Brian Koberger’s attorney is set to present arguments today in an Idaho courtroom, seeking to reduce the restitution amount following his guilty plea in the highly publicized quadruple murder case. The claim is that the families of the victims shouldn’t be entitled to the full amount since they received donations through GoFundMe.
This hearing is scheduled for noon ET.
In contrast, prosecutors assert that Koberger has a history of receiving financial support while incarcerated, suggesting that any funds should be allocated to the victims’ families. The disputed restitution totals approximately $27,000, which is intended for Kaylee Gonsalves’ parents and Madison Morgen’s mother to cover travel and related expenses incurred during Koberger’s legal proceedings.
Koberger infamously killed Gonsalves and Morgen along with their roommate, Zana Kernodle, and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, in a rented house in Moscow, Idaho.
It remains unclear how Koberger has funded his prison commissary. Supporters have claimed, through social media, that they sent money while he was incarcerated. Prosecutors have submitted Koberger’s prison financial records under seal for the court’s consideration.
A former NYPD officer, who has monitored the case, indicated that some of the funds might have originated from female supporters, while a larger portion could be linked to media entities interested in securing interviews.
Koberger has not shared his side of the story and has stated he would “respectfully decline” any opportunity to speak during sentencing. Some speculate that there could be considerable financial offers for him to break his silence.
If he does eventually decide to share his narrative, he likely won’t see any profits from it. Idaho’s laws prevent criminals from monetizing their stories, similar to New York’s “Son of Sam” law. In Idaho, any earnings from such storytelling go to the state treasurer and are transferred to an escrow account, allowing victims and their families to potentially seek compensation through civil litigation within five years.
According to Koberger’s plea agreement intended to avoid the death penalty, he is responsible for over $250,000 in criminal fines and fees, as well as an additional $20,000 for each victim’s family in civil judgments. Last month, attorneys argued against paying Gonsalves’ parents any further amounts, stating they had already received significant funds from various GoFundMe campaigns which covered the costs being claimed.
The filing from Koberger’s attorneys read, “The additional funds sought do not constitute economic loss under Idaho Statute 19-5304 because Steve and Kristy Gonsalves and Karen Larmy received significant funds through multiple GoFundMe campaigns that specifically requested and covered the requested expenses.”
