Bryan Kohberger, the man convicted of killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, must pay for the urns for two of the slain students as a part of restitution, a judge ruled.
Kohberger killed the four students — Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20 — at an off-campus house Nov. 13, 2022. He took a plea deal over the summer and was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences for four counts of first-degree murder and 10 years in prison for a burglary charge.
On Thursday, the anniversary of the slayings, an Ada County judge said Kohberger would be financially responsible for the urns for two of his victims — Goncalves and Mogen.
The total cost of the two urns is $3,075.58. Additionally, Kohberger has also been ordered to pay $251,227.50 in criminal fines and fees, a civil judgment of $20,000 to each family, and $31,964.67 in restitution orders to the families of Kernodle and Chapin.
A public defender listed for Kohberger did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling.
The ruling follows the already agreed-upon restitution that Kohberger would pay to the families of his victims, and after his defense team argued he should not be responsible for the urns because Kohberger will be in prison for the rest of his life and therefore does not have an opportunity to earn more money to cover extra expenses.
District Judge Steven Hippler wrote that the cost of the urns is considered a funeral expense, something Kohberger had already agreed to pay for under the plea agreement.
He also said that the additional cost for the urn "represents minimal additional burden on Defendant’s financial obligations in connection with this case" and that Kohberger has already received enough donations to cover the agreed-upon restitution.
Hippler added that he believes Kohberger will receive more donations over the course of his life that can cover the cost of the urns, and that he can also get a job in prison to earn more funds.
Also Thursday, the third anniversary of the students' brutal murders, tributes poured in remembering them.
The University of Idaho posted a slideshow of photos on Instagram that appeared to show a campus memorial dedicated to the four students.
"Forever in our hearts," the school wrote in the post's caption.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little wrote on X that the students' slayings "shook our state to its core."
"Idahoans continue to offer our love and support to the families and many, many loved ones of these four beautiful souls," Little added.
