Bryan Kohberger Reported Four Mental Health Diagnoses Before Guilty Plea, Court Filing Says
Waiver obtained by media outlet indicates autism, OCD, ADHD and an eating disorder were diagnosed months before Kohberger pleaded guilty in the Idaho killings case
Bryan Kohberger wrote in a mental competency waiver that he had been diagnosed with four mental health disorders in the months before he pleaded guilty to the killings of four University of Idaho students, according to a report citing the document.
The waiver, obtained by the New York Post and reported by Fox News, states that Kohberger was diagnosed in February 2025 with "autism (level 1)," obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Kohberger, 30, completed the form before entering a guilty plea in July 2025, the report said. He also noted in the filing that he was taking levothyroxine, a prescription medication used to treat hypothyroidism.
Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 in exchange for prosecutors dropping a pursuit of the death penalty in the fatal stabbings nearly three years earlier. He appeared in court for a sentencing hearing in Ada County on July 23, 2025.
The competency waiver is part of the broader court record for a case that drew national attention and extensive law enforcement scrutiny. The document was filed as the defense and prosecution moved through plea negotiations and pre-sentencing procedures that culminated in Kohberger's admission of guilt on multiple counts related to the killings.
Autism spectrum disorder level 1 is generally classified as a form of autism in which an individual may need some support but does not require substantial assistance for daily functioning, while OCD and ADHD are psychiatric conditions that can affect behavior and attention. ARFID is an eating disorder characterized by restrictive eating that is not driven by concerns about body image. Levothyroxine is commonly prescribed to replace or supplement thyroid hormone in people with hypothyroidism.
Court filings that discuss mental health, competency or medication can influence pretrial proceedings and sentencing, though the presence of diagnoses in a waiver does not itself determine legal outcomes. Defense attorneys often assess competency to plead and any potential impacts on criminal responsibility or mitigation during sentencing, while prosecutors evaluate the evidentiary and legal significance of such claims.
The Idaho police previously released hundreds of investigative photographs from the case as part of records disclosed during litigation, and those materials have been referenced in media coverage and court proceedings. The guilty plea resolved a high-profile prosecution that followed a lengthy investigation into the deaths of four University of Idaho students.
Officials in the case have not released comprehensive medical details beyond what appears in court filings, and public reporting has relied on documents obtained by media organizations. Further information about Kohberger's diagnoses, treatment history or evaluations would be contained in sealed medical and court records or disclosed at the discretion of the parties and the court.
Prosecutors and defense counsel continue to manage remaining procedural matters related to sentencing and records. The case has raised questions about the role of mental health in criminal proceedings and about how courts balance transparency with privacy when mental health information becomes part of the public docket.