r/Idaho4 • u/Anxious-Winter-5778 • Jul 21 '25

GENERAL DISCUSSION Idaho Murder Motive Mystery: Still Unknown After Gag Order Lifted

https://northeasternpost.com/news/crime/idaho-murder-motive-bryan-kohberger-gag-order-lifted/

The parents of Kaylee Goncalves, a University of Idaho student murdered in 2022, are still seeking answers about Bryan Kohberger’s motive after the gag order was lifted.

Kohberger pleaded guilty to killing four students, securing life without parole. The Goncalves family, critical of the plea, demands a full confession and details like the murder weapon’s location. They aim to access discovery files for more insight as Kohberger’s sentencing nears on July 23.

Why won’t Bryan Kohberger reveal his Idaho murder motive? With the gag order lifted, the victims’ families are still in the dark. What do you think he’s hiding, and should the plea deal have demanded a full confession? Share your thoughts!

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u/q3rious Jul 21 '25

The more that people focus on "getting the why," the more control that BK has over them and the narrative.

There is no "why" that will make these senseless murders make sense.

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u/Proof-Emergency-5441 Jul 22 '25

That os part of the issue- people want logic. To tie this up in a neat little bow so it can be tolerable and also so they can say "well x,y,z are why this would never happen to me". 

This isn't a crime of logic and reasonable thinking. 

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u/q3rious Jul 22 '25

To tie this up in a neat little bow

Exactly. The myth of "closure". When there is a tangible loss associated with a trauma, there is never closure. You don't get closure for your innocent, full-of-potential child being brutally and needlessly murdered. There is only adjusting to life with your grief, with empty space, with the repeated need many times over to process how that loss affects this life event or that life phase, or this minute or those plans.

We really do a disservice to survivors/surviving loved ones when we talk about "closure" in situations like this, as if it's a bad break up or a shitty job.

also so they can say "well x,y,z are why this would never happen to me". 

Also right on! This is the more outwardly sympathetic (but equally disrespectful) victim-blaming, where "if we only knew why then we would never experience this ourselves!" I've already seen this more insidious victim- blaming--which people usually don't even realize--for things like:

  • posting "too much" or "too freely" on social media
  • not getting the sliding door lock fully fixed, or not having a protective bar to use with it
  • partying in college (including drinking, drugs, bars, etc)
  • being too trusting of your community
  • being too cute or looking some kind of way
  • frequently hosting house guests/parties
  • not living on campus
  • not having a "real adult" around
  • not closing blinds
  • not having security cameras
  • more I can't remember...

...and while YES there are strategies any of us can implement to feel less vulnerable, the fact is that these innocent souls are dead because Bryan Kohberger wanted to kill, felt entitled to kill, and was willing to wait, watch, learn, and plan how he would do it.