Newly released details from a partial interview transcript reveal that the mother of convicted murderer Bryan Kohberger defended her son’s innocence immediately following his arrest in December 2022.
Maryann Kohberger told investigators she believed authorities had made a “really, really bad mistake” and described her son as an “angel” during a voluntary interview at the Pennsylvania State Police Fern Ridge Barracks.
The exchange is detailed in Broken Plea, a new book by Christopher Whitcomb.
The interview took place while a state police SWAT team served a search warrant at the family’s Albrightsville home in the Poconos. According to the transcript, Maryann Kohberger told FBI Special Agent Matthew Phillips that her son was incapable of the crimes he was accused of.
“My son would not do this,” she said, according to Whitcomb’s account. “I will stake my life on that. There’s a mistake, something is wrong somewhere. And that’s what I believe. And that’s what I know in my heart.”
When questioned by Special Agent Jessica Mahoney regarding potential anger issues or confrontational behavior, Maryann Kohberger reportedly denied such traits existed. These claims appeared to conflict with later allegations made by students at Washington State University, where Kohberger had been a Ph.D. criminology student and teaching assistant.
During the questioning, Maryann Kohberger provided several insights into her son’s lifestyle. She stated that he was not dating anyone at the time and had very few friends, though she claimed he was beginning to socialize more with classmates at his new university.
She also said that Kohberger had successfully overcome a past heroin addiction and described him as a late sleeper who was organized with his academic work but occasionally messy in his personal living space.
The interview concluded with Phillips warning her that there was a significant amount of evidence constituting the probable cause required for the warrant and arrest. Maryann Kohberger reportedly described the situation to agents as a “nightmare.”
Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to avoid a potential death sentence. He confessed to the stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
Kohberger is currently serving four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, in addition to 10 years for burglary. No specific motive for the killings was ever established.
