Bryan Kohberger has complained of sexual harassment and requested a transfer from the J Block at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution (IMSI) near Boise, Idaho. That’s according to an official Idaho Department of Correction complaint form filled out by Kohberger and shared online.
At the same time, unconfirmed reports have also emerged that Kohberger is paranoid about his prison food being poisoned and has complained to prison staff when his meals are missing certain dietary requirements. Unconfirmed reports also claim he told staff he could step on contaminated objects at the facility.
In July, Kohberger received four consecutive life sentences in a plea deal for the November 2022 murders of four University of Idaho college students, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Zana Kernodle, and Maddie Mogen in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho.
Situated beneath death row, J-Block at IMSI is the prison’s most restrictive housing unit, where inmates are divided into tiers for contact or non-contact visits depending on security level. Kohberger is currently in non-contact visitation status.
‘Minute-by-minute verbal threats’
Kohberger’s official sexual harassment complaint reads, “Not engaging in any of the recent flooding/striking as well as being subject to minute-by-minute verbal threats/harassment and on that and other bases [sic] Unit 2 of J-Block is an environment that I wish to transfer from.”
Flooding reportedly refers to inmates intentionally causing water to overflow in their sinks and toilets as a form of “strike.”
Kohhberger later shared a note with a guard reporting sexual harassment as other inmates made explicit sexual verbal threats against him. In that note, he asked to be transferred to B-Block at IMSI, a similar non-contact housing unit.
According to People, IMSI guards confirmed vulgar language directed at Kohberger, but they said J-Block is generally safe and calm, and the problem would take care of itself over time.
Prison officials confirmed Kohberger felt safe in J-Block after submitting his written request for a transfer.
Kohberger is off to a rough start behind bars
Before the official harassment complaint, reports emerged that other inmates were banging and shouting on doors, walls, and through ventilation pipes to harass Kohberger and keep him awake.
At IMSI J-Block, Kohberger is only allowed to shower every other day. While incarcerated at other facilities awaiting trial, an inmate said Kohberger washed his hands repeatedly and showered several times daily, sometimes for as long as an hour.
Prosecutors have said they were unable to determine a motive for Kohberger’s killings or prove a connection between Kohberger and the victim. There is evidence that Kohberger stalked some of the roommates and harassed women while a teaching assistant at Washington State University, near Moscow, Idaho.
Forensics experts have also confirmed explicit online searches on Kohberger’s devices involving violence and misogyny.
That Kohberger is now complaining of sexual harassment was not lost in online comments responding to Kohberger’s official request for a transfer. One read, “CRY ME A RIVER BK – what a loser.” Another added in part, “FY BK! What did you expect? This is not the Hilton hotel, ‘you do the crime, you serve the time’ Your victims wanted out also! Now swallow your sentence buddy!”
