Quote from Oladosun Joshua Segun on January 3, 2026, 6:04 PM

The sister of Bryan Kohberger is coming out about the crimes committed by her sibling. Mel Kohberger denounced rumors that she and her family knew Bryan was responsible for the 2022 murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. Bryan, 31, was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences after entering a guilty plea in July. The murders occurred more than three years ago.

“I have always been a person who has spoken up for what was right,” in a January 3 interview, she informed The New York Times. “If I ever had a reason to believe my brother did anything, I would have turned him in.”

Since her brother lived close by and sometimes went for late-night walks around the area, Mel actually told him about the horrific crime before authorities were able to identify a suspect.

“Bryan, you are running outside, and this psycho killer is on the loose,” according to the outlet, she spoke to him. “Be careful.”

Mel recalled Bryan thanking her for her care, but she continued by expressing her amazement when her sister Amanda Kohberger told her that their brother had been arrested by the police, adding that the news made her queasy.

“She was like, ‘I’m with the FBI, Bryan’s been arrested,’” Mel remembered. “I was like, ‘For what?’”

Mel also described how being close to Bryan after the killings has affected her life. For example, she had been training for a job as a mental health counselor at the time of her brother's arrest in December 2022, but she informed the source that she decided to resign from the position after the employer was inundated with questions.

“It’s confusing,” she clarified. “It’s painful. It’s like being victimized but not really being a victim.”

Mel also acknowledged that she and her family have mourned Bryan's absence from holidays and other important occasions, but she stressed that their attention would soon turn to the suffering of the victims' families.

Mel sobbed as she tells the NYT, “The idea is making me so emotional that I can barely speak to you about it.”

In fact, Mel—who disclosed that she used to enjoy real crime—urged folks who are interested in these sagas to think about how the public's infatuation with the cases can have a detrimental effect on those who are directly involved.

“It’s human nature to be curious about darker things,” she revealed. “That’s how we keep ourselves safe. But I think we should try and come together for a true crime culture that is way more protective and empathetic to the families of the victims.”