Bryan Kohberger’s parents, Michael and Maryann Kohberger, have said very little publicly about their son’s case. Their public statement after his arrest expressed sympathy for the four victims’ families and pledged cooperation with law enforcement; their second and final statement, issued after the July 2025 plea deal, asked the media for privacy. Maryann’s more revealing words were spoken privately to FBI agents on the night of the arrest, when she insisted her son could not have committed the murders.
The Statement After Bryan’s Arrest
Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022, at his family’s home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. Three days later, the family released a statement through his public defender, Jason A. LaBar.
“First and foremost we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children,” the statement read. “There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them.”1KXLY. Idaho Murder Suspect’s Family Releases Statement
The family said they would “continue to let the legal process unfold” and would “love and support our son and brother.” They also said they had “fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions.”1KXLY. Idaho Murder Suspect’s Family Releases Statement
What Maryann Told the FBI
On the night of the arrest, three FBI agents interviewed Maryann Kohberger. Transcripts of that interview were later reported in the book Broken Plea: The Explosive Search for Truth Behind the Idaho Murders by Christopher Whitcomb.2New York Post. Bryan Kohberger’s Mom Maryann Kohberger Refused to Believe Her Angel Son Butchered Idaho College Students
According to the book, Maryann told the agents, “He’s my angel,” and, “My son would not do this. I will stake my life on that.” She called the arrest “a really, really bad mistake” and said, “There’s a mistake, something is wrong somewhere. And that’s what I believe. And that’s what I know in my heart.” When agents asked whether her son had ever shown behavior suggesting he was capable of the killings, she replied, “Never, ever, ever.” She described the situation as “an absolute nightmare.”2New York Post. Bryan Kohberger’s Mom Maryann Kohberger Refused to Believe Her Angel Son Butchered Idaho College Students
Phone Contact Between Bryan and His Mother
Forensic analysis of Kohberger’s phone showed extensive contact between mother and son on November 13, 2022, the day of the murders. Heather Barnhart, the digital forensics expert retained by the Latah County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, told People magazine that Kohberger attempted to call his mother at 6:13 a.m., less than two hours after the killings, and his father at 6:14 a.m. He reached his mother at 6:17 a.m. and spoke with her for 36 minutes.3People. Bryan Kohberger Called Mother After Idaho Murders, Spoke for Three Hours
According to Barnhart, Kohberger called his mother again at 8:03 a.m. for 54 minutes as he was driving back toward the crime scene, and at 9:00 a.m. for nine minutes. They spoke again at 4:05 p.m. for two minutes and at 5:53 p.m. for 96 minutes. In total, the two were on the phone for more than three hours that day.3People. Bryan Kohberger Called Mother After Idaho Murders, Spoke for Three Hours
Four days later, on November 17, 2022, Maryann sent her son a link to a news article about the murders, specifically noting that victim Xana Kernodle had “put up such a fight.” A forensic examiner told NewsNation that phone records indicate mother and son were speaking on the phone at the moment she sent the link.4Yahoo News. Bryan Kohberger Mom Texted Him
The content of the calls has not been disclosed, and there is no public evidence that Maryann knew of her son’s involvement during these conversations.
The Statement After the Plea Deal
On June 30, 2025, Kohberger agreed to a plea deal that spared him the death penalty, and he formally pleaded guilty on July 2, 2025, to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.5CBS News. Idaho Student Murders Bryan Kohberger Arrest Timeline
The family issued a second statement through attorney Martin Souto Diaz of Amori & Associates LLC: “In light of recent developments, the Kohbergers are asking members of the media for privacy, respect, and responsible judgement during this time. We will continue to allow the legal process to unfold with respect to all parties, and will not release any comments or take any questions.”6Newsweek. Bryan Kohberger Family Breaks Silence Plea Deal Murder Case
Maryann had spoken publicly against capital punishment years before her son’s case. In a 2008 letter to the editor in the Pocono Record, she wrote, “I do not personally support abortion, and by all means do not support the death penalty,” adding, “State sanctified murder is still just that — murder.”7Pocono Record. Political Stereotypes Often Do Not Apply
At the Sentencing Hearing
The sentencing took place on July 23, 2025, at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise. Maryann Kohberger and her daughter Amanda were the only family members present on Bryan’s side. Michael Kohberger did not attend, and no public explanation for his absence has been reported.8New York Post. Bryan Kohberger Ignored His Sobbing Mom Lookalike Sister After Being Sentenced to Life
Media observers described Maryann as sobbing through much of the roughly three-hour proceeding. She was seen shuddering and putting her head in her hands as Xana Kernodle’s uncle spoke about the family name being “tainted,” and wept when Madison Mogen’s grandmother, Kim Cheeley, turned toward the Kohberger family and said her heart went out to them.9E! Online. Idaho Murders Bryan Kohberger’s Mom Sister in Court
Amanda sat “stone-faced” near the defense table and was escorted out by defense attorney Anne Taylor after the hearing.8New York Post. Bryan Kohberger Ignored His Sobbing Mom Lookalike Sister After Being Sentenced to Life As he was led out in handcuffs, Kohberger largely ignored his mother and sister, though earlier in the hearing, after a recess, he had smiled and nodded at his mother.9E! Online. Idaho Murders Bryan Kohberger’s Mom Sister in Court Neither woman spoke to reporters. Maryann left the courthouse wearing large black sunglasses.10Fox News. Bryan Kohberger Sentencing Hearing
Michael Kohberger’s Silence
Bryan’s father, Michael Kohberger Jr., has not been publicly quoted or identified as making any individual statement about the case. Both family statements were issued jointly through attorneys, and neither was attributed to him personally. He did not attend the sentencing, and no reporting has surfaced explaining his absence or offering his own perspective.