college students. For Bryan Kohberger, the criminology student accused of the 2022 University of Idaho killings, the holiday involved downloading files on over 20 notorious serial killers—including Danny Rolling, the “Gainesville Ripper” whose crimes inspired the Scream franchise. Digital forensics expert Heather Barnhart, who investigated Kohberger’s devices for prosecutors, exclusively revealed these chilling details to People magazine in August 2025.

How Did Kohberger Spend Christmas After the Idaho Murders?

Kohberger spent December 25, 2022, at his parents’ Pennsylvania home downloading extensive files about serial killers like Rodney Alcala, John Wayne Gacy, and Dennis Rader. According to Barnhart, he stayed awake past midnight researching them on his Android phone. Prosecutors confirmed Kohberger attempted to wipe his devices but overlooked incriminating data on his phone.

Barnhart emphasized a critical misconception: “People think if they download things while their browser is in incognito mode it stays private, but it does not.” This oversight provided crucial evidence. Kohberger’s actions occurred just weeks after the November 13, 2022, murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Maddie Mogen in Moscow, Idaho. His cross-country drive with his father from Washington to Pennsylvania days earlier had already drawn scrutiny after two traffic stops by Indiana State Police.

Why Did Danny Rolling Capture Kohberger’s Interest?

Among Kohberger’s Christmas research subjects, Danny Rolling stood out. Rolling murdered five Florida university students in the 1990s using a KA-BAR knife—the same weapon type prosecutors linked to the Idaho crime scene. Rolling’s modus operandi bore grim parallels to the Idaho attacks: targeting students in off-campus housing and employing blitz-style knife assaults.

Notably, Kohberger had studied Rolling extensively during his criminology PhD program at Washington State University. Rolling’s crimes directly influenced the Scream films, embedding pop-culture notoriety into his legacy. Digital evidence confirmed Kohberger accessed Rolling’s case details that night, reinforcing prosecutors’ claims of premeditated violence.

What Led to Kohberger’s Arrest?

Kohberger’s Pennsylvania homecoming unraveled quickly. Law enforcement tracked his movements via license-plate readers and collected DNA from his family’s trash. This matched genetic material on a knife sheath left at the Moscow crime scene. Surveillance teams observed Kohberger wearing surgical gloves while handling garbage days before his December 30, 2022, arrest. When captured, he was reportedly sorting trash into zip-lock bags—a futile attempt to conceal evidence.

Kohberger’s Christmas research spree underscores the digital footprints that dismantled his alibi. As this case redefines forensic criminology, it’s a stark reminder: technology leaves no room for hidden horrors. Follow verified sources for ongoing legal updates.

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Must Know

Q: Which serial killers did Bryan Kohberger research on Christmas 2022?
A: Kohberger downloaded files on Danny Rolling, Rodney Alcala, John Wayne Gacy, Joel Rifkin, and Dennis Rader, among others. Rolling’s crimes were a focal point due to similarities with the Idaho attacks.

Q: How was Kohberger’s phone data crucial to the case?
A: Despite using incognito mode, his Android phone retained download histories. Digital forensics expert Heather Barnhart recovered this, proving his post-murder serial-killer research.

Q: What links Kohberger to Danny Rolling’s crimes?
A: Both used KA-BAR knives to target university students. Rolling’s 1990s Florida murders inspired horror films, which Kohberger studied academically and revisited that Christmas.

Q: How did police confirm Kohberger’s DNA?
A: Authorities matched trash DNA from his parents’ home to the knife sheath at the Idaho crime scene. Surveillance showed him wearing gloves while disposing of garbage days before arrest.