Bryan Kohberger’s 'Resting Killer Face': Can the Defense Overcome Juror Bias?
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
True Crime Today
3.3 • 907 Ratings
🗓️ 1 July 2025
⏱️ 15 minutes
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Summary
Bryan Kohberger’s 'Resting Killer Face': Can the Defense Overcome Juror Bias?
As Bryan Kohberger’s high-profile murder trial approaches, much of the discussion centers not just around evidence and legal strategies, but around Kohberger’s own unsettling courtroom presence. Described by some observers as a 'resting killer face,' his cold, emotionless demeanor has sparked significant concern about its potential impact on jurors. Unlike defendants who naturally evoke sympathy or relatability, Kohberger appears detached, almost robotic—an image his defense attributes to potential autism-spectrum traits or inherent social awkwardness.
But can the defense effectively counteract jurors' instinctive reactions to such a cold presentation? Retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke, a behavioral expert and former Chief of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, examines this challenge in depth. Robin highlights the severe risks involved in attempting to artificially change Kohberger’s demeanor, cautioning that jurors are highly sensitive to disingenuous behaviors and quickly pick up on emotional manipulation.
Instead, Robin suggests a far subtler, more authentic strategy: openly acknowledging Kohberger’s unsettling demeanor upfront, providing jurors with a framework to interpret his emotional detachment. Could explaining his natural demeanor help neutralize its negative impact, reducing jurors’ instinctive bias and suspicion?
Drawing on extensive experience analyzing human behaviors under pressure—both in criminal cases and undercover FBI operations—Robin details the psychological nuances jurors subconsciously consider. He also compares Kohberger’s demeanor with other infamous defendants, emphasizing how personality and social skills significantly shape jury perceptions.
Listeners will gain fresh insights into why courtroom demeanor matters deeply, how subtle behaviors significantly influence jury decision-making, and why the battle for justice often hinges on perceptions formed in the courtroom rather than solely on evidence. This episode reveals why Kohberger’s greatest challenge might ultimately be himself—and how skillfully addressing juror bias may determine the trial’s outcome.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is the Hidden Killers podcast with Tony Bruske and continuing coverage of the case against |
| 0:06.2 | Brian Koberger. Throughout the unfolding saga of the Brian Koberger trial, we've all seen |
| 0:12.8 | countless strategic moves, some tactical, others desperate, and many somewhere in between. |
| 0:19.4 | But as we approach the courtroom showdown, one critical aspect remains a mystery. |
| 0:24.8 | How will Brian Koberger himself come across to the jury? |
| 0:29.9 | To date, he's maintained a stoic, cold presence during preliminary hearings. |
| 0:35.4 | A demeanor, his defense team attributes to autism, or to put it bluntly, resting |
| 0:40.0 | emotionless face, or resting bitch face. |
| 0:47.0 | Depending how you look at it or call it. |
| 0:49.8 | But whatever the reason, juries are human. |
| 0:52.8 | And humans respond strongly to emotional cues or lack |
| 0:56.0 | thereof. It raises the question. Could Koberger's own personality inadvertently become his |
| 1:00.9 | worst enemy in court? Recently, we've witnessed the judge firmly dismissing various defense |
| 1:06.9 | motions from denying the trial to, from delaying the trial to introducing alternate suspects, |
| 1:12.7 | signaling a clear intent to move forward swiftly. |
| 1:16.6 | Now, with a few cards left to play, the defense might need to address Koberger's unsettling courtroom |
| 1:21.9 | presence head on, either by explaining his mannerisms or even trying to coach him on display more relatable behaviors. |
| 1:32.4 | But isn't that, is it a bit much? |
| 1:35.5 | Is it even realistic? |
| 1:36.4 | Can you truly coach someone to appear more human, empathetic, or at least relatable? |
| 1:43.5 | Especially in the pressure cooker environment of a murder trial? |
| 1:49.4 | Or as our guest today argues, is attempting to mask your true self a dangerous and untimely, |
... |
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