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In a poignant return to social media, Bethany Funke, a survivor of Bryan Kohberger’s brutal attack inside a student residence, has resurfaced online. This marks her first public appearance since the tragic events unfolded.
Funke, who is 23 years old, endured the horrific incident that claimed the lives of her friends Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in Moscow, Idaho, back in November 2022. Her strength and resilience are a testament to her character as she navigates life after the tragedy.
Recently, Funke shared a glimpse into her healing journey through a new TikTok post. Donning a teal dress and a cross necklace, she revealed that painting has become her newfound passion. The inspiration for her artistic endeavor comes from the renowned painter and instructor Bob Ross, whose calming presence continues to influence aspiring artists worldwide.
In the video, she showcased a serene sunset river landscape to her 17,000 followers, with the soothing tones of Olivia Dean’s music providing a fitting soundtrack. This creative expression serves as a therapeutic outlet for Funke, allowing her to process her experiences and perhaps find some solace.
This video holds special significance as it is the sole post on her TikTok account under her name. Notably, her late friends, Goncalves, Kernodle, and Mogen, remain connected through their following of her page, a silent tribute to the enduring bond they shared.
Funke has remained incognito since the killings, nominating a friend of hers to issue an impact statement at Kohberger’s sentencing last year.Â
Only Funke and fellow roommate Dylan Mortensen survived the murders, with Mortensen waking up to see a man dressed in black stalking the halls of the home.
The two desperately tried to call and text their friends but got no response, Mortensen made her way to Funke’s room where they stayed until morning.
In a new post to her TikTok page Funke shared that she has taken up oil painting after the killings
Left to right: Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee’s shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke
Around eight hours later, after the terrified students still could not get in touch with their friends, they called friends over to the home and the bloodbath was discovered.
Kohberger was arrested around six weeks later during a raid on his parents’ home in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania, where he had returned for the holidays.
Autopsy findings recently released have since laid bare the full horror of the attack, revealing he stabbed his victims over 150 times within 15 minutes.
He stabbed Goncalves at least 38 times, including 24 stab and incised wounds to her scalp face and neck, as well as 11 to the chest and three to her upper extremities.  Â
She also suffered punctures to the skull, injuries to her teeth and tongue, perforations of the subclavian artery and vein, and internal bleeding into the chest cavities.
Mogen sustained 28 stab wounds, including 13 wounds to the scalp, face and neck, and 10 incised wounds to the upper extremities, and five stab wounds to the chest.
Kernodle was then stabbed 67 times inside her bedroom before Kohberger killed Chapin in his sleep, according to the autopsy report.
She had 25 wounds to the upper extremities, 23 stab to the scalp, face and neck, seven stab wounds to the chest and four to the abdomen, three to the back, and five to the lower extremities.
Pictured: (L-R) Dylan Mortenson, Xana Kernodle, Bethany Funke, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen
Kohberger is seen here at his sentencing hearing in July of last year
The student home at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, where the murders were committed
She also suffered punctures to the skull, perforations of the jugular vein, heart, lung and pulmonary blood vessels, hemorrhage into the chest cavities, wounds extending into the bones of the right hand, and scrapes and bruises to the face, torso and extremities.
Despite Chapin likely being the last victim, he had the fewest stab wounds, sustaining 17 in all: six incised wounds to the upper extremities; six stab and incised wounds to the lower extremities; four stab and incised wounds to the scalp, face and neck; and one stab wound to the upper chest; along with perforations of the jugular vein, subclavian vein and subclavian artery.
For more than two years, Kohberger fought the charges. Then, weeks before his trial, he changed his plea, pleading guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary on July 2.
The bombshell plea hearing came after he struck a controversial deal with prosecutors to take the death penalty off the table.
He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in an emotional hearing in Boise, Idaho, on July 23. Kohberger also waived his right to appeal.
The killer refused to speak at his sentencing and has never revealed his motive. No connection has ever been found between him and any of his victims.Â
Kohberger is now being held in solitary confinement inside the Idaho Maximum Security Institution where he will see out his dying days.