Bryan Kohberger’s ex-friend tells of his terror at news of the arrest

Bryan Kohberger is being forced to wear an anti-suicide vest, also known as a turtle suit, in jail while he awaits extradition to Moscow, Idaho, where he will be charged with the murders of four University of Idaho students. 

Kohberger was arrested on Friday in Pennsylvania, more than 2,000 miles away from where the November 13 deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin took place in the off-campus home they shared. 

The PhD has agreed to be extradited to Idaho from Pennsylvania. His attorney said he is shocked by the arrest and plans on denying the murders. Kohberger was originally on suicide watch but is now believed to be off as he prepares his defense. 

A former friend of the suspect in the Chestnuthill Township, close to the Poconos Mountains, has told the media how terrified he was when news of Kohberger’s arrest emerged. 

Schyler Jacobson said in an interview that he was in ‘complete shock’ when he realized how close he had been to the man suspected of such a gruesome act. 

Bryan Kohberger, 28, a criminology student, was arrested on Friday in PA for the murders of the four University of Idaho students

Schyler Jacobson, shown here, said in an interview, ‘I would text [Kohlberger] and be like ‘Hey, you wanna go for a run?’ We’d go for six/seven mile runs at night so when I saw who it was I was just like in complete shock, it was so close to home’

Jacobson told WBRE, ‘I looked at the picture and I couldn’t believe who it was. It was Bryan Kohberger. I would text him and be like ‘Hey, you wanna go for a run?’ We’d go for six/seven mile runs at night so when I saw who it was I was just like in complete shock, it was so close to home.’

At the time of the murders, Kohberger, who was staying at his parents house in Monroe County, Pennsylvania when he was arrested, was studying at the Washington State University, just a 20 minute or so drive from where the murders took place.

Jacobson continued, ‘I’m still kind of like shaking knowing about that. It’s just unreal to think somebody could actually do that to somebody. It’s absolutely mind-boggling, my adrenaline is still kind of running after finding that information out.’ 

In a separate interview with NBC Philadelphia, Jacobson said that the pair were close around 10 years ago and that during their runs, they had ‘all of these positive conversations.’ 

Jacobson described the murder suspect as being ‘uplifting’ and often talked about wanting to get in shape. He said that there was nothing concerning about Kohberger’s behavior. 

Another resident of Monroe County, Dennis Munger, told WBRE, ‘It’s pretty amazing, this is right in your backyard and you don’t know anything about it. You know, to track somebody all the way across the country like that, it’s crazy.’ 

Kohberger was arrested here, at his parents’ home close to the Poconos Mountains, on Friday

According to the manufacturer PSP’s website, ‘Designed with high quality fabric and craftsmanship, the Suicide Prevention Smock offers comfort, coverage, and warmth without compromising safety, security, and overall effectiveness’

A suicide vest or smock is a tear-resistant single-piece outer garment that prevents inmates from using their clothing to make a noose in order to commit suicide.

Prior to their invention and use in the 1990s, inmates who were considered a suicide risk were often left in cells naked or with paper gowns. 

It was Law and Crime Network host Angenette Levy who first brought attention to the vest when she posted Kohberger’s mugshot adding, ‘Notice the vest he is wearing.’ 

When asked by a follower about the suit, Levy replied, ‘You can’t cut it to hang yourself. It’s like a suit.’

According to the manufacturer PSP’s website, the vest is ‘designed with high quality fabric and craftsmanship, the Suicide Prevention Smock offers comfort, coverage, and warmth without compromising safety, security, and overall effectiveness.’

The vests retail for $425. Also known as turtles suits, they are sometimes given to inmates who are believed to be targets for violence from fellow prisoners. 

In addition to preventing suicides, it is also impossible to turn the vest into a weapon that could be used against guards or other inmates. 

Victims Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin were killed on November 13 

Nick Mcloughlin, who was friends with Kohberger at school told The Daily Beast he was ‘stunned’ to see his old acquaintance arrested.

Mcloughlin said Kohberger was ‘down to Earth,’ when he graduated junior year. But at the start of senior year, Kohberger returned ‘thinner than a rail,’ had turned ‘aggressive’ and taken up boxing.

Recalling how their friendship soured, Mcloughlin added: ‘He always wanted to fight somebody, he was bullying people. We started cutting him off from our friend group because he was 100 percent a different person.’

Mcloughlin said he has ‘no idea’ what prompted the sudden change. 

Locals and at least one police officer are spotted in Albrightsville on Friday, after Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger was arrested 

See also  Council proposes developing Scarborough’s former indoor swimming pool into major hotel after planned deal was scrapped last year

Moscow Chief James Fry said Saturday that he believes ‘we have the individual that committed these crimes.’ 

He also confirmed that the white Hyundai Elantra police were looking for in the early weeks of the investigation was located in the home of the suspect’s parents in the Poconos. 

However, authorities are still searching for the murder weapon. 

The Moscow Police Department continues to encourage anyone to come forward with information, as they’re ‘still putting pieces together.’ 

The police chief could not reveal much about the case as of Saturday, as Idaho state law prohibits officers from releasing information until the criminology student has made his first court appearance in Idaho. 

He did, however, say it was ‘disappointing’ to learn that the alleged murderer was studying criminology, as this is ‘not something we want in our profession.’ 

‘We hold ourselves to a higher standard, we hold ourselves to an ethical standard,’ he told Fox News. ‘But we can’t pick and choose what people study.’ 

Kohberger’s lawyer said Saturday that his client ‘looks forward to resolving these matters.’  

‘Mr. Kohberger is eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible,’ Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar, who only representing the suspect until his extradition, told CNN.

He added that the suspect will agree to waive his extradition hearing, which was set for Tuesday, to be sent to Idaho.