In a recent episode of the renowned podcast "Hidden Killers," host Tony Brueski had an illuminating conversation with Joni Johnston, a clinical and forensic psychologist & licensed private investigator. The focus was the complex and highly debated case against Brian Kohberger.
 
Kohberger's alibi, that he likes to drive at night, raised eyebrows and led many to question its credibility. As Johnston remarked, "The defense probably worked with what they had." The glaring concern remains: if Kohberger routinely drove at night, why would he turn off his phone, and how frequently did he do so? A crucial detail Johnston pointed out is that modern technology, specifically phone data, can offer insights into his driving patterns. "His phone should be able to tell everybody how often he was driving around at night and where he was driving to," she mentioned.
 
However, a pattern observed with Kohberger’s nightly drives has been problematic. The route he frequently took allegedly aligns with the vicinity of a house where four murders occurred. "It is a problem if you are a night wanderer only to a specific location," Johnston observed. It would be more believable if Kohberger’s alibi showed he drove to multiple locations consistently, as opposed to focusing mainly on one area.
 
Yet even with this defense, Brueski raised a pertinent point: "Even if they can establish a pattern of behavior here with other trends on his phone showing that yes, he does drive this route a lot at night, would that be positive or negative for him?" The key issue here is the speculation that Kohberger might have stalked the area before the murders.
 
Johnston also touched on the challenge the defense will face in trying to discredit cell phone triangulation, which pinpoints a person's location based on their phone's connection to cell towers. "Certainly that will be part of their testimony," Johnston noted. "They're gonna be having experts come on and talk about how inaccurate triangulation is, or the range that these towers can actually reach."
 
Beyond the alibi and location, Brueski and Johnston delved deeper into the psychological implications of the crimes. The victims were asleep when attacked, highlighting a choice in targeting the vulnerable. "Most people who commit premeditated murder are looking to either murder a vulnerable victim, or they're looking to find someone in a vulnerable position," Johnston explained. The audacity and confidence required to break into someone’s home and attack them in their sleep speak volumes about Kohberger’s state of mind.
 
Furthermore, there’s the perplexing decision of Kohberger to commit these alleged crimes away from his original residence in Pennsylvania, instead opting for the Washington and Idaho areas. This choice implies a deliberate effort to maintain a distance from familiar territory while still remaining in a recognizable setting. "I think it does Tony, in the sense that he would pick a place that was close enough to be familiar to him but wasn't too close where he would be noticed by people who knew him," explained Johnston.
 
Johnston's insights into the Kohberger case provided a deep dive into the psyche of an accused, the challenges faced by the defense, and the extensive role that technology plays in modern trials. As the case unfolds, it’s evident that the intersection of psychology, technology, and law will be integral in determining Kohberger's fate.
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