Newly released police bodycam footage has revealed the moment Idaho murderer Bryan Kohberger was pulled over just three months before he slaughtered four college students.
The 30-year-old, who was sentenced to life in prison last week, was pulled over by a Latah County Sheriff’s deputy in August 2022 after he was caught speeding on Pullman-Moscow Highway – the road that connects Washington and Idaho.
The footage was supposed to be shown during his capital murder trial, but after he accepted a plea deal it was approved for release by Judge Steven Hippler.
The video, obtained by Idaho Statesman, showed Deputy Darren Duke walking up to Kohberger’s Hyundai Elantra before having him lower his window.
Duke said: ‘Hey there, I stopped you going a little fast. You realize this is 35?’
‘Oh, it’s 35?,’ Kohberger replied as he shook his head several times.
‘I was going about 41, about that,’ he added before handing over his license, registration and insurance to the officer.
The former PhD candidate then handed his documents over before admitting he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt when he was stopped by the cop.
‘Were you wearing your seatbelt when I stopped you?,’ the officer asked.
‘No,’ Kohberger replied before Duke said: ‘That’s no good.’
‘Just being honest with you,’ Kohberger responded.
The cop then told him he appreciated his honesty, to which Kohberger made direct eye contact with him and replied: ‘There is absolutely no point in not being honest.’
Duke then informed the now-murderer that he will have to pay a $10 fine for not wearing his seatbelt in the state of Idaho.
The cop then told Kohberger he was going to let him go on the speeding as he proceeded to ask questions about the citation and appeared to get defensive when the officer asked for his phone number.
‘Just for future reference, I mean I’m obviously an obvious person. I told you I wasn’t wearing my seatbelt,’ Kohberger explained.
‘But people lie to you about that, say I lied to you about that…,’ he added.
He then questioned if the officer ‘usually’ looks to see if drivers are wearing seatbelts, before the officer said ‘I should,’ laughing as he did so.
The video ended with the officer telling Kohberger to have a good night as they went their separate ways.
On November 13, 2022, Kohberger crept into a home in Moscow and brutally stabbed four young University of Idaho students – Madison Mogen, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20 Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Xana Kernodle, 20.
He was arrested around six weeks later on December 30, 2022, at his parents’ home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, where he had gone for the holidays.
After spending more than two years fighting the charges, Kohberger finally confessed to his crimes and pleaded guilty earlier this month.
Just last week, Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison while families and victims spoke out as he sat emotionless.
When asked by the judge if he wanted to make a statement at his hearing, Kohberger awkwardly leaned into the microphone and said: ‘I respectfully decline.’
His new mugshot showed him staring hauntingly straight into the camera with the same vacant, emotionless expression he wore when confronted by his victims’ heartbroken family members.
He will now spend the remainder of his life in Idaho’s Maximum Security Prison without the possibility of parole.
