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Bryan Kohberger's staggering prison slush fund is revealed as prosecutors demand he give money to Idaho victims' families Sign up to The Crime Desk newsletter HERE By RACHEL SHARP, CRIME CORRESPONDENT Published: 18:44 GMT, 5 November 2025 | Updated: 18:46 GMT, 5 November 2025 Idaho prosecutors are arguing that the families of Bryan Kohberger's victims should be able to access money he makes from movies or books about the case - as the killer's staggering prison fund has been revealed. In a remote court hearing on November 5, Ada County Judge Steven Hippler revealed that the 30-year-old criminology PhD student has received 'five figures' in donations in the less than three years he has been behind bars since his arrest. The exact amount - and who these mystery donors are - is not clear as the details remain sealed. Kohberger's defense attorney Elissa Massoth argued that a lot of the money had come from his own family so that they could 'have communication with their son and brother' in prison. However, it costs only around 10 cents a message and 25 cents a minute for inmates to make calls from Ada County Jail, where Kohberger was housed while awaiting trial. The hearing came as Kohberger's defense attorneys and Idaho prosecutors continue to spar over what the killer should have to pay the families of the four University of Idaho students he murdered. In recent court filings, Kohberger's lawyers argued he should not have to pay additional restitution because the families received donations through GoFundMe campaigns and because he has no potential future income in prison. Meanwhile, prosecutors argued Kohberger has been receiving significant amounts of money while in prison which should go to the victims' families. Bryan Kohberger is seen at his sentencing in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23 Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen (left) and young couple Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle (right) were murdered by Kohberger Judge Hippler did not issue a ruling during the hearing, taking the matter under advisement but appeared unconvinced by the defense's argument that he can't afford to pay up. Kohberger waived his right to appear at the hearing, declining to join even in a remote capacity from Idaho's Maximum Security Prison in Kuna - the facility he now calls home. He slaughtered her son in cold blood. But mom of Idaho murder victim reveals why she is happy NEVER knowing Bryan Kohberger's motive The hearing came just one week ahead of the third anniversary of the November 13, 2022, murders, and marked the first court appearance in the case since Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison this summer. The 30-year-old criminology PhD student broke into an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, and stabbed 21-year-old best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen and 20-year-old couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin to death. Two roommates - Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen - survived. Kohberger - who lived just 10 minutes away across the state border in Pullman, Washington, at the time - was arrested around six weeks later at his parents' home in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania. The killer had no known connection to the victims and has refused to reveal his motive for the attack. In July, he pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. As part of a plea deal reached with prosecutors, Kohberger was spared from the death penalty and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole and waived all right to appeal. Photos have been revealed for the first time of the key piece of evidence (pictured) that led to Bryan Kohberger being unmasked as the murderer of four University of Idaho students Under the terms of the plea deal, Kohberger agreed that the prosecution could seek restitution for the families to cover funeral expenses and other expenses paid to them through the Idaho Crime Victim Compensation Fund. At his sentencing, Judge Steven Hippler ordered Kohberger to pay restitution of: $251,227.50 in criminal fines and fees to the state, $20,000 civil judgment for each of the families and $28,956.88 to reimburse the families for funeral expenses and other expenses through the Idaho Crime Victim Compensation Fund. On September 22, the state filed a motion seeking an additional $20,409.32 for Goncalves's parents Kristi and Steve Goncalves and $6,920.32 for Mogen's mother Karen Laramie, related to travel and accommodation, as well as urns for the best friends' remains. But in Wednesday's hearing, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson admitted that his team made a mistake at the time of the plea deal by not requiring Kohberger to pay compensation to the victims' families to cover the costs of travel and accommodation to attend court proceedings. He said he mistakenly believed the Crime Victims Compensation Fund would cover the costs of travel and accommodation for the families. He later learned it does not. Judge Hippler called this a 'unilateral mistake' and said he cannot enforce additional restitution not covered in the plea agreement. 'Plea agreements are interpreted as contracts,' he said. Thompson said the state is now no longer seeking reimbursement for those travel expenses. Kohberger broke into 1122 King Road and stabbed he four students to death back on November 13, 2022 Prosecutors are however still seeking reimbursement for funeral expenses, in particular the urns for Goncalves and Mogen, to a value of $3,075.58. Yet, the defense is fighting against these expenses too - claiming Kohberger simply cannot afford the previously agreed restitution and has no potential future income to pay. Incredible secret DNA weapon that nailed Bryan Kohberger... and how no criminal can hide again In response, Thompson asked the judge to ensure the victims' families would be able to claim this compensation from any future money Kohberger comes into - such as through selling his story in a movie or book deal. Massoth insisted there is 'no movie or book in the works' by Kohberger or any member of his family, rubbishing the possibility as 'speculation'. She also argued that Kohberger can never profit from sharing his story due to Idaho's 'Son of Sam'-type law which 'specifically precludes that'. But Judge Hippler argued the law could be open to interpretation, saying that if there is no outstanding debt owed to the victims' families it is possible the money could go to the defendant. Also, if Kohberger's family members were to profit from the case themselves, they could use this money to contribute to his inmate funds. While he did not rule on the matter, the judge appeared unconvinced by the defense's claims about his lack of future potential income - whether from selling his story or family inheritance - pointing to 'history' of Kohberger receiving 'significant' funds amounting to 'five figures' while in prison. At one point, he also questioned whether the defense was violating the plea deal by arguing the families cannot receive what they are owed. Left to right: Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke The latest legal fight in the case comes as investigative records and court documents continue to be released in the case. Among the latest documents, photos were revealed for the first time of the key piece of evidence that led to Kohberger's capture. Kohberger left a brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath behind at the crime scene after stabbing the four victims. It was this crucial piece of evidence that led to the killer’s downfall, as forensic genetic genealogy traced DNA on the sheath to the 30-year-old criminology PhD student. Kohberger bought the sheath and a Ka-Bar knife believed to be the murder weapon from Amazon in March 2022. The knife has never been found. At his sentencing on July 23, he refused the opportunity to speak, to reveal what he did with the murder weapon or his motive for his crimes. Now, the killer is serving his sentence inside Idaho's maximum security prison where he has already filed multiple complaints about his fellow inmates. Idaho MurdersBryan KohbergerIdaho Share or comment on this article: Bryan Kohberger's staggering prison slush fund is revealed as prosecutors demand he give money to Idaho victims' families Add comment
