By Karim Hammam
One of the roommates of four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in 2022 says she has faced years of harassment, threats and unfounded accusations that have forced her and her family to move nine times. In an Oct. 29 affidavit filed in Latah County, Dylan Mortensen detailed the toll the case has taken on her life and asked a judge to ensure her face is blurred in police interviews, body-camera footage and other investigative recordings set for release.
Court Filing Details Harassment
Mortensen wrote that the “amount of attention and hostility” she has received has “affected nearly every aspect” of her life. She said she has received numerous unsolicited messages from strangers accusing her of participating in the murders, blaming her for the deaths and making cruel statements about what should happen to her. Mortensen said she uses an alias at work, introduces herself with a different name and avoids using her real name for package deliveries to conceal her address.
Judge Orders Release of Records
Judge Megan Marshall last month ordered the city of Moscow to disclose investigative records after EWU Media, a company that produces crime documentaries, sued for their release. Marshall wrote that the Idaho Public Records Act does not broadly exempt the identity of witnesses. A motion hearing on the matter is scheduled for next week.
Kohberger Sentencing and Plea Withdrawal
Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison last year after pleading guilty to the Nov. 13, 2022, killings that shook the close-knit community of Moscow, Idaho. He is now attempting to withdraw that plea. No motive has emerged for the stabbings, and it remains unclear why Mortensen and another roommate were spared.
Mortensen's Privacy Concerns
Mortensen argued that while her identity is already publicly known, there is a significant difference between existing photos and videos and the lengthy police interviews and body-camera recordings captured during one of the most traumatic periods of her life. She said she wants to work, meet new people and enjoy ordinary experiences without constantly worrying about being recognized or confronted.
