Bryan Kohberger Case: Surviving Eyewitness Says Her Family Has Moved 9 Times After Years of Threats and Harassment

Nearly four years after four University of Idaho students were brutally murdered inside their off-campus home, one of the surviving roommates says the tragedy continues to control almost every part of her life. Dylan Mortensen, who came face-to-face with the masked intruder on the night of the killings, has revealed that she and her family have moved nine times in an effort to protect their privacy and safety. In a new court filing, she describes years of threats, harassment and false accusations that have made it difficult to feel safe even in ordinary public places.

The murders happened on November 13, 2022, at a rental home on King Road in Moscow, Idaho. Four students—Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20—were killed in a knife attack that shocked the university community and attracted national attention. Mortensen and another roommate, Bethany Funke, were inside the house and survived. Mortensen later told investigators that she had seen a masked man with bushy eyebrows inside the home during the early morning hours. Her account became an important part of the investigation into the killings.

However, surviving the attack did not mean the nightmare ended. Mortensen says that since November 2022, strangers have repeatedly contacted her with accusations that she was somehow involved in her friends’ deaths. She described receiving threatening messages, including warnings that someone would find her and statements expressing a wish that she would suffer a violent death. According to her court affidavit, the harassment has extended beyond social media. Reporters and strangers investigating the case have allegedly appeared outside family homes and followed relatives, leaving her constantly worried about being recognized or approached.

The young woman has also changed the way she lives her everyday life. She says she uses an alias at work, introduces herself under a different name when meeting new people and avoids using her real identity for package deliveries. Even seemingly ordinary activities have become stressful because she fears that revealing her identity could expose her location. Mortensen explained that she wants to be able to attend concerts, meet friends and enjoy normal experiences without constantly planning how to escape a potentially dangerous situation.

Her latest court filing is connected to the release of additional investigative footage. A judge previously ordered the city of Moscow to disclose certain police records sought by EWU Media, a company producing true-crime content. Mortensen is asking the court to ensure that her face remains blurred in police interviews, body-camera recordings and other footage that may be released. She argues that hours of video showing her expressions, reactions and movements could make her easier to identify and provide fresh material for people spreading conspiracy theories. She also says that being publicly exposed in such a vulnerable moment could intensify the harassment she has already endured.

At Bryan Kohberger’s sentencing in July 2025, Mortensen delivered an emotional victim impact statement describing how the killings had changed her sense of safety. She recalled making escape plans wherever she went, constantly thinking about possible dangers and how she could defend herself if something happened. Kohberger pleaded guilty to killing all four students and received four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. However, he has since sought post-conviction relief and is attempting to withdraw his guilty plea, meaning the legal proceedings surrounding the case have not completely ended.

A hearing on Mortensen’s request to protect her identity in the additional footage is scheduled for November 10, 2026. Her request highlights a painful reality often overlooked after high-profile crimes: survivors may continue facing consequences long after the investigation and trial have ended. While the four victims can never return, Mortensen is still trying to rebuild a life that feels safe. For her, moving nine times has not been about escaping public attention—it has been about finding somewhere she can finally live without fear.

Source: https://people.com/surviving-bryan-kohberger-eyewitness-reveals-she-has-moved-9-times-since-murders-12215954