Idaho survivor moves nine times to escape public scrutiny

Dylan Mortensen, one of the two surviving roommates from the University of Idaho murder case, asked a Latah County judge on October 29 to blur her face in investigative footage. The video is set to be released following a legal dispute between the city of Moscow and EWU Media, a crime documentary company.

In a court filing, Mortensen described the strain the case has placed on her life. She stated that the level of attention and hostility she has received has affected nearly every part of her daily existence. This pressure has forced her and her family to move nine times since the killings. She noted that she has endured years of hateful messages and threats from the public.

The underlying case involves the November 13, 2022, stabbing deaths of four students in Moscow. Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to the charges and received a life sentence last year. He is currently attempting to withdraw his guilty plea. Police records indicate that Mortensen saw a man with bushy eyebrows and a ski mask in the home that night. No clear motive for the killings has been identified, and investigators have not explained why Mortensen and another roommate survived.

Judge Megan Marshall ordered the release of the records last month. Her October 20 decision found that the city did not prove it had properly withheld the specific documents. Marshall noted that the Idaho Public Records Act does not broadly protect the identities of witnesses. Mortensen’s motion to intervene asks the judge to ensure her face is obscured in police interviews, body camera footage, and other recordings. She warned that strangers can already hear her statements in previously released audio.

Mortensen explained that she often works under an alias and uses a different name for package deliveries to hide her address. She said people have accused her of participating in the murders or blamed her for her friends' deaths. She argued that while her identity is public, the new footage captures her during a traumatic period. She wants to avoid having her facial expressions analyzed or criticized by the public.

The Associated Press contacted the city, EWU Media, and Mortensen's attorney on Tuesday for comment. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for next week. Mortensen wrote that she wants to perform ordinary tasks, such as attending concerts or meeting new people, without worrying about being recognized or confronted.