Bryan Kohberger fights to withhold money from victims’ families

Bryan Kohberger reaped tens of thousands of dollars from his deranged supporters and his family after he was charged with slaughtering four Idaho college students in their sleep — and now he’s fighting to keep the cash from his victims’ families.

Kohberger agreed to pay around $27,000 of restitution to the families of his victims when he pleaded guilty to fatally knifing four University of Idaho Undergrads in a sick, premeditated attack.

Prosecutors asked for more money to pay for “additional funeral expenses” for the victims, particularly the urns containing their cremated remains.

Kohberger’s attorney argued he simply doesn’t have the cash.

But, Ada County Judge Steven Hippler didn’t seem convinced, saying that Kohberger had received “five figures” from family and supporters before he filed the plea.

The killer’s attorney, Emily Massoth, claimed that money had gone to expenses while in jail, including fees for calls with his family.

“What’s the point of the plea agreement if you’re not going to be bound by it?” Hippler said, asking if Kohberger’s defense had agreed to the number simply to dodge the death penalty while knowing full well he couldn’t pay it.

Hipper and Massoth quibbled over the specific language of the plea agreement, state codes, and “Son of Sam” laws barring Kohberger from profiting from future movies or books — but her point was simple: Kohberger doesn’t have the cash to pay the families.

Hippler ended the hearing pending judgment at a future date.