BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania — The suspect in last month’s murder of four University of Idaho students at a Pennsylvania brewery was known to some employees for making “creepy” inappropriate remarks. said the business owner.
ever since Friday’s arrest of Brian Christopher Coberger In Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, some who knew or interacted with the 28-year-old are reflecting on that interaction in light of his arrest for a murder warrant. November 13th A student dies in Moscow, Idaho.
Jordan Serulneck, 34, owner of Bethlehem’s Seven Sirens Brewing Company, said Kohberger went to the brewery alone several times and sat at the bar.
The exchange at the brewery took place several months ago, Selneck said, and the suspect was likely a student at Desales University in the Center Valley, less than 6 miles (6 km) south of Bethlehem. may have beenCoburger Graduated from Desales According to the university, he will complete his bachelor’s degree in 2020 and graduate school in June 2022.
Serneck said the brewery had “quirky features” at times, but he remembered Koberger from his interactions with female patrons and staff.
Serulneck said Kohberger didn’t do anything in front of him or management, but said he would make comments if he was hushed or there was only one person working at the bar.
Staff added notes to the bar’s system that popped up when IDs were scanned, Serulneck said.
“The staff put in there, ‘Hey, this guy makes creepy comments, pay attention to him. Told.
According to Serulneck, Kohberger asks female staff and customers who they have been with at the brewery, where they live and what their work schedules were like. He said that if a woman blew him off, “he’d be a little mad at them,” and on one occasion called one of his staff members disparaging when she refused to answer his questions. He pointed out that he called her with a different word.
Koberger had not returned to the brewery since Selneck contacted him about a staff complaint several months ago, according to the owner.
“I walked up to him and said, ‘Hey Brian, welcome back.’ Thank you for coming back. …I just wanted to talk to you really quickly and this time be respectful and not cause any problems.” I wanted to make sure,” he said. He was shocked that I said that and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” you have completely confused me.
Coberger had a beer and left, he said.
“I am still worried about this”
Those who happen to meet the suspect are disturbed to learn that he has been charged with murder in Idaho.
After a snowstorm in early December, Coberger needed help clearing the snow from his car window.
“My husband went outside and realized he needed help,” she said, adding that another neighbor ended up helping Coberger.
The mother of two children said she recognized Coberger when she saw him in media reports on Friday, and the fear of living near the murder suspect weighed heavily on her.
“I don’t feel very safe living here,” he said on Saturday. “I don’t want to go out. I’m still worried about this.”
Koberger, a doctoral student, and BK Norton, a Washington State University student who took four courses, said they continued to attend classes through the end of the semester.
“Brian didn’t mention the murder or contribute to the conversation when we discussed it in class,” Norton said in an email. We were released from class to go home, and Brian was in class with us.”
Austin Morrison, a 22-year-old criminal justice major at Washington State University, said Koberger was his teaching assistant in his criminal law class last semester, grading papers and providing feedback on how to write good case briefings. said to have provided
“He was pretty quiet, didn’t talk much, sat next to him,” Morrison said Saturday.
But Mr Morrison warned Mr Koberger to let the judicial system handle the case before he sentenced him.
“Being a criminal justice major, I consider him innocent until proven guilty,” Morrison said. “That’s my stance.”
Suspect ‘shocked’ by arrest, public defender says
Monroe County’s chief public defender, Jason A. Laver, said in an interview Saturday that Koberger is “eager to be exonerated.”
Mr. Lover, who has represented the suspect in extraditions but has represented the suspect in murder cases, said he spoke with his client for about an hour on Friday after his arrest. “He was very conscious, but he was calm and really shocked by his arrest,” LaBar said.
He said Coberger intends to abandon Tuesday’s extradition hearing and move to Idaho. Madison Morgen, 21; Zana Karnodol, 20 years old. Cary Gonsalves, 21 years old.
Minyvonne Burke reported from Bethlehem and Deon J. Hampton reported from Pullman, Washington.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com