Bryan Kohberger’s Mom Sent Text About Idaho Murders Just Days After Killings—New Phone Data Reveals Alarming Exchange Before Arrest

A chilling new twist has emerged in the case of Bryan Kohberger, the man convicted of the horrific 2022 University of Idaho murders. Newly uncovered cell phone data reveals that Kohberger’s own mother, MaryAnn Kohberger, texted him a news article about the slayings—just four days after the killings took place, and weeks before he became the main suspect.

Forensic experts revealed the bombshell evidence in a recent segment on NewsNation’s Banfield, describing it as one of the most disturbing updates since Kohberger’s July guilty plea.

The Text That Shocked Investigators

According to the report, on November 17, 2022, MaryAnn Kohberger sent her son a link to an article describing the gruesome injuries sustained by one of the victims, Xana Kernodle.

At that exact time, mother and son were already on a phone call—an unusual overlap that investigators believe points to an active discussion about the murders.

“This isn’t just a casual text,” one forensic analyst told Banfield. “The timing suggests Bryan and his mother were directly engaged in a conversation about the killings, with MaryAnn even sending him detailed coverage as they spoke.”

Experts say phone records show Bryan called his mother more frequently than usual that day, adding to suspicions about what was said between them.

Did His Mom Suspect Something?

Despite the eerie timing, there is no evidence MaryAnn knew her son was the killer. Some believe she was simply reaching out as a concerned parent, given that the murders occurred just ten minutes away from Bryan’s home in Pullman, Washington.

Others, however, find the timing unsettling. “For a mother to be texting her son details about a quadruple homicide in his area—it raises chilling questions,” said criminal profiler Candice DeLong. “Did she have an instinct something was wrong? Or was this just a tragic coincidence?”

Bryan’s Silent Response

Notably, records show Bryan did not respond to the text via SMS. That has led experts to theorize that he either addressed the article verbally while on the phone with her—or deleted a reply.

For investigators, that lack of written response is suspicious. “Silence can sometimes say more than words,” one digital forensics specialist explained. “If he deleted a text, it could mean he didn’t want that message to exist on record.”

From Concerned Parent to Unwitting Connection

MaryAnn Kohberger, a school counselor, has never been accused of wrongdoing. However, this revelation paints a new picture of her relationship with her son in the days following the crime.

She has previously described her son as socially awkward but intelligent, with no signs of violent tendencies. Still, the phone data underscores how close Bryan’s family was drawn into the tragedy—without realizing the horrific truth that would soon be uncovered.

By December 2022, Bryan was arrested at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. He was charged with the murders of Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, and Ethan Chapin.

The Murders That Shook America

The November 13, 2022 killings shocked the nation. Four University of Idaho students were brutally stabbed to death in their off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho. The crime scene was so violent that local officials later described it as “the most gruesome in the town’s history.”

The case dragged on for weeks without an arrest, fueling nationwide fear and speculation. When Kohberger, a PhD student in criminology at Washington State University, was finally taken into custody, the story exploded into international headlines.

His academic background in criminal justice only made the case more disturbing. Prosecutors said his meticulous planning and knowledge of forensic science allowed him to evade capture for weeks—until phone records, surveillance footage, and DNA evidence tied him to the crime.

Conviction Without Motive

In July 2025, Bryan Kohberger pled guilty and was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without parole. Despite overwhelming evidence, he has never explained his motive.

This silence has left the victims’ families haunted. “We still don’t know why,” said Steve Goncalves, father of Kaylee. “The new evidence about his mother makes this even harder to process. It’s like every month there’s another layer of horror.”

Families React to the New Revelation

Relatives of the victims reacted with shock to the news of MaryAnn’s text. “It makes me sick to think that while we were planning funerals, he was talking about the murders with his mom,” one family member said privately.

Publicly, families have remained cautious not to place blame on MaryAnn, acknowledging that she, too, is a victim in a sense—forced to live with the knowledge of what her son did.

The Public Fascination With Kohberger

The Kohberger case continues to captivate the public, spawning documentaries, podcasts, and even dramatization plans. The revelation of the text exchange adds another chilling layer to a case already marked by eerie coincidences and unanswered questions.

For some, it raises ethical debates about the role of families in major crimes. Should parents be scrutinized for what they did or didn’t notice? Or is it unfair to expect them to see the darkness within their children?

What’s Next?

Though Kohberger is behind bars for life, investigators continue to comb through his digital footprint. Prosecutors have said there is “still more to learn” about his behavior before and after the murders.

As for MaryAnn, she has stayed largely silent since her son’s conviction, retreating from public life. The newly revealed text ensures, however, that her name will remain part of the story.

For the families of Xana, Madison, Kaylee, and Ethan, the revelations only deepen the tragedy. Every new detail underscores the randomness and brutality of their loved ones’ final moments—and the unsettling truth that the killer was hiding in plain sight, even while speaking to his own mother about the very murders he committed.