Attorneys for Bryan Kohberger have reignited the Kohberger restitution dispute, urging a judge to waive additional payments requested by victims’ families. The defense argues that the families already received substantial financial support from nationwide GoFundMe donations.
Kohberger, a former criminology Ph.D. student convicted of killing four University of Idaho students. Also, previously agreed to pay over $250,000 in fines and fees. His plea deal also included $20,000 per family in civil judgments for the parents of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
However, prosecutors recently sought nearly $27,000 more in travel and lodging reimbursements for two of the families. Kohberger’s legal team responded by stating that these additional expenses do not qualify as economic losses under Idaho law. They cited three separate GoFundMe campaigns that collectively raised over $200,000 to help cover such costs.
In court filings, defense attorneys Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth, and Bicka Barlow emphasized Kohberger’s lifelong inability to pay. They noted he is serving four consecutive life sentences plus ten years, making further restitution unrealistic. The Kohberger restitution dispute centers on whether victims’ families can seek reimbursement for expenses already covered by public donations.
The filings revealed that one campaign raised more than $73,000 for both Goncalves and Mogen. Another generated $48,815 for travel to court hearings, and a third secured $85,583 for the Goncalves family’s expenses. Defense lawyers argued that accepting further restitution would amount to double compensation for the same purpose.
The victims’ families, who have attended every major court appearance since Kohberger’s arrest, maintain that emotional and financial recovery remains ongoing. They argue that no donation could truly cover the trauma endured since the 2022 murders.
Kohberger pleaded guilty in July, just weeks before his death penalty trial was scheduled to begin. The plea deal ensured he would spend the rest of his life in prison without parole.
As the Kohberger restitution dispute continues, the court must now determine whether GoFundMe proceeds can legally offset restitution owed by a convicted murderer. The ruling could set a precedent for future high-profile criminal cases involving public donations.
