Trial set for August in murder of Moravia woman

BONNERS FERRY — The second-degree murder trial of suspect John August Funkhouser has been set for Aug. 27.

Funkhouser, 62, was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 43-year-old Anna Carina Jill Old. He entered a not guilty plea on April 23.

Funkhouser shot Old last November at the Moravia area home they shared, then almost a day later called 911 to “report a murder,” according to court records.

At about 2 p.m., deputies met Funkhouser outside the residence and took him into custody without incident.

Inside, Boundary County Chief Deputy Rich Stephens made first contact with the body, which Funkhouser had covered with a yellow floral-patterned comforter.

During subsequent interviews with Idaho State Police Det. Terry Morgan, Funkhouser claimed to have no recollection of the shooting. He said the gun “just went off” in his hand.

At the scene, officers collected evidence including a .380 caliber handgun, two bullet casings, a box of .380 ammunition, a liquor bottle, glass, and liquor store receipt.

Also collected at the scene was Funkhouser’s vomit, found in a bathroom sink. Agents also collected DNA evidence, fingerprints, and other body samples from Funkhouser. The second bullet casing was later determined not to be related to the murder.

Old’s body was found outside her bedroom. The time of death was estimated at between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, some 22 hours before it was reported.

Old had donned a nightgown, presumably to retire early for her 3:30 a.m. work shift the next morning.

She was curled on her left side, with blood pooled under the body indicating she was not moved from where she fell. An empty bullet casing consistent with the murder weapon was found by her right foot. The weapon was found on the kitchen table.

There was no evidence of a physical struggle, though Funkhouser had a laceration on his forehead when he was taken into custody. He claimed to have received the injury falling down the basement stairs, and the age and severity of the wound seemed consistent with this fact.

Although the sheriff’s department is reluctant to classify the relationship between Funkhouser and Old, evidence suggests they had a prior romantic relationship. Funkhouser and Old moved to the Bonners Ferry area from the Washington coast, though it is not clear if they moved together or Funkhouser followed Old.

Funkhouser told Det. Morgan that he and Old had been having some problems with their relationship, and that Old had asked him to move out of her home the previous week. Funkhouser and Old had separate bedrooms in the house.

Funkhouser told Morgan that at one point Old had informed him she had terminal polycystic ovary disease. POD is not a terminal condition, and the coroner found no evidence of any reproductive disease, though Old did have her tubes tied. Old, a native of Sweden, was widowed prior to her relationship with Funkhouser.

Funkhouser admitted to being very depressed over the breakup, and said he thought Old may have been seeing someone else.

The accused said that on the evening of the murder, the gun was on top of a dresser in Old’s bedroom. He said he picked up the gun and pressed it against the back of Old’s head “to get her attention.” Funkhouser then stated that Old moved or twisted away, and that subsequently the gun went off.

Forensic evidence contradicts Funkhouser’s statement, showing that the bullet entered Old’s right lower neck and exited under her left eye, indicating she was leaning forward at the time of the shooting. The shot came from in or near Old’s bedroom and killed her instantly. The bullet was recovered from a wall in an adjacent room.

Anecdotal evidence also indicates that the gun, a Grendel P10, is not likely to accidentally discharge.

 In court, Morgan testified that the gun has a “hard” trigger pull, implying that it requires substantial force to engage the trigger, and that it would be difficult if not impossible for the gun to go off accidentally. Funkhouser claimed to have the gun, a subcompact semi-automatic designed for concealed carry, to deal with predators who had been killing his chickens.

 He said that Old later revealed to him that she had been moving the chickens to a friend’s house.

Funkhouser had been unemployed during the weeks before the shooting, and admitted to drinking alcohol and taking Ambien, a prescription sleep aid, just before the shooting occurred.

Ambien has been reported to exacerbate the effects of alcohol, causing marked drowsiness, blackouts, loss of coordination, slurred speech, loss of consciousness and severe depression.

Funkhouser may have felt compelled to report the incident after an encounter with Victoria Rogers.

Rogers, owner of Wildwood Transportation, had employed Old on an occasional basis. After receiving calls concerning Old’s absence from a job, Rogers decided to visit her home.

“Anna was very punctual,” Rogers said. “If Anna said she was going to be there, she would be there.”

Rogers said Old had talked with her about her relationship with Funkhouser. Old said Funkhouser had initially been a source of support after her husband died, and that they had an intimate relationship, but it was short-lived. They remained friends over the years, but Old told those close to her that Funkhouser was clingy and made her feel guilty about their relationship.

Old told Rogers and other friends that she had met someone new and was trying to cut ties with Funkhouser. Old had given Funkhouser a deadline to move from the house, and even offered to give him a travel trailer so he would have a place to live.

She told Rogers that Funkhouser had a violent temper. She said he would yell and throw things at her, though he never hit her. Rogers said she asked Old if she felt she was in danger and Old said she didn’t think so.

Rogers said that in the weeks before Old was shot, Funkhouser had shot at the TV or stereo, leaving a bullet hole in the wall. This corroborates with evidence found at the scene, including the second bullet casing and a bullet hole in the wall not related to the murder.

Rogers said she suggested Old get a restraining order, but Old said she thought things would be OK. “She reminded me of a butterfly,” Rogers said. “She had an upbeat, vivacious personality.”

 When people started looking for Old, Rogers headed to her home. “In my gut I felt like something was wrong,” she said.

Rogers said that after she and her son arrived at Old’s house, Funkhouser leaned out a second story window and asked what they wanted. Rogers replied they were looking for Old, and Funkhouser said she was at work. Rogers replied that she was not.

Rogers said Funkhouser came out of the house. “I knew when I saw him,” she said. “He was wasted, but not on alcohol. He could barely talk or walk.”

Rogers said it looked like Funkhouser was wearing a pair of Old’s shorts, which seemed strange. “I saw dried blood on his forehead,” Rogers said.

Funkhouser again told Rogers he didn’t know where Old was.

He said he passed out at 8 p.m. after Old gave him some sleeping pills and he hadn’t seen her since.

“He was all doped up,” Rogers said. She called the sheriff’s department shortly thereafter and reported Funkhouser’s unusual behavior.

 Funkhouser’s statement indicates that he took medication, and that he woke up the next morning and “thought it was all a bad dream.”

Defense attorney Linda Payne and Prosecuting Attorney Tevis Hull have agreed to a mediation on Friday, July 6 in order to determine if charges are appropriate for the circumstances, and also to weight sentencing options.

 “We feel very strongly about the charge of second-degree murder,” Hull said. A charge of second-degree murder indicates that the homicide was not pre-mediatated, but it was still deliberate.

Funkhouser remains in the Boundary County jail on a $1 million bond.