A survivor of the 2022 University of Idaho murders has filed an affidavit requesting a judge to block the release of video and images that may show her face, citing ongoing safety concerns. Dylan Mortensen, 23, a former roommate of three of the victims, submitted the request to Latah County Judge Megan Marshall on September 5, 2025, arguing that public exposure could endanger her and her family.
Mortensen’s affidavit follows a July 2025 guilty plea by Bryan Kohberger, 31, who admitted to the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. Kohberger later attempted to withdraw his plea earlier in 2025, though the status of that motion remains unresolved.
In her filing, Mortensen stated that since the murders, she and her family have moved nine times to avoid harassment and threats. She described instances where reporters and strangers followed family members, invaded their privacy, and subjected them to constant speculation about her role in the case. Mortensen has adopted an alias for personal and professional use, including at her job and in social interactions, to maintain anonymity.
Mortensen’s account of the night of the murders remains a key detail in the case. She testified that she saw a masked man in her home around 4 a.m. on November 13, 2022, and texted a surviving roommate, Bethany Funke, about the encounter. Mortensen did not call 911 at the time. The bodies were discovered by friends around noon that day, prompting a police response to the residence at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho.
The affidavit was submitted in response to a court order from Judge Marshall last month, which granted a request by EWU Media LLC, an independent media company, to release unredacted footage and images from the investigation. Mortensen’s legal team argues that even partial exposure—such as appearing in the background of a photo—could lead to her identification and compromise her safety.
Kohberger’s legal team has not publicly responded to Mortensen’s affidavit as of this report. The judge has not yet issued a ruling on the request to maintain the redactions.
The case remains under active legal review, with no confirmed trial date as of September 2025.