Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders – Pappa Rodgers explained

Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders is a new documentary series exploring the dangerous role of social media in the Idaho college murder case, ending with a revelation about Pappa Rodgers – but who is he?

The arrival of Netflix’s Making a Murderer in 2015 undoubtedly marked a shift in the true crime craze. Rather than serving as mere spectators, viewers became active participants in the case as it unfolded both on and off screen. 

Running alongside it is the rise in social media. Arguably none have changed the true crime landscape quite as much as TikTok, allowing users to actively engage with content – and, in some cases, launch investigations of their own. The world witnessed this to the highest scale when four students at the University of Idaho – Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen – were brutally killed at their shared home on November 13, 2022. 

In the days that followed, as the police worked hard to find the perpetrator, leading them to Bryan Kohberger, TikTok true crime fans were sent into a frenzy. The new Paramount Plus documentary series looks at the case, and asks the question: does internet sleuthing do more harm than good?

Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders – Pappa Rodgers explained

As is explained in Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders, Pappa Rodgers is an alias used by a social media user who speculated about the Idaho murders before Kohberger was caught. While some online sleuths believed the account belonged to Kohberger, now many think JLR Investigates is behind it. 

In Episode 1, it’s revealed that the Facebook user Pappa Rodgers shared a message on the University of Idaho Murders – Case Discussion group stating: “Of the evidence released, the murder weapon has been consistent as a large fixed-blade knife. This leads me to believe they found the sheath. This evidence was released prior to autopsies.”

This was one of many messages they shared in the group, but this stood out as it was shared before authorities made public that they had found a knife sheath at the scene of the crime. TikToker Jenna Canella says in the series that Rodgers “had a lot of inside intel.”

After Kohberger was arrested in connection with the crime on December 30, 2022, Rodgers’ account stopped posting. Now, there could be many reasons for this, but the cybersleuths went into overdrive, with many convinced Kohberger was the one behind the Pappa Rodgers alias. They also suggested that the fake profile image resembled Kohberger. 

Paramount+

However, the Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders ending shows that in summer last year, Pappa Rodgers’ account was reactivated. “I’m angry that I can’t even have a break without people talking smack about me,” they wrote, before going into detail about a recent fishing trip they’d been on. Once again, this sent spectators into overdrive, causing yet another social media storm within the true crime community. 

This time, they theorized that JLR Investigates – a former fraud felon who now posts true crime content – is behind the Pappa Rodgers account. While this is pure speculation, this final scene demonstrates how fickle the online community can be. Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders not only expresses concern that fake theories and rumors can hinder police investigations, but they can also help perpetrators by allowing the defense to create a case that causes reasonable doubt. 

As stated by crime and social media journalist Kathleen Hale, “Many sleuths can cause a lot of chaos,” adding, “If sleuths really do want to help, they should focus their attention on quietly accruing evidence and sharing that evidence with police rather than perpetuating rumors.”

Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders is available to stream on Paramount Plus now.