Bethany Funke Breaks Silence on Bryan Kohberger Murdering Roommates

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Bethany Funke—a roommate of the University of Idaho murder victims—is reliving her worst nightmare.

Weeks following Bryan Kohberger‘s admission of guilt in the 2022 murders of students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, Bethany felt remorse for her inability to avert the tragic incident.

Bethany penned in a statement read to Judge Steven Hippler on July 23, she had not only lost some dear friends but also a sister. She never imagined such a tragic incident could happen to her dearest friends, in the off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho where it occurred.

Reflecting back on that fateful day, November 13, 2022, I can still recall the details vividly as if they happened yesterday. Here’s my account of that memorable morning.

Initially, when I stirred from my slumber that particular day, I had no clue about the events that transpired. Later on, around 7 a.m., I was jolted awake by an excruciating toothache, prompting me to call my father, who happens to be a dentist. He advised me to take some Advil, which I did before drifting off to sleep again.

Upon waking up, she expressed that she was “still dazed and still unsure of the events,” further stating, “Had I been aware, I would have dialed 911 immediately.

Ever since then, Bethany has found it difficult to come to terms with the realization that she couldn’t stop the terrible things that happened that evening.

She acknowledged that she continues to feel remorse and guilt for not realizing what had occurred and not contacting immediately, “even though I comprehend that it wouldn’t have made a difference – not even if help had been just steps away.

That morning, she was in such a panic and terrified because she didn’t know what had transpired. When she dialed 911, she found herself unable to utter a single word. After that, everything is blurry. It felt as if her mind erased that entire memory.

Moreover, she labeled that particular day as the most dreadful of her existence, with survivor’s guilt and deep-seated emotional pain that persisted over time, a sentiment similarly expressed in court by her fellow survivor, Dylan Mortensen, years later.

For a long time, I found it hard to confront their families without feeling overwhelmed by guilt. I didn’t know what words to use or actions to take. I feared that my presence only added to their sorrow. I was the one who remained when those who were dear to them – their children, siblings, friends, loved ones – should have been present instead.

As I found myself in the midst of a whirlwind of online scrutiny and private apprehension, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease knowing that the person responsible might strike again. The relentless criticism on social media only added fuel to my concerns.

She reminisced about being inundated with threatening and cruel messages from strangers who had no understanding of her or her relationships. The media added to the turmoil, targeting not only her but also her family members. People would show up at her home, call her phone, her parents’ phones, and other relatives’ phones. Even while she was struggling emotionally and grieving, they pursued her.

That fateful night, as four of her dearest companions lost their lives, she struggled to comprehend why she was spared.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve found myself in a rut, struggling to rise each morning for quite some time. However, one fateful day, a profound realization struck me: I must live on, not just for myself, but for those who were denied that opportunity. They didn’t get the chance to continue their lives, but I do. This revelation has made me deeply aware of how precious life is and how I can’t take it for granted. Now, every day, I make a conscious effort to remember them, and in doing so, I approach each task with their spirit guiding me.

For more on the Idaho murders, keep reading.

The following individuals – Kaylee Goncalves (age 21), Madison Mogen (also 21), Xana Kernodle (age 20), and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin (also 20) – were all students at the University of Idaho, residing together in an off-campus apartment.

On November 12, 2022, the eve before our tragic discovery, Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle, and I were living our lives – Goncalves and Mogen at a sports bar nearby, while Kernodle and Chapin were celebrating at his fraternity party. By 2 a.m. on the 13th, we found ourselves back at our shared three-story rental house, my roommates and I, along with Chapin.

Goncalves, a senior majoring in general studies at the College of Arts and Humanities, was anticipated to graduate in December. Following graduation, she planned to move to Austin, Texas, to start a job at a marketing firm, as her friend Jordyn Quesnell shared with The New York Times.

Mogen, a marketing student, has been close friends with Goncalves since the sixth grade. According to family friend Jessie Frost, she intends to relocate to Boise following graduation, as reported by The Idaho Statesman.

At that point, Kernodle was a junior studying marketing, as reported. Kernodle and Chapin, who specialized in recreation, sport, and tourism management, had been dating since the spring, according to their neighbor, Ellie McKnight, as shared with NBC News.

Two residents, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, were at home during the reported murders. Text messages released on March 6, 2025, revealed that Mortensen and Funke attempted to reach their fellow roommates on November 13 after Mortensen spotted a masked individual moving around in the house. This information was gathered from documents obtained by TopMob News.

“No one is answering,” Mortensen texted Funke at 4:22 a.m. “I’m rlly confused rn.”

She persistently contacted her roommates, encouraging them to get back to her. At 4:32 a.m., she messaged Goncalves saying “Please reply,” and later at 10:23 a.m., she asked again, “Are you awake?

11:58 a.m. saw a 911 call made following the discovery of an unresponsive Kernodle, as detailed in supplementary information acquired by TopMob News. In the log, a woman identified as A1 provided the emergency operator with a report on the ongoing circumstances.

As a trusted lifestyle advisor, I recently found myself in a situation where one of my flatmates, who had overindulged the previous evening, wasn’t responding this morning. I shared this concern over the phone, expressing that she was still asleep, presumably due to being intoxicated. Additionally, there was an unexpected presence reported in our home last night, as they spotted a stranger within our premises.

Bryan Kohberger, currently facing charges for four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, was a doctoral student at Washington State University. Approximately one month after the discovery of the bodies belonging to Gonclaves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin, Kohberger was arrested on December 30 in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. He was transferred to Idaho on January 4, 2023.

It was discovered through DNA evidence that a knife sheath abandoned at the crime scene linked him to the murders, as stated in court records from June 2023, according to NBC News.

When the DNA didn’t correspond with anyone in the FBI database, authorities cross-referenced it against public ancestry sites to generate a pool of potential suspects, as stated in the records. Upon discovering that Kohberger had visited his parents’ residence in Monroe County, local officials proceeded to search through their trash and identified DNA links between it and the one found on the sheath.

Currently, no specific reason behind the attack has been disclosed, and a court order restricts several individuals associated with the case from making public statements. Nevertheless, some understanding of their original defenses can be gleaned from the unveiled court papers.

As a dedicated admirer, I’d like to share some insight about a recent development in a case that has captivated me. In a bid to challenge the death penalty, Kohberger’s legal team, through a document acquired by TopMob News, presented an argument. If found guilty on all charges, Kohberger could initially face execution. However, they assert that he has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and executing someone with this condition would contravene the Eighth Amendment’s ban on “cruel and unusual punishment.” In simpler terms, they are saying that it wouldn’t be fair or humane to carry out capital punishment in this situation due to his ASD diagnosis.

In simpler terms, the defense contended that Kohbereger tends to think in a very inflexible manner, often repeats discussions about certain subjects, approaches information in bits rather than as a whole, has difficulty planning for the future, and shows minimal understanding of his actions and feelings.

Because of his Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Mr. Kohberger struggles to behave in ways society considers typical. This raises serious concerns that he could face the death penalty not due to his guilt, but as a result of his disability.

At first, Judge Kohberger’s plea of not guilty was entered for him during the May 2023 arraignment, as he chose to stay silent. Despite an initial court date set for October 2, 2023, Kohberger opted to forgo a swift trial in August 2023.

The judge entered “not guilty” on behalf of Kohberger during the May hearing, as he didn’t speak up himself. His trial was originally scheduled for October 2, 2023, but he decided to postpone a speedy trial in August 2023.

The start of his trial, initially planned for Ada County, some 300 miles away from Latah County, the location of the murders, was scheduled for August 11, 2025.

In a ruling back in September 2024, Judge John Judge of Latah County decided to grant the motion for transfer, as he believed there would be a strong likelihood of bias if Kohberger’s trial were held in Latah County due to the presumed prejudice.

In the trial at hand, Judge Steven Hippler refused the defense’s plea to exclude crucial DNA findings and additional evidence such as mobile phone and email logs, CCTV recordings, previous Amazon transactions, and DNA samples from the proceedings.

On June 30, 2025, the trial for Kohberger’s murder charges was unexpectedly halted when he opted for a plea bargain proposed by the prosecution. By accepting this deal, Kohberger consented to admit his guilt for four counts of murder and one count of burglary, relinquish his right to appeal, and request a less severe prison term.

On July 2, 2025, he acknowledged his guilty plea in court, affirming “yes” when the judge inquired whether he had intentionally, illegally, purposefully, and with prior planning, caused harm to all four victims with a malicious intent.

A selfie that Kohberger took the day after the murders occurred was presented in March 2025. This picture shows him standing in front of a shower, giving a thumbs up, and it resembles how he might match the description given by a witness known as “D.M.” in court documents. D.M. stated that the suspect had bushy eyebrows.

Steve Gonclaves, Kaylee’s father, later commented on the picture, referring to it as a “memento” during his interview on Fox and Friends.

According to Gonclaves, he is aware of the sequence of events. It appears that the person in question had recently revisited the crime scene, and upon his return, he noticed something significant – no one had contacted emergency services by dialing 911.

In simpler terms, he said, “For him, it’s a small token of victory, like a sign saying ‘I managed to get away with it, no one is watching me.’

2025 Dateline documentary on the murders featured a former classmate of Kohberger’s who shared an unusual text she got from him, following their encounter at a gathering.

Holly explained that she felt slightly obligated to talk to him, as he appeared somewhat uncomfortable, which is understandable for someone like him, being a PhD student who was alone at the party and perhaps making an effort to socialize and connect with others.

The following day, Holly said she received a text from him, which she described as overly formal. 

Hey there, I believe we discussed hiking trips yesterday,” Bryan’s message from July 10, 2022 at 1:19 p.m., mentioned in Dateline. “I truly love going on those adventures, so do share more details if you’re planning any. Thanks!

In another part of the “Dateline” documentary, it was discovered that Kohberger’s web browsing history contained queries about Ted Bundy, Britney Spears’ song “Criminal,” and the phrase “Idaho University Murders.

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2025-07-23 20:20