- calendar_today August 10, 2025
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Convicted murderer Bryan Kohberger has asked for a transfer out of his Idaho prison after filing multiple complaints about receiving constant threats from other inmates. Kohberger, 30, is serving a life sentence for the January 2022 home invasion during which he killed four University of Idaho students. He is currently in custody at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution (IMSI) and is located in J Block, which is reserved for Idaho’s most dangerous and high-profile inmates, including death row.
In a May 23 letter to an official at IMSI obtained by People, Kohberger said that he has been experiencing “minute-by-minute” verbal harassment and threats in his current living situation. In one of the complaints, Kohberger reported that a fellow inmate was heard threatening to “b— f—” him, while another man reportedly said, “The only a– we’ll be eating is Kohberger’s.”
Kohberger first filed a complaint regarding this situation two days after being placed in J Block. A second request was filed a week later, where he referenced a less-populated unit within the prison called B Block. Kohberger’s notes to the prison include several requests to be transferred to this area, where he believes he will receive less attention. “Tier 2 of J Block is an environment that I wish to transfer from if possible,” he wrote. “I request transfer to B Block immediately. I wish to speak with you soon.”
In his request, Kohberger also noted that he has not engaged in any major disruptive activities like “flooding” or “striking.” Flooding, a prison term that refers to the act of clogging toilets or sinks to cause damage from overflowing water, has become a common tactic among prison gang members to exact control over an area. Striking is a common prison term to reference either not going to work, fighting, or some other disciplinary offense. A few corrections officers confirmed that they have heard vulgar comments made by other inmates in reference to Kohberger. One correction officer admitted that while he had been notified of such a situation, he did not remember the specifics.
Inmate records from this week also confirm that Kohberger is still in J Block and has not received any indication of a response to his transfer request from prison administrators. State prison officials have not publicly commented on the situation or if they have any immediate plans to move Kohberger out of J Block.
Bad Vibes in J Block
Kohberger’s experience in jail before and since has been riddled with animosity from others. During a call with his mother while in county jail, Kohberger could be heard complaining about his shackled hands while another inmate could be heard yelling out, “He is a pig. He eats babies.”
In a cell with two other inmates, one man identified Kohberger as a “f—ing weirdo” and said, “I would hurt you, but I’m too chicken to do it.” Kohberger’s court documents during his trial described him as lacking basic social skills and having a “piercing stare.”
These court filings were corroborated by prison experts, who told Newsweek that Kohberger is particularly susceptible to daily threats from his fellow inmates as he has no friends in prison and has become a “high-profile” individual within the prison. “High-profile inmates nearly always face threats,” one prison consultant said. “In Kohberger’s case, his demeanor amplifies the problem.”
Newsweek reported in March that Kohberger has lost a significant amount of weight since his two and a half year stay in custody, which would not be uncommon for high-profile cases like Jeffrey Dahmer, who was ultimately killed by another inmate in prison after years of abuse. Kohberger’s new unit at IMSI also houses some of the state’s most notorious killers, including Chad Daybell, who is on death row.
The Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) responded to his initial request for an interview and subsequent issues with Kohberger in J Block, but has not offered a response to his requests for a transfer, Newsweek confirmed.
Kohberger is being held at IMSI in protective custody under supervision for now. In March, the convicted killer reported that he only eats when he is taken to the dining area for lunch by officers. As of now, Kohberger is expected to die in prison following his life sentence with no parole.
