Shivangi Sinha
Bryan Kohberger was arrested as the primary suspect in the brutal killings of four University of Idaho students in November 2022. The case drew nationwide attention due to its shocking nature and his background in criminology. Since his arrest, the spotlight has also fallen on his family. His parents, Michael Kohberger Jr. and Maryann Kohberger, and his older sisters, Amanda and Melissa, have endured intense public scrutiny and emotional strain. As they await the upcoming trial, the family has largely stayed out of the public eye. NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Terrible Night on King Road’ delves into how the Kohbergers have been coping with the aftermath and the weight of the accusations against Bryan.
Bryan Kohberger’s Parents and Sisters Were With Him When He Was Arrested
Bryan Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022, as a suspect in the November murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. At the time, he was in Albrightsville, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and was visiting his family for the holidays. Though a Ph.D. student at Washington State University with a residence in Pullman, Washington, reports indicate that his father, Michael Kohberger Jr., had flown out to Washington, and together they made the 2,500-mile drive back to Pennsylvania in a white Hyundai Elantra. This vehicle later became a key piece of evidence that authorities used to accuse Bryan of the crime.
Michael and Maryann Kohberger spent most of their lives in Pennsylvania, raising their three children—daughters Amanda and Melissa, and their son Bryan—in the town of Effort. They later moved to the gated Indian Mountain Lake community in Albrightsville, where they settled down. Following Bryan’s arrest, the family issued a public statement expressing sympathy for the victims while urging the public to respect Bryan’s “presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions.” Although they were questioned by authorities, many details from their testimonies remain undisclosed due to the ongoing legal proceedings. In May 2025, a judge ruled that Bryan’s parents and sisters could attend his trial without it affecting their potential roles as witnesses.
Michael Kohberger Jr. Has Retired From His Job at the Pleasant Valley School District
Michael Kohberger Jr. spent over a decade working in maintenance for the Pleasant Valley School District in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, where he was employed from 2006 until his departure in 2019. In May 2023, Michael was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Pennsylvania in relation to the disappearance of Pennsylvania resident Dana Smithers. Some reports allege that Michael once filed a misdemeanor theft complaint against Bryan in 2014 after Bryan allegedly took his sister’s phone. The charge was never pursued further and is generally seen as a family dispute rather than a criminal incident of note. Since the arrest, Michael has maintained a low public profile and has not spoken directly to the media. While much remains unknown, the trial may offer more insight into his relationship with Bryan and his perspective on the events that unfolded.
MaryAnn Kohberger Has Always Had a Kind Side to Her
MaryAnn Kohberger spent much of her career working in education as a paraprofessional with the Pleasant Valley School District in Pennsylvania, where she supported special-needs students. She was described by colleagues and those in the community as gentle, compassionate, and dedicated to her work. She retired around 2020. Outside of her professional life, she occasionally contributed opinion pieces and creative writing to the Pocono Record, a local newspaper. One of her submissions was a poem written by her daughter, Amanda, which MaryAnn sent to the paper in the aftermath of the Uvalde school shooting. The submission reflected both her family’s sensitivity to violence and her own personal distress over national tragedies. MaryAnn, alongside her husband, was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in May 2023 as well. She will surely be seen at the June 2025 trial and could be a potential witness.
Amanda Kohberger Has Dabbled in the World of Acting
Amanda Kohberger, the older sister of Bryan Kohberger, once pursued a career in acting. Her sole known credit is in the 2011 independent horror film ‘Two Days Back.’ Since then, she has kept both her professional and personal life relatively private. In March 2023, reports surfaced that Amanda had been fired from her job, allegedly due to her familial connection to Bryan. However, the exact nature of her employment and the institution that terminated her remain unconfirmed.
Amanda has not publicly spoken about her brother’s case, but some sources close to the family have claimed that one of Bryan’s sisters began suspecting him of involvement in the murders even before his arrest. Allegedly, this sister was unsettled by his increasingly strange behavior, including his use of latex gloves indoors and at all times. It’s been reported that she even attempted to search his car at one point but found nothing incriminating. While the identity of this sister has not been officially confirmed, speculation has pointed toward Amanda as the one who may have harbored early doubts. If true, her perspective could play a significant role in the upcoming trial, as her observations may provide insight into Bryan’s state of mind in the weeks leading up to his arrest.
Melissa Kohberger is No Longer Working as a Mental Therapist
Melissa Kohberger had been working as a licensed mental health therapist in New Jersey before reportedly being dismissed from her job in March 2023. Though official reasons for the termination were not confirmed, it was widely speculated that her dismissal was linked to her familial ties to Bryan Kohberger. Unlike other members of the Kohberger family, Melissa was not named in the public statement released after Bryan’s arrest, suggesting she may have chosen to stay out of the spotlight.
A poem that their mother, Maryann Kohberger, once published under her name was later revealed to have been written by Melissa. The poem reveals her deeply emotional and introspective side, highlighting her sensitivity during a time of personal and public turmoil. Since the arrest, Melissa appears to have remained largely private, focusing her energy on supporting her parents and siblings as they navigate the intense scrutiny and emotional strain brought on by the case.
