, an Idaho state judge ruled that convicted killer Bryan Kohberger must reimburse about $3,000 to the families of two University of Idaho students for the urns that hold their daughters’ ashes. The order follows a prosecutor request at a recent hearing to add the urn costs to restitution tied to Kohberger’s guilty plea in the November 2022 murders. Judge Steven Hippler wrote that Kohberger can obtain funds through future donations or prison employment to satisfy the obligation. The ruling supplements the larger restitution obligations already set by the plea agreement.
Key Takeaways
- Idaho Judge Steven Hippler ordered Kohberger to reimburse roughly $3,000 for two victims’ urns; the decision was issued on Nov. 14, 2025.
- The restitution request followed a prosecutor motion seeking funeral-related costs for Kaylee Goncalves and Maddie Mogen.
- Kohberger previously agreed in a plea deal to avoid the death penalty by pleading guilty to the Nov. 2022 killings of Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Maddie Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.
- The plea agreement already requires Kohberger to pay more than $30,000 in restitution; the urn costs are additional to that amount.
- Judge Hippler noted Kohberger had amassed nearly $29,000 in donations since his arrest but said future donations and prison wages could be used to meet obligations.
- Defense attorneys argued Kohberger lacked the funds to pay the extra restitution, while the judge found it foreseeable he could earn money or receive donations over time.
Background
The slayings occurred in November 2022 in Moscow, Idaho, when four University of Idaho students—Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Maddie Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves—were fatally stabbed in their residence. The case drew national attention, prompting a cross-country manhunt after the nighttime murders shocked the college community and the nation. Investigators later arrested Bryan Kohberger, who was charged in connection with the killings and held in custody while the investigation and litigation progressed.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys eventually negotiated a plea arrangement that removed the prospect of capital punishment in exchange for guilty pleas; as part of that agreement Kohberger accepted substantial restitution obligations exceeding $30,000. Since his arrest, Kohberger’s jail account and related donation activity became a focal point in hearings over whether he could be required to cover additional funeral expenses. Families of the victims and victims’ advocates have pressed for restitution that addresses a range of costs tied to the deaths.
Main Event
At a hearing last month, prosecutors asked the court to require Kohberger to reimburse families approximately $3,000 for the urns that contain the ashes of Kaylee Goncalves and Maddie Mogen. The judge considered evidence of Kohberger’s recent financial history, including donations and amounts in his jail-managed account. Defense counsel countered that Kohberger lacks liquid assets beyond already-assessed restitution and that many funds tied to his account were provided by family members for commissary and communication costs.
In a written opinion, Judge Hippler acknowledged Kohberger had received nearly $29,000 in donations since his arrest and noted that much of that came from family members. The judge reasoned that while those funds may not currently be accessible to Kohberger, future contributions and the possibility of prison employment create a realistic path to meeting the extra funeral-related obligation. Hippler pointed to Kohberger’s youth and limited prison needs as factors making future compliance foreseeable.
Practically, the order means the families may seek reimbursement through the mechanisms set out in the judgment, and the court retains authority to enforce payments as prison wages or future donations materialize. The ruling does not change the larger restitution totals set by the plea agreement but explicitly adds the urn costs as payable items. Court clerks and victim services will likely oversee application of payments toward the specified funeral expenses.
Analysis & Implications
The judge’s decision highlights the court’s broad view of restitution reach: even modest funeral costs can be added to a defendant’s financial obligations when tied directly to victim losses. Legally, judges often balance present inability to pay against reasonable future prospects for payment; here the court accepted donations and potential prison earnings as plausible sources. That sets a precedent for courts assessing restitution where a defendant has demonstrated some capacity to receive funds while incarcerated.
For victims’ families, the ruling offers a degree of formal recognition and financial redress for tangible funeral expenses, though it does not erase emotional loss. The supplementary $3,000 is small compared with the full restitution sum but symbolically significant: courts can and will itemize burial and memorial costs even after a plea. The decision may encourage prosecutors to seek narrow, concrete expense items in future restitution petitions.
From a corrections-policy perspective, the ruling underscores how prison wages and outside donations can be applied to legal financial obligations. Many jurisdictions permit application of commissary accounts or wages to pay restitution; courts must ensure that ordering such payments does not run afoul of statutory protections or the inmate’s basic subsistence. This case could prompt renewed scrutiny of jail-donation rules and communication-payment practices that indirectly fund inmates.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Amount (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Donations amassed since arrest | $29,000 |
| Urn reimbursement ordered | $3,000 |
| Restitution already set in plea deal | > $30,000 |
The table above summarizes the principal financial figures cited by the court. Context matters: the nearly $29,000 figure reflects a mixture of public and family-sourced contributions held in accounts tied to Kohberger since his arrest. The court did not find those funds fully available for restitution today but determined the defendant’s likelihood of receiving future funds or wages made the urn reimbursement order reasonable. This contrasts with cases where judges have deferred payments entirely when defendants have zero realistic income sources while incarcerated.
Reactions & Quotes
Prosecutors argued the urn costs were a concrete, compensable loss for the families and asked the court to add the amount to the restitution ledger. Their motion emphasized victims’ dignity and the need to cover funeral-related expenses.
“We sought restitution for specific funeral costs because those are concrete losses suffered by the families,”
Prosecutor (hearing)
Defense attorneys stressed Kohberger’s lack of accessible funds and warned that imposing further immediate financial demands could be impractical given the realities of incarceration. They noted that much of the money recorded as donations was provided by family members for communication and necessities.
“The defendant does not currently have the means to satisfy additional restitution beyond what was already ordered,”
Defense counsel (court filing)
Judge Hippler framed his ruling around foreseeable future means to pay, pointing to donations and potential prison employment as legitimate paths to meet the obligation over time.
“Given his limited needs in prison and his youth, it is foreseeable that through employment and donations, Defendant may receive sufficient amounts…to at least come close to meeting his financial restitution obligations,”
Judge Steven Hippler (written ruling)
Unconfirmed
- Exact breakdown of the nearly $29,000 in donations (how much was public vs. family-provided) remains unclear from court filings released publicly.
- It is not confirmed how quickly prison employment or future donations will materialize to satisfy the added urn reimbursement; timing and amounts are uncertain.
Bottom Line
The court’s order requires Bryan Kohberger to reimburse roughly $3,000 for two victims’ urns, adding a narrow but concrete item to a larger restitution package tied to his guilty pleas in the November 2022 murders. Judge Hippler’s rationale rests on foreseeable future access to funds—through donations and potential prison wages—rather than immediate liquidity.
While financially modest relative to total restitution already imposed, the decision underscores how courts can enforce specific funeral-related costs and how outside contributions and inmate work factor into enforcement. Families gain a formal avenue for reimbursement; regulators and corrections officials may face renewed attention on donation practices and how jail-held funds are allocated toward victims’ losses.
Sources
- CNN — news report (CNN)