Bryan Kohberger’s Shirtless Selfies and Naked Women Were Discovered on His Phone: ‘Very Vain, Like American Psycho
In the weeks surrounding the murders of four University of Idaho students, Bryan Kohberger went to great lengths to conceal his online activity—but failed to erase revealing content from his phone.
According to forensic expert Heather Barnhart, who examined Kohberger’s digital devices, investigators recovered a cache of photos that primarily included shirtless selfies and images of women in various states of undress.
“Lots of him posing half-naked in the mirror while flexing,” Barnhart told PEOPLE. Despite the abundance of these photos, there’s no evidence that Kohberger shared them with anyone.
As for the images of women, Barnhart noted that some were dressed in bikinis, while others were completely nude. However, none of these photos were taken by Kohberger himself. Instead, they were cached files—images automatically saved from browsing activity.
Apart from the selfies and the images of women, the only other subject Kohberger appeared interested in photographing was his white 2016 Hyundai Elantra—the same car he drove the night of the murders.
“Very vain, like American Psycho,” Barnhart remarked, referencing Patrick Bateman, the fictional character known for his narcissism and obsession with appearance.
Two previously released images from Kohberger’s photo roll include a bathroom mirror selfie taken in his Washington State University apartment shortly after the murders on November 13, 2022. In that photo, Kohberger is giving a thumbs-up with a visible bandage on his hand. Behind him is a shower curtain that had vanished by the time police executed a search warrant at his residence.
This image, like the others, was never sent or shared. Barnhart suggested the photo collection reflects Kohberger’s solitary lifestyle—there were no images of friends, family, or the victims found on his phone.
Barnhart, a Senior Director of Forensic Research for Cellebrite and a SANS Institute Fellow, was brought into the case by the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office. Her team, which included Jared Barnhart, Josh Hickman, Ian Whiffin, and Mattia Epifani, faced a unique challenge due to Kohberger’s background in criminology and his efforts to leave behind minimal digital evidence.
Kohberger is currently serving four consecutive life sentences in Idaho’s only maximum-security prison. He avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to the November 13, 2022, murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. The motive behind the brutal stabbings remains unknown.
Barnhart, who has also contributed to investigations including the Crystal Rogers case and the Delphi murders, said Kohberger’s case was notable for how isolated his digital footprint appeared—reflecting a life that seemed disconnected from personal relationships or social engagement.
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