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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not be able to stop thinking about the Idaho murder case

550 replies

Rickandmortified100 · 07/01/2023 14:45

Is anyone else following this case? It’s absolutely horrible and has really scared me to the point of locking my bedroom door when I sleep every night! The more that comes out in the news, the more bizarre and confusing the case seems to get too. So scary to think what people are capable of 😞

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
thewinterwitch · 14/01/2023 01:48

Here:

i.imgur.com/OwyTss1.jpg

The back loop is designed to be worn on a belt. The front button snap, where the DNA of BK was found, on the interior of the snap as far as I recall, can also be attached to a belt loop on the waistband of trousers. Who knows what he was wearing, or carrying. Maybe he brought it in in a backpack. It is all speculation, inference and supposition.

Exactly, your logical supposition about the sheath

Yes, indeed. As this is not Websleuths, I did not think it was necessary to add MOO after every statement I made.

FartOutLoudDay · 14/01/2023 09:20

OntarioBagnet · 13/01/2023 19:46

Just been watching a tiktok with screenshots of someone saying they sold the knife to BK, and he was with a second man at the time. That second person was killed in a shootout at The Washington university where BK was a phd student on the 15th Dec. No idea how true it is.

I’ve not seen this picked up anywhere else. It’s an interesting thought though, that someone else was involved

Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 14/01/2023 11:18

Re:the CCTV. There were a selection of comments left on both Reddit and Facebook posted by someone who the FBI (as well as users of the groups) believe to be Bryan Kohberger. These are groups discussing the murder, so BK basically is thought to have gone on these groups to talk about the murder. He spoke about things that only the killer would have known (but disguised these as just theories or speculation), like where he parked the car and entered the house from, the sheath left behind, and he also mentioned cameras.

He said something along the lines of that, from watching the news (or being there, if it actually was BK posting) you can see that the neighbours have 4 cars, so it makes sense that their CCTV would be aiming at the cars to protect their property, rather than the actual road. And I guess this was right, because this comment along with his others led the FBI to believe that this was actually BK posting.

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 14/01/2023 11:21

@Rickandmortified100 that's speculation though isn't it, the FBI have not confirmed this except the exFBI agent on Twitter who believes it's him.

Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 14/01/2023 11:21

FartOutLoudDay · 14/01/2023 09:20

I’ve not seen this picked up anywhere else. It’s an interesting thought though, that someone else was involved

Show quote history

This is weird because in the news, BK and his dad got pulled over by a police officer for some driving offence just after the murders and BK was seen telling the policeman that he was driving home from his university and that there had been a shooting there the day before. Just seemed weird that he mentioned it as it wasn’t relevant to being pulled over? He clearly liked subtly talking about things related to his crimes (if it’s true that he was posting on boards about the murder) so it would be really interesting if this did turn out to be somehow true. Weird. Just very weird. I’m not saying it’s true, but I remember thinking it was weird that he mentioned the shooting to the traffic cop.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 14/01/2023 11:23

FartOutLoudDay · 14/01/2023 09:20

I’ve not seen this picked up anywhere else. It’s an interesting thought though, that someone else was involved

Show quote history

Yes, the agent and the posters in the group who also accused him of being the killer. It’s not confirmed by police but then at this stage a lot isn’t. Infuriatingly.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 14/01/2023 11:24

Oops. Replied to the wrong person

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foxlover47 · 14/01/2023 21:08

I know the timeline suggests he was in the house for a really short time , and a lot of speculation around the "it's ok I'm gonna help you comment "
What If he said that as Xana recognised him , maybe she knew him from work or whatever and he thought in saying that she would calm down and look to him to help ... only of course if she wasn't aware that Ethan was already murdered by him I mean

Polik · 14/01/2023 21:47

I carry some concerns that police have arrested the wrong guy. His links to the crime are very tenuous and many of the circumstances improbable. Police were under a lot of pressure to arrest someone.

I recognise that will be an unpopular opinion, but I genuinely have some worrying doubts.

ImprobablePuffin · 14/01/2023 21:54

Polik · 14/01/2023 21:47

I carry some concerns that police have arrested the wrong guy. His links to the crime are very tenuous and many of the circumstances improbable. Police were under a lot of pressure to arrest someone.

I recognise that will be an unpopular opinion, but I genuinely have some worrying doubts.

Doesn't matter if it's an unpopular opinion or not, it's interesting to me never the less.

I (possibly naively) assumed for the police to make the arrest they had enough on him to make a case.

Can I ask what about it you find tenuous or why the police should be looking elsewhere? It's certainly not a straightforward case that's for sure!

broomtomb · 14/01/2023 22:12

Polik · 14/01/2023 21:47

I carry some concerns that police have arrested the wrong guy. His links to the crime are very tenuous and many of the circumstances improbable. Police were under a lot of pressure to arrest someone.

I recognise that will be an unpopular opinion, but I genuinely have some worrying doubts.

This suggests to me that you've read next to nothing about the background or the affidavit.

CohenTree · 14/01/2023 22:17

Does anyone remember the Clutter murders in Kansas in the 1950s. They went into the unlocked house and exterminated a whole family for the sake of $35. At least they had the death penalty in those days.

thewinterwitch · 14/01/2023 22:25

Idaho has the death penalty.

ImprobablePuffin · 14/01/2023 22:49

CohenTree · 14/01/2023 22:17

Does anyone remember the Clutter murders in Kansas in the 1950s. They went into the unlocked house and exterminated a whole family for the sake of $35. At least they had the death penalty in those days.

@thewinterwitch is correct - the death penalty was reinstated in Idaho on July 7th 1973 so Google tells me.

Desertbarncat · 14/01/2023 23:25

You are not unreasonable to be aware that the world is not as safe a place as most people think. But you need to get to a reasonable place of empowering yourself with self defense skills to know that you can protect yourself in any situation. Locking your bedroom door does nothing- inside locks are weak and so are inside doors. Wi-Fi security cameras are a good start. And again, knowing how to defend yourself if someone does break in is the key to peace of mind.

foxlover47 · 14/01/2023 23:36

I've always been scared at the thought of locking myself in a bedroom/ bathroom etc , the thought of being trapped in there whilst someone's outside not knowing what they're doing
I think it's ok for people to worry about whatever they worry about we aren't here to police people's worries and like a few of you have said we have to protect ourself at all times in the best ways we can ... one of my ways is having barking dogs .. makes me feel a bit better that they hear everything

Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 14/01/2023 23:39

It did cross my mind that he might be innocent. He’s clearly a weird guy and admittedly when I saw him I did think ‘He LOOKS like a serial killer’ and then felt immediately guilty and wondered whether this might be why so few people have claimed that they think he might be innocent. Please don’t flame me for this confession! But like a PP said, the evidence that they have released so far is not particularly strong. He visited the area several times including on the night of the murder and a tiny piece of his DNA was found on a sheath. Unless there’s like something massive they’re keeping hidden then maybe he actually didn’t do it.

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foxlover47 · 14/01/2023 23:44

How easy will
It be to find a jury that are impartial due to all the media reporting , social media etc

justgettingthroughtheday · 15/01/2023 00:03

foxlover47 · 14/01/2023 23:44

How easy will
It be to find a jury that are impartial due to all the media reporting , social media etc

Which is all the more reason to keep the facts about the case and evidence under wraps. I think there is almost certainly a lot more evidence that we haven't heard and won't hear until the trial. The police will have given out the bare minimum information required to get the warrant to arrest him. Nothing more

foxlover47 · 15/01/2023 00:18

@justgettingthroughtheday ah yes , that absolutely makes sense that they would , the bare minimum to gain the arrest etc

ImprobablePuffin · 15/01/2023 00:29

foxlover47 · 14/01/2023 23:44

How easy will
It be to find a jury that are impartial due to all the media reporting , social media etc

I have been thinking this exact same thing. It will be near impossible to have a fully impartial jury. There have been occasions where it has lead to a mistrial for this very reason.

foxlover47 · 15/01/2023 00:39

@ImprobablePuffin yes
And you can see how easy that could happen which I guess is why the absolute minimum hand has been played from the prosecution
I mean if it is him and he does get found guilty for it I also think he might choose to never tell what was said that night or why he did what he did the way he did etc

ImprobablePuffin · 15/01/2023 00:45

@foxlover47 I agree with all of that. From what I've read he seems to be the type who thinks he is very clever and generally 'better' than everyone else. It wouldn't surprise me if he withholds whatever he knows forever more.

It occurred to me earlier with the posts about people thinking he could be innocent that I have very quickly fallen to the mindset of 'I can't see how he didn't do it. He's definitely guilty' when in reality he is innocent until proven guilty and perhaps my mind should be a little more open. Although that will be hard as I do genuinely think he is guilty. Something for me to think about in bed tonight

foxlover47 · 15/01/2023 00:50

I absolutely get what you're saying .. he does deserve a fair trial in the eyes of the law doesn't he , I too have been questioning it all and wonder how any jury member can go in with a clean slate for a mind with so much of the world already certain he's the man

ToughTalker · 15/01/2023 01:17

The thing about his apparent ‘friend’ being shot dead by police after threatening to kill his room mates on the day BK left Idaho to drive home with his Dad is a massive coincidence. Brent Kopacka lived next to BK and was suffering from PTSD after military service. Wonder if they were working together which explains the quick turnaround of the murders, although Dylan only saw one man in the house. Perhaps one of them driving or Kopacka was borrowing his car?

There’s also a story that BK bought the knife with Kopacka before the murders. Not verified and could be rubbish.

I definitely think BK is on the spectrum. I have an adult DS with ASD and can spot it quite easily. Especially the ‘serial killer eyes’. DS has that look when he’s very anxious in public and trying to put on a front. It’s a running joke between us! Also just his demeanour at the arraignment and the reports that he was talking to himself to calm himself in the prison van. Another thing DS does to process and calm himself when he’s het up or angry. Reports of him having little emotion and inappropriate interactions with women as well. I’d be interested to know why his Dad went to Idaho to drive home with him too. Perhaps worried about him driving all that way in his own?

I just hope that he’s not a vulnerable person who was targeted as the fall guy before the murders even took place.

I wonder whether the DNA was transferable DNA?

Surprised it took the police 7 weeks to arrest him if they had the DNA from the start. It surely wouldn’t have taken that long to run a search on the police databases (not sure if they have a central one or do states have their own?) then go to ancestry companies and you’d imagine they’d send urgent requests to all of them at the same time considering there was a crazed monster on the loose? Wouldn’t take long to get a hit? Would they have had to get court orders to force the ancestry companies to comply?