The sister of the Bryan Kohberger revealed the final Christmas she spent with the sadistic killer just days before police raided their family home and nabbed him for the fatal Idaho University stabbings.

Mel Kohberger said she felt nauseous when she learned her brother had been arrested for the murders of four college students, and denied having any knowledge of his crimes prior to his arrest, in an interview with the New York Times.

“I have always been a person who has spoken up for what was right, if I ever had a reason to believe my brother did anything, I would have turned him in,” said.

Kohberger, a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University, received four life sentences in July for killing Idaho University students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.
Bryan KohbergerBryan Kohberger’s final days with family revealed.AP
He pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal which allowed him to avoid the death penalty.

Kohberger had fatally stabbed the co-eds at an off-campus apartment in Moscow, Idaho on Nov. 13, 2022. Just weeks later he joined his family for Christmas in their Pennsylvania home in early December.

His sister revealed that the twisted killer engaged in party games with his family and enjoyed vegan cookies baked especially for him by their mom.

Mel confessed that Kohberger had even recoiled at the site of blood when she cut herself on foil.

Five days after Christmas FBI officers crashed into their home and arrested Kohberger for the brutal slayings of four young souls. Mel, who had left their parents home, was told by her sister Amanda.

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

Mel, who was pursuing a career in psychology when her brother was arrested, revealed he once stole her cell phone to pay for drugs.

She said her brother had become a heroin addict after being ruthlessly bullied in high school, and his family worried he would die at a young age.

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But his family believed he had taken a turn for the better after he received drug treatment and went on to study psychology at DeSales University and pursue a Ph.D.. in criminology at Washington State University.

“We were all so proud of him because he had overcome so much,” Mel told the New York Times.

However, a happy ending wasn’t in store for ex-druggie, and he’ll be spending the rest of his life behind bars.
The Kohberger family, mother Maryann Kohberger, middle in black glasses, and sister Amanda Kohberger, front, leaves the Ada County Courthouse after the Bryan Kohberger sentencing Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Drew Nash)The Kohberger family, mother Maryann Kohberger, middle in black glasses, and sister Amanda Kohberger, front, leaves the Ada County Courthouse after the Bryan Kohberger sentencing Wednesday, July 23, 2025.AP
She also revealed the meaning of the creepy black heart drawing he had with him during his sentencing hearing.

Mel said that she drew the heart — which many internet sleuths thought symbolized the deranged killer’s dark hearted nature — as a show of support for her brother.

Mel revealed she wanted to be at the sadistic killer’s sentencing hearing, but couldn’t attend because she needed to take care of their father who developed heart problems.

Bryan’s murders gave rise to an army of internet true crime sleuths who raised suspicions that Mel or her family knew of Bryan’ crimes prior to his arrest.

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