Where Is Bryan Kohberger Imprisoned? Inside the Idaho Complex Housing the College Killer

NEED TO KNOW

• Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to four lifetimes in prison for the murders of four University of Idaho students

• Kohberger is serving his sentence at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution

• The prisoner reportedly complained about being taunted by fellow inmates

Bryan Kohberger is being held at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho.

He is serving four life sentences in prison without parole for the murders of four University of Idaho students: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.

The Idaho Maximum Security Institution is located about 15 miles south of Boise, where Kohberger's trial was set to take place before he pleaded guilty and was sentenced. The prison houses 535 inmates — including those on death row.

While Kohberger has not spoken out since his sentence began, he made headlines in August when he allegedly complained to prison guards about being taunted by fellow inmates. The IDOC told PEOPLE at the time that "security staff maintain a safe and orderly environment for all individuals in our custody."

Later that same month, a video began circulating that appeared to show Kohberger walking around his jail cell. The IDOC subsequently issued a statement explaining that they were looking into the legitimacy of the video.

Here's everything to know about the prison where Bryan Kohberger is being held for the murders of four University of Idaho college students.

Who is Bryan Kohberger?

Kohberger was arrested and charged with the murders of four University of Idaho students in December 2022. Mogen, Goncalves, Kernodle and Chapin were all stabbed to death in their off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022.

After a month of police investigating, Kohberger was arrested at his parents' home in Albrightsville, Penn., on Dec. 30, 2022. At the time, Kohberger denied any involvement.

His trial was eventually scheduled for August 2025, but he entered a last-minute plea deal on June 30. Kohberger officially pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary on July 2, 2025.

At the time of the murders, Kohberger was earning a PhD in criminology at Washington State University. Prior to his time at WSU, Kohberger earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at a local community college near his Pennsylvania hometown and a master's degree in criminal justice from DeSales University.

What is Bryan Kohberger serving time in prison for?

On July 23, Kohberger was sentenced to four life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of the four students. He was also sentenced to an additional 10 years for the burglary charge and ordered to pay $270,000 in fines and civil penalties.

Ahead of the sentencing, Ada County District Court Judge Steven Hippler got emotional while calling Kohberger a "faceless coward."

“During the quiet morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, a faceless coward breached the tranquility of six beautiful young people and senselessly slaughtered them — four of them,” Hippler said. “But due to the killer’s incompetence and outstanding police work,” the person “that slithered through that sliding glass door at 1122 King Road now stands before the world and this court unmasked.”

Prior to Hippler handing down his sentence, all the victims' families had a chance to address Kohberger for the first time with victim impact statements.

Where is Bryan Kohberger serving his sentence?

Kohberger is serving four life sentences at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho. The maximum-security prison was opened in 1989 and has the capacity to house 535 of "Idaho's most dangerous and volatile male residents," according to the IDOC. Kohberger is one of 49 residents serving life sentences.

"The population is primarily comprised of close custody, administrative segregation and residents under the sentence of death," the IDOC website reads.

The Idaho Maximum Security Institution is a tan building located inside a double perimeter fence that is reinforced with razor wire and an electronic detection system. The prison consists of several layers of housing operations where prisoners are placed depending on the level of risk they may pose or face.

The most restrictive option is called "close custody," where inmates spend 23 hours of their day in their cells. Meanwhile, those in "protective custody" are also closely monitored and placed in areas that separate them from the general population.

Public Information Officer Blake Lopez, a spokesperson for the Idaho Department of Corrections, confirmed to PEOPLE that Kohberger is "housed alone in a cell."

The prison says they are "committed to fostering rehabilitation, growth and self-improvement," so they offer a variety of programs — including educational classes, behavior and reintegration programs and religious and spiritual services. However, an official told ABC News that "a typical day is not typical," as every day could change depending on the behavior of the inmates.

Prior to his sentencing, Kohberger awaited his trial at Latah County Jail in Moscow County, Idaho. Despite his high-profile case, Kohberger reportedly kept a low profile, per a report filed by Cpl. Brett Payne of the Moscow Police Department, who spoke with Kohberger's cellmate.

The inmate said that he found a few of Kohberger's habits "annoying" but never showed any anger, except for one incident. He also said that Kohberger was “highly intelligent and polite” but never spoke about the murders. The inmate also recalled some of Kohberger’s habits — including spending "45 minutes to an hour in the shower" and washing his hands "dozens of times."

Who else has served time at Idaho Maximum Security Institution?

As the Idaho Maximum Security Institution consists of the state's "most dangerous and the most disruptive incarcerated individuals," there are several men who have been convicted of horrific crimes residing there.

In addition to Kohberger, there are at least three other notable living criminals serving their sentences at the prison. Gerald Ross Pizzuto was sentenced to death in 1986 for the murders of four people in Idaho and Washington; Thomas Eugene Creech was also sentenced to death in 1976 for confessing to 42 murders; and Chad Daybell was sentenced to death in 2024 for killing his first wife and the two children of his second wife, Lori Vallow.

Other inmates who also resided at the institution before their death or execution included Paul Ezra Rhoades, Richard Albert Leavitt, Keith Wells and James Edward Wood.

Has Bryan Kohberger said anything about life in prison?

Kohberger has not publicly spoken out about his guilty plea or life in prison. However, he reportedly complained to prison guards about being taunted by fellow inmates while in his own cell, per a report from the Daily Mail.

"It's driving him crazy," Chris McDonough, a retired homicide detective who now works for the Cold Case Foundation, told the outlet. "The inmates are tormenting him at night and almost all hours of the day — taunting him through the vents in his cell."

McDonough claimed that the inmates were using the "vent system" and "kicking the doors" to psychologically "torture him."

A spokesperson for the IDOC later told PEOPLE in a statement, "We are aware of Kohberger’s complaints about what he considers taunting. Incarcerated individuals commonly communicate with each other in prison.”

"Bryan Kohberger is housed alone in a cell, and IDOC security staff maintain a safe and orderly environment for all individuals in our custody," the spokesperson added.

Shortly after the report surfaced, a leaked video appeared to show Kohberger walking back and forth in his jail cell and putting an item on top of a rack. The IDOC later issued a statement about the video to say they were "aware" and "investigating the matter."

“Videotaping and publicly sharing security footage is prohibited conduct and we will be reviewing all legal options, including criminal prosecution,” the IDOC said. “The safety and security of our staff and incarcerated population remain our top priority."

Read the original article on People