What happened in Moscow, Idaho, was both a tragedy and a manifestation of a terrifying and growing ideology.
On July 29, the man who brutally murdered four Idaho students was jailed for life without parole. Bryan Kohberger pled guilty for the violent deaths of students Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho in 2022. Kohberger remained silent during the sentencing and refused to provide a motive, but the attacks appear to be motivated by a clear hatred towards women.
In an age of increased violence towards women, rhetoric about Kohberger’s sentencing should focus less on the crime and more on the lives that were lost.
The sentencing served to detain a violent criminal, but must continue to steer clear of glorifying or sensationalizing what took place in Moscow—fuel that true crime podcasts have only added to the fire.
At a time when internet sleuths and conspiracy theorists, cases like Kohberger’s tend to gain traction on social media. Although most people following the case are appalled by Kohberger and his actions, the obsessive and frenzied attention given to cases like this often causes more harm than good.
This obsessive attention can blur the line between justice and entertainment. Internet followers of true crime often center the perpetrator, which sidelines the victims and broader social narratives—the part of a crime where attention should be centered.
In extreme cases, online communities even romanticize criminals, creating a cult following around them—something this case was no exception to. Even Kohberger has received dozens of fan letters while detained at Latah County Jail, ultimately shifting the focus from accountability to speculation and spectacle risks turning violence against women into a form of pop culture.
Internet subcultures often give rise to harmful ideologies, such as misogyny or more violent forms of hatred towards women. Kohberger was believed to be behind the Pappa Roger Facebook profile, which tried to throw conspiracy theorists off his case in multiple Facebook groups—highlighting how digital spaces can be manipulated to distort public understanding and hinder justice.
The name ‘Pappa Roger’ is likely in reference to Elliot Roger, who killed six people and injured 14 more in a stabbing and shooting spree in Isla Vista, California. Roger then published a 141-page document detailing his intense loathing of women. Whether it’s Pappa Roger, or Elliot Roger, it’s clear how incels—involuntary celibates—are inspired by each other as they continue to orchestrate brutal crimes against women.
Femicide, the killing of a woman or girl on account of her gender, is not a random or isolated incident—and most importantly is not just limited to what took place in Idaho. Kingston experienced its first declared case of femicide on May 16th, when a 25-year-old woman was found inside her home with multiple injuries and later died in the hospital.
The Brian Kohberger case was a particularly shocking incident, but it is also a part of a larger movement that glorifies violence against women. Internet rhetoric should avoid sensationalizing Kohberger’s actions and focus on the victims and the lives they will never be able to live out.
Goncalves, Chapin, Kernodle, and Mogen were young students whose friends and family speak incredibly highly of them. Many of the families’ testimonies at the sentencing focused on the lives that were taken away, not on Kohberger, which is exactly how it should have gone.
As the media divulges the outcomes of this particular case, followers must resist the urge to elevate Kohberger and instead honour the memory of the victims. In an age where online communities fuel misogyny and amplify dangerous ideologies, everyone has a responsibility to be careful about how they engage with tragedy.
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.