As the day of the trial starts getting nearer, the rumors online are starting to become wilder and wilder. Some of these rumors and theories are even shifting blame from Bryan Kohberger to the roommates and other members of the community.
When looking for these theories online, there are a few places where they are more prevalent than others. There is a specific subreddit called BryanKohbergerMoscow, which has thousands of posts talking about theories on the case, as well as trying to debunk evidence.
A few major talking points between most of the members of this subreddit are about how the roommates weren’t considered suspects early in the case as well as the evidence behind Kohberger’s car.
There are posts talking about how the initial model year of the white Elantra didn’t match with the one that Kohberger owned. When points are brought up that there are very subtle differences between the two model years or the quality of the camera they are instantly dismissed and not talked about.
Most cases that fall into the same category as the murders of four University of Idaho students also have a dedicated subreddit like these. However, they are generally based on facts and sharing information rather than making theories.
These theories are starting to become more prominent as the trial date nears. This is worrisome as these theories revolve around how Kohberger is innocent and that the true killer is still at large.
To people who may not live in the community, or on and around UI, this may not be such a big deal. However, they didn’t experience the few days following when the bodies were found, both the campus and town shut down completely and no one was seen walking around like usual.
The community of Moscow, as well as UI, have experienced plenty of drama following the murders with national media attention and true crime explorers visiting and disrupting the flow. At the time the community was still in shock at what had happened in their small North Idaho town.
Students on campus experienced reporters approach them on campus between classes and asking them questions about stuff they may have known nothing about. This questioning led to students grouping together on the way to classes and refusing to answer questions.
This will only get worse as the new school year starts with the trial close behind it. With the theories and media will also come the people who inherently find and pick apart each individual error.
In the previous subreddit, there are posts outlining the differences and mistakes made by the roommates in their testimonies, and how that is evidence that they are lying or being coerced into saying certain things.
These theories and accusations towards the roommates have started to become more and more detailed or aggressive to the point where they start to insinuate that the roommates were the ones responsible.
As the trial starts, these theories will start to get even more common, which means that Moscow will come under the microscope from people all around the world again, and they won’t be as kind or caring as community members may want.
Connor Anderson can be reached at [email protected]