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Accused Idaho killer Bryan Kohberger wrote gushing email to police chief in search of job

Bryan Kohberger sent a gushing email to his local police chief in search of a job, months before he allegedly murdered four University of Idaho students.

The PhD student at Washington State University penned the missive to Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins in hopes of landing a three-year research assistant gig in public safety in early 2022, Inside Edition reported.

“It was a great pleasure to meet with you today and share my thoughts and excitement regarding the research assistantship for public safety,” Kohberger reportedly wrote shortly after they met on April 12.

“I look forward to hearing from you. Best regards, Bryan,” he added.

Jenkins reportedly replied: “Great to meet and talk to you as well.”

The graduate research assistant position was offered by WSU, where Kohberger was pursuing a doctorate in criminology.

“The purpose of these positions is to support each agency through data management and analysis, and to position them for success when they seek external funding,” according to a job description posted by the university, Inside Edition reported.

It was unclear if Kohberger was offered the position with the Pullman police force, which did not respond to Inside Edition’s requests for comment.

It also was unclear if the research position was the same as the one referenced in Kohberger’s probable cause affidavit, which claims he “wrote an essay when he applied for an internship with the Pullman Police Department in the fall of 2022.”

University of Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger sought a research position with a local police force months before he allegedly killed four students. AP

In that essay, he reportedly wrote that “he had interest in assisting rural law enforcement agencies with how to better collect and analyze technological data in public safety operations.”


Here’s the latest coverage on the brutal killings of four college friends:


Jenkins later became the police chief at Washington State University in August 2022 after leading the local Pullman force for 12 years, according to his LinkedIn account.

Kohberger wrote Jenkins hours after they reportedly met on April 12, 2022.
Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins, who later became chief at Washington State University. Pullman Police Department
Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, were killed on Nov. 13.

On Nov. 13, Kohberger allegedly killed Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, in their off-campus home in nearby Idaho.

He has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in the shocking crime.

WSU police recovered a possibly bloodstained mattress cover, human hairs, a glove and a computer from his apartment, according to a search warrant unsealed last week.