Murder in Mind | Forensic Files

Brian, since he was a small child, had grown up in the Grand Junction community. His family lived out in the
Redlands area, which is a nice upper middle income area of our town. >> My name is Kellen Pyer. I'm a former
classmate of Brian Kohi. I grew up here in Grand Junction. When I was about 8, we moved up to the Redlands. Um, and
that's when I started going to Broadway Elementary, which is where I met Brian. Brian lived in a similar part of the
Redlands to me. All the people knew each other. It was very nice living there. You always kind of felt supported. You
kind of felt like you knew all your neighbors. It always felt like you could always reach out for help. People often
brought each other cookies, treats for the holidays. So, it felt very, you know, tightknit.
>> Brian Khi's family seemed normal. They seemed like they had normal, steady jobs.
His mom ran a daycare out of the basement of our home. His father worked in construction.
His parents were separating. And they were living in two homes, not very far from each other. He lived
primarily with his mother, but he frequented his father's home. >> Brian's mannerisms in elementary school
were a little bit uh strange. He seemed to exaggerate his movements a little bit. He spoke very loud, often times
would over pronunciate his words. >> Brian Kohi's mother was reporting that he had mild autism. From the time he was
very little, she was reaching out for help, trying to have him assessed, and trying to get him the right help.
>> I would definitely say that Brian seemed to lack social awareness. Um, often times it felt like he didn't necessarily
know where bounds were supposed to be or maybe he felt like pushing on those bounds was the best way to get
attention.

Are killers born or made? Murder in Mind explores the psychology behind why people kill.

Brief Summary

Kellen Pyer reflects on Brian Kohi's childhood, family dynamics, and experiences with autism in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Key points

A Tight-Knit Community. Kellen reminisces about the supportive nature of the Grand Junction community.
Brian's Unique Mannerisms. Kellen notes Brian's exaggerated movements and loud speech in elementary school.
Brian's Autism Diagnosis. Brian's mother sought help for his mild autism from a young age.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

It always felt like you could always reach out for help.

Kellen reflects on the supportive community in Grand Junction.

0:37WatchOct 15, 2025

More from True Crime Files

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.