Kohberger’s 3-Hour Mother Calls After Idaho Murders: What We Know

The chilling timeline surrounding Bryan Kohberger’s actions after the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students has taken a new turn, revealing an intense period of communication with his mother. Newly surfaced phone records detail that Bryan Kohberger spent over three hours speaking with his mother, Maryann Kohberger, in the hours immediately following the killings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle on November 13, 2022. This intense communication, occurring while investigators believe Kohberger may have even returned near the crime scene, has ignited intense speculation among true crime followers desperate to understand what was discussed during those lengthy calls.

According to verified court documents and reporting by PEOPLE Magazine (August 15, 2025), Kohberger’s first call attempt to his mother occurred at 6:13 AM, less than two hours after the murders. This call followed a period where his phone was switched off between 2:54 AM and 4:48 AM, aligning with the estimated time of the attacks. When his mother didn’t answer, he immediately called his father at 6:14 AM, a pattern noted by digital forensics expert Heather Barnhart in testimony. Maryann Kohberger answered his call at 6:17 AM. Over the subsequent hours that morning and throughout the day, Kohberger made multiple calls to his mother, cumulatively lasting more than three hours. Crucially, some of these calls are believed to have occurred while he was driving back towards the King Road residence where the murders took place.

What Did Bryan Kohberger Discuss With His Mother After the Murders?

The content of these extensive phone conversations remains a profound mystery. There is no publicly available evidence, such as call recordings or witness testimony from Maryann Kohberger herself, detailing what was said. However, the sheer volume and timing of the calls have fueled rampant online speculation:

• Knowledge of the Crime: Some online commentators, like user @JLRINVESTIGATES, have suggested Maryann Kohberger, noted to have an interest in true crime, might have been aware of her son’s actions or that he confessed during the calls. As one X user stated, “I feel like mommy dearest & his sister knew something was seriously wrong with him.”
• Psychological Dependence: Others, including former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer, analyzed the behavior as potentially stemming from a deep psychological need. Coffindaffer speculated on X (August 14, 2025) that Kohberger, potentially filled with “joy, fulfillment, and a sense of pride” after the killings, sought connection with his mother, calling her his “security blanket.” Some labeled him a “mama’s boy,” suggesting an unusual level of dependence.
• Routine Communication: It remains possible the calls reflected a pre-existing communication pattern unrelated to the events of that night, though the timing and duration under such extraordinary circumstances make this seem less plausible to many observers.

Digital forensics expert Heather Barnhart’s analysis, presented in court filings, confirmed the call patterns but did not provide insight into the conversations’ substance. With Kohberger’s guilty plea ending the prospect of a trial, the full truth of what transpired during those three critical hours of conversation with his mother may never be publicly revealed. The unanswered questions continue to haunt the narrative of this devastating crime.

The revelation of Bryan Kohberger’s extensive phone calls to his mother in the immediate aftermath of the Idaho student murders adds another perplexing layer to an already horrifying case. While the exact content of those conversations remains locked away, the timing and duration speak volumes, painting a picture of a killer seeking connection or solace in the very first hours after extinguishing four young lives, even as he allegedly revisited the scene of his crime. This detail underscores the profound mystery and disturbing psychology still surrounding the events of November 13, 2022.

Must Know

1. How many times did Bryan Kohberger call his mother after the murders?
Kohberger made multiple calls to his mother, Maryann Kohberger, starting at 6:13 AM on November 13, 2022. While the exact number of individual calls hasn’t been specified in public reports, the cumulative duration exceeded three hours throughout that day, based on phone records cited in court documents and by PEOPLE Magazine.

2. What time was Bryan Kohberger’s phone off?
According to digital forensics analysis presented in the case, Kohberger’s phone was switched off, showing no connectivity, between approximately 2:54 AM and 4:48 AM on November 13, 2022. This timeframe critically overlaps with the estimated period when the murders occurred at the King Road residence.

3. Did Bryan Kohberger go back to the crime scene?
Investigators and digital forensics evidence suggest that Kohberger’s phone pinged in the vicinity of the King Road residence later in the morning of November 13th, after the murders and after his initial calls to his parents. This indicates he likely returned near the scene, and records show some of his calls to his mother occurred during this time.

4. Did Bryan Kohberger tell his mother about the murders?
There is absolutely no publicly available evidence or testimony confirming that Bryan Kohberger confessed to the murders during his calls with his mother, Maryann Kohberger. The content of those calls remains unknown. Speculation exists online, but it is based solely on the calls’ timing and duration, not on verified facts.

5. Why is Bryan Kohberger’s relationship with his mother discussed?
The high frequency and duration of Kohberger’s calls to his mother immediately after such a violent crime struck many observers as unusual. This led to online discussions and armchair psychology about potential dependency, seeking comfort (“security blanket”), or even a need to share his experience, though these are interpretations without direct evidence from the calls themselves.

6. Will we ever know what was said in the calls?
Given that Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty, there will be no trial where phone call content might have been explored in depth through testimony or evidence. Barring the unlikely release of call recordings or voluntary disclosure by Maryann Kohberger, the substance of those three hours of conversation is expected to remain a secret.