Bryan Kohberger's plea deal for the murder of four Idaho college students has led some to object to unsealing court documents that would identify potential witnesses in the trial. Kohberger pled guilty to the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were brutally killed in their Moscow, Idaho college home on November 13, 2022.
He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole on July 23 and waived his right to appeal. Now, as the case is prepared to be unsealed, both the State and defense in Kohberger's trial objected to witness names, addresses and contact information being revealed with concerns of 'unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.'
'Although Defendant has now pled guilty and been sentenced for the crimes, the parties note that the case remains subject to intense media scrutiny,' court documents viewed by The Daily Mail stated. 'Consequently, the parties anticipate that revealing the identities of the witnesses will constitute an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."'
The motion noted that witnesses who had already been identified had been subject to 'harassment, threats, stalking and other concerning behaviors by the public and media,' including roommate Bethany Funke who survived the murders. Further information on any witnesses role in the case and trial were requested by the court. Objections by the State, filed on Monday, said that 'a number of individuals' who were associated with the case 'were identified then subsequently harassed, stalked, and threatened by members of the public.'
Most of the 'threatening' behavior, the objection stated, occurred on social media, but reports of certain individuals involved in the trial being 'physically followed and surveilled' came to light. The State's objection noted one instance involving trespassing and vandalism, as well as another suspect who was 'inaccurately named' on social media. According to the objection, the individual endured extensive harassment online which resulted in a defamation lawsuit.
The lawsuit arose after a professor from the university was accused of an 'extramarital, same-sexual identity, romantic affair' with one of the victims, and then 'ordered the murders to prevent the affair from coming to light.' Professor Rebecca Scofield sued Ashley Guillard on two counts of defamation after Guillard posted 'over 100 sensational TikTok's' and later YouTube videos detailing the string of accusations. Scofield claimed she had never even met the four students and sent Guillard cease and desist letters, which were ignored, according to the filing. 'These circumstances combine to demonstrate that Defendant's social media postings were primarily self-serving, motivated by online viral attention, and made with an extremely harmful state of mind given the nature of the statements about Plaintiff,' the filing stated.
'Due to this harassment, stalking and threatening behavior, previously identified individuals have had to take extraordinary actions such as filing police reports, moving residences, hiring private security guards, hiring media consultants (to track online harassment), and so forth,' the filing stated. Kohberger's defense's filing laid out their objections or no objections to the unsealing of the case, including the unsealing of witness names - to which they objected. 'The Defense Objects to lay witness names being released... there is continued media attention - including social media and online sleuths and public harassment reasons,' the defense stated. 'Online media reflects continued attention and comments that may be offensive and harassing and impact safety and livelihood of persons named.'
A surviving roommate of the four young University of Idaho students, Bethany Funke, gave a statement to the court in July during which she noted the online harassment she had endured. The statement, read by a friend, said: 'I still carry so much regret and guilt for not knowing what happened and not calling (911) right away even though I understand it wouldn't have changed anything, not even if the paramedics had been right outside the door.' Funke faced death threats and online attacks following the tragic murders, CBS News reported.
'Social media made it so much worse and strangers made up stories to entertain themselves,' she continued. 'The media harassed not just me but also my family. People showed up at our house; they called my phone; my parents’ phones; other family members’ phones; we were chased while I was still trying to survive emotionally and grieve the loss of my friends.' 'Everything I do, I do it with them in mind. I know that they would want me to keep living my life to the fullest,' she concluded.
Kohberger is currently being held at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution after his sentencing. He pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary last month, in a plea deal that saved him from the death penalty.