John Snyder is a friendly guy from my hometown. He’s your average person—married, a homeowner, and a university professor. After nearly 30 years as a public defender, he decided to switch gears and teach about the legal system. He was feeling burnt out from a tough job.
I got to know John pretty well since my wife, Alexis, serves him drinks at the local bar. Like most people, John enjoys unwinding with dinner or a beer after work. But in the fall of 2022, his usual light-hearted chats took a dark turn. He often complained about his teaching assistant, Bryan Kohberger, who was driving him up the wall.
Then everything changed in November 2022 when tragedy struck nearby. Four University of Idaho students were murdered, shaking our peaceful community.
After the holidays, John walked into the bar looking more stressed than usual. He held up a newspaper, revealing that his troublesome TA was connected to the murders—Bryan Kohberger.
Since Kohberger’s arrest, John had kept mostly quiet about his experience, but he agreed to chat over some beers at the Palouse Caboose Bar & Grill, where Alexis works.
John graduated from the University of Idaho Law School in 1988 and focused on being a public defender to help those who often faced unfair situations. He’s passionate about justice and was drawn to law to help people find their way back from difficult circumstances.
As a professor, John only briefly interacts with many students, but he spends more time with teaching assistants. Traditionally, professors select their TAs, but for some reason, the system changed, and John ended up with Kohberger. When Kohberger first introduced himself in summer 2022, John found him a bit quirky but dismissed it as typical behavior in academia.
However, Kohberger’s frequent absences from class were concerning, prompting some students to joke that he looked like a murderer. John quickly realized Kohberger was not the reliable assistant he needed. Over time, John noted Kohberger’s annoying behavior, like trying to dominate conversations with trivial topics, which he called Kohberger’s “terrier routine.”
Despite disliking Kohberger, John never thought he was dangerous—he even considered him somewhat wimpy. That all changed when John learned of Kohberger’s arrest. He was in his office when a custodian alerted him to police sealing off the basement. The realization hit him hard: his TA was a murderer.
John rushed to speak with the police, sharing his thoughts on Kohberger’s character. He learned Kohberger had a list of women’s names, likely tied to his crimes. John found it shocking to think he had shared an office space with such a person. He had always dealt with troubled individuals but working alongside Kohberger was a surreal experience.
In the immediate aftermath, John found support from students and colleagues. The university’s trauma services weren’t effective, but the outpouring of concern from students meant a lot. John felt reassured that many, like him, were committed to promoting justice and fairness.
It’s troubling for John to think that Kohberger studied criminology not to pursue justice but to refine his criminal techniques. This reality undermined everything he has worked for. After decades of teaching, John is ready to retire. He hopes his students carry forward the lessons of compassion and justice.
As for Kohberger, John believes he won’t last long in prison due to his weak demeanor and obnoxious behavior. The impact of these events will linger, reminding us all how close we might be to darkness.
Learning about John’s experience reveals that those who work for justice can sometimes cross paths with extreme evil. It’s a reminder of the importance of empathy and vigilance in our communities.
For a deeper understanding, you can read more about criminology and justice systems at the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
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