Dylan Mortensen, a survivor of the 2022 University of Idaho killings, is asking a Latah County judge to reconsider an order allowing the release of police photographs and videos that could reveal her face. In an affidavit, Mortensen said public attention, threats and unwanted investigations have disrupted her life and forced her family to move nine times. Her attorney argues that unblurred records would create an unwarranted invasion of her privacy. A hearing on the request is scheduled for Nov. 12, while a separate post-conviction hearing involving Bryan Kohberger is set for Dec. 10.
| 1) | Survivor describes lasting safety concerns |
| 2) | The events at the King Road house |
| 3) | Legal challenge to records release |
| 4) | Court proceedings and competing privacy interests |
| 5) | Upcoming hearings in the case |
Survivor describes lasting safety concerns
Dylan Mortensen was one of the first people to speak with police after officers responded to the University of Idaho rental home at 1122 King Road in Moscow on Nov. 13, 2022. In a sworn affidavit submitted to Judge Megan Marshall, she said the consequences of the killings have continued for nearly four years.
Mortensen wrote that she now uses an alias for delivery orders, at work and when meeting new people. She said reporters and strangers investigating the case have appeared outside homes, followed relatives and intruded on the family’s privacy. Her concern is that even appearing in the background of a photograph could allow people to identify her or locate her.
“Since November 2022, my family and I have had to move nine times in an effort to protect our privacy and safety,” Mortensen wrote.
The events at the King Road house
Mortensen told the court that she came face-to-face with a masked man inside the home after the four killings. She texted another surviving roommate, Bethany Funke, about what she had seen, but neither survivor immediately called 911.
Police were contacted around noon after Mortensen and Funke reached out to friends who came to the house. One of those friends discovered the remains of Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20. Responding officers also found Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, dead on the top floor.
Mortensen said she has faced public speculation and harassment over her actions that morning, including accusations from people who did not know her. She said the attention has made it difficult to feel safe or comfortable in public.
Legal challenge to records release
Robyn McPherson, Mortensen’s attorney, filed a motion to intervene after Judge Marshall ordered the release of additional records held by the city of Moscow. The order, issued Oct. 20, followed a public-records dispute involving EWU Media LLC, which submitted its request on Aug. 28, 2025.
The records request was at least partially denied, prompting the entity to ask the court to compel disclosure. McPherson said the city attorney told her the records were expected to include interviews, photographs and videos involving Mortensen. She is asking the judge to reconsider the order and pause disclosure while the petition and any appeals are resolved.
The motion also asks the court to require Moscow authorities to identify the withheld records, provide them for private judicial review and prepare a detailed index. McPherson argues that Mortensen cannot fully defend her privacy rights without knowing what the records contain.
Court proceedings and competing privacy interests
McPherson’s filing focuses specifically on whether releasing the records would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. She said the city did not plan to challenge the disclosure decision, and that other parties involved in the case, including families of some victims, do not share Mortensen’s particular privacy concerns.
The attorney identifies the blur covering Mortensen’s face in redacted police videos and photographs as one of the few protections remaining to her. The requested release of unblurred images, she argues, could expose Mortensen to further identification, harassment and unwanted public attention.
Upcoming hearings in the case
Judge Marshall originally served as the magistrate judge overseeing the Idaho case before Bryan Kohberger was arraigned in May 2023. She later granted the additional public-records release on Oct. 20. The hearing on Mortensen’s request for reconsideration and a stay is scheduled for Nov. 12.
Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 and later sought to withdraw that plea. His case is now proceeding before a different judge, with a hearing on his petition for post-conviction relief scheduled for Dec. 10. The records dispute remains focused on disclosure and Mortensen’s asserted right to privacy.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mortensen says her family moved nine times since November 2022 because of safety and privacy concerns. |
| 2 | She is seeking protection from the release of unblurred photographs and videos. |
| 3 | The records dispute stems from a public-records request that was at least partially denied. |
| 4 | A hearing on the privacy challenge is scheduled for Nov. 12. |
Summary
Mortensen’s filing presents the privacy and safety consequences she says followed the Idaho killings. Her attorney wants the court to review the withheld records privately and suspend their release while the challenge proceeds. The judge will determine whether the records can be disclosed without creating an unwarranted invasion of Mortensen’s personal privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is seeking to block the records release?
Dylan Mortensen, through her attorney Robyn McPherson, is asking the court to reconsider the disclosure order and pause the release.
What records are at issue?
The records are expected to include interviews, photographs and videos connected to the Moscow investigation, including material that could reveal Mortensen’s face.
When will the court hear the privacy request?
A hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12. A separate hearing on Bryan Kohberger’s petition for post-conviction relief is set for Dec. 10.
