Guilty verdict in Moravia slaying

BONNERS FERRY — A Boundary County jury convicted John August Funkhouser Thursday of second-degree murder for the shooting death of his estranged girlfriend last November.

Funkhouser’s sentencing in 1st District Court is pending.

Funkhouser, 62, is accused of shooting Anna Carina Jill Old with a .380-caliber pistol at the Moravia home they used to share. Funkhouser pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Jurors heard closing arguments on Thursday.

Boundary County Deputy Prosecutor Tevis Hull told jurors that Funkhouser was reacting irrationally and selfishly to Old’s demand that he move out of the home. Funkhouser’s defense counsel, Linda Payne, argued that while Funkhouser was inebriated and acting recklessly with the firearm, there was no evidence that her client meant to kill Old, 45.

Funkhouser and Old were reportedly a former couple, but kept separate bedrooms at the home in the time leading up to the shooting.

Jurors reached the unanimous guilty verdict after a few hours of deliberations. The verdict capped a four-day trial. The defense moved to have the case heard outside of Boundary County because of pretrial publicity, but the court denied a change of venue.

Funkhouser allegedly admitted to investigators that he was despondent over the breakup and said he pressed the gun to the back of Old’s head to “get her attention.” The gun, Funkhouser said, suddenly discharged.

Friends of Old’s told investigators that Funkhouser had initially been a source of support after her husband died and a romantic relationship ensued, but it was short-lived.

Jurors found beyond a reasonable doubt that while the shooting was not premeditated, it was still a deliberate act on Funkhouser’s part.

Funkhouser remains in custody while sentencing is pending.

• Bonners Ferry news editor Jenay Blackwell contributed to this report.