Idaho – Bryan Kohberger, the man who , has entered into a legal argument regarding the financial restitution he owes to the families whose children he murdered and the state of Idaho, which represented them.
One possible outcome of the civil case, suggested by the prosecutors, is that the state and families would receive any money Kohberger might make as a result of any films, books or other media produced based on his case.
In documents filed on July 23, 2025, Kohberger’s defense and the representatives for the state and the victims’ families agreed that Kohberger would pay $28,956.88 to cover expenses related to funerals for the four students and the cost of travel for the victim’s families to attend court hearings.
On September 19, 2025, the prosecutors filed a document asking for additional restitutions: $20,409.32 for Steve and Kristi Goncalves and $6,920.32 for Karen Laramie. The support for their request was in a sealed document.
Kohberger’s defense team filed documents days later, arguing that the additional payments were not valid.
The defense argued that the additional restitution was filed too late. It also argued that the funds did not qualify as economic loss because the expenses they were meant to cover were already covered by GoFundMe campaigns managed by the families.
The defense referred to a GoFundMe campaign for Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, two of the students Kohberger murdered, which raised $73,493, as well as another GoFundMe campaign called “Help Maddie’s Family Attend the Idaho Trial,” which raised $48,815.
Because the families had already raised the funds to cover expenses related to travel to the trial for their children’s murderer, “the request should be denied because neither family suffered an economic loss for that which the State seeks reimbursement,” argued the defense.
Additionally, the defense also argued that Kohberger had no ability to pay the funds because he is serving four consecutive life sentences plus ten years.
The defense included an acknowledgement that “under Idaho law, [Kohberger] will never be able to profit by way of book, movie, or entertainment of any kind.”
The state of Idaho, which represents itself and the families in the civil case against Kohberger, responded to the defense’s arguments in court documents filed October 20, 2025.
The response argued that the request for additional restitution is allowed under Kohberger’s plea agreement.
It also argued that, because the GoFundMe campaigns raised third-party funds from people who donated from “voluntary generosity” rather than “legal obligations,” the financial hardship still affected the victim’s families, qualifying them for restitution.
Recognizing Kohberger’s financial obligation to the families “is also supported by public policy consideration focusing on making the victims of crime whole for a defendant’s criminal conduct rather than accounting for the victim’s good fortune in receiving community support,” argued the state.
The State also filed a summary of financial contributions made to Kohberger while he was in custody and argued that he might still earn money from the case’s “world -wide attention.”
“The victims should have ready access to these assets for the satisfaction of their losses,” the State said.
The exhibit listing Kohberger’s financial contribution was sealed by the court.
The hearing regarding Kohberger’s civil case and his potential added restitution to the State and the family was scheduled for November 5, 2025 under Judge Steven Hippler, who presided over Kohberger;s criminal sentencing.
