(NewsNation) — Police in Washington state discussed a research assistant application submitted to them by Bryan Kohberger months before his arrest for the murders of four Idaho students but decided internally that they wouldn’t speak about it because of a gag order.
Messages between former Pullman Police Chief Jake Opgenorth and administrative assistant Darby Baldwin revealed talks on how to handle a potential fallout from Kohberger’s application to the police’s fellowship program.
The messages were part of a document released by Pullman authorities related to the investigation into Kohberger, who was sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing four Idaho college students in 2022.
Kohberger was a graduate student at Washington State University in Pullman at the time of the murders, and authorities there have been a part of the investigation.
“People are definitely picking up on the fact that Kohberger applied to be our research fellow. I already forwarded you a couple of media inquiries specific to that (I assume the gag order isn’t relevant since it’s not part of the criminal case), but I am also seeing buzz about it on social media,” Baldwin wrote to Opgenorth.
He replied, “We were not talking to media, just playing it safe with the gag order.”
Baldwin replied, “Copy. So it’s ok for me to come up with a canned response for those inquiries?”
The exchange then shows that the matter was to be handled by the city attorney’s office.
Days before Kohberger’s sentencing hearing, a judge lifted a gag order that had been on the case for years.
Pullman records showed that Kohberger emailed with the Pullman chief of police about a graduate research assistant position.
He interviewed for the position on April 12, 2022, seven months before the killings in Idaho.
In an email to former Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins, Kohberger wrote, “It was a great pleasure to meet with you today and share my thoughts and excitement regarding the research assistantship for public safety.”