Bryan Kohberger receives compensation in jail despite restitution claims: DA

FIRST ON FOX: Bryan Kohberger, a college student convicted of murder in Idaho, received “compensation” from his family and anonymous “third-party” supporters while behind bars, according to a new court filing opposing his legal team’s efforts to prevent him from paying the full restitution he owes.

In a motion filed earlier this month, Kohberger’s lawyers wrote that he “has no ability now or in the future to pay restitution as he is serving four consecutive life sentences plus 10 years.”

Prosecutors revealed in their response this week that “this defendant has already received financial compensation from his family and third parties.” In a sealed exhibit, they also included a summary of Kohberger’s cash flow at the Latah and Ada County jails.

IDAHO MURDER DOCUMENTS REVEAL VICTIM’S FEARS OF STALKING AND KOHBERGER’S “INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR” AT SCHOOL

Madison Mogen, above left, smiles on the shoulders of her best friend, Kaylee Goncalves, as they pose with Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and two other roommates in Goncalves’ latest Instagram post, shared the day before the four students were stabbed to death. (@kayleegoncalves/Instagram)

As part of his plea deal to avoid the death penalty, Kohberger agreed to pay more than $250,000 in criminal fines and costs, as well as an additional $20,000 in civil judgments per family, to the parents of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.

His lawyers argued earlier this month that he should not have to pay about $20,000 more to Goncalves’ parents or nearly $7,000 more to Mogen’s mother, Karen Laramie, for travel and lodging expenses requested by the prosecution.

Read the deposit:

“The additional funds requested are not considered an economic loss under Idaho Code 19-5304 because Steve, Kristi Goncalves and Karen Larmie (sic) received significant funds through several GoFundMe campaigns that specifically requested and covered the expenses sought,” attorneys Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth and Bicka Barlow wrote in a court filing.

KOHBERGER’S ATTORNEYS SAYS the victims’ families have already received enough money through Gofundme donations.

Questions were also asked about whether Kohberger would eventually break his silence on the matter. He is a former student of the eminent forensic psychologist Dr. Katherine Ramsland, who has written a number of books about serial killers, based on in-depth interviews with them.

Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse for his sentencing hearing Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho, for brutally stabbing to death four University of Idaho students nearly three years ago. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, swimming pool)

She previously told Fox News Digital that she would be willing to tell Kohberger’s story if he shared it with her.

If Kohberger ends up speaking out, he likely won’t be able to profit from it, Fox News Digital reported earlier this year. Like New York’s 1977 “Son of Sam” law, Idaho has legislation that helps prevent criminals from making money by detailing their offenses.

Maryann Kohberger, (wearing sunglasses) mother of Bryan Kohberger, with her daughter Amanda Kohberger, leaves the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Both men were present at Bryan Kohberger’s sentencing for the murders of four University of Idaho students in November 2022. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

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Under Idaho law, if a criminal signs an agreement to profit from telling their crime story — including through a film, book or magazine article — the proceeds first go to the state treasurer to be sent to an escrow account. Victims or their families, who must be informed, can claim the money in civil proceedings within five years.

Bryan Kohberger is currently serving four consecutive life sentences, plus 10 years, at the Idaho State Correctional Complex in Kuna, Idaho, pictured here on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

Sophia Compton of Fox News contributed to this report.