Dylan Mortensen, a survivor of the November 13, 2022, homicides in Moscow, Idaho, is actively seeking to prevent the public release of unblurred police footage and interviews that feature her. Mortensen, who lived in the house where Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were killed, is challenging an October 20 court order that could lead to the disclosure of these records without facial obfuscation. Her attorney, Robyn McPherson, filed a motion to intervene, asking the court to reconsider its decision and pause the order's implementation.
"What changes is the public’s ability to examine my facial expressions, become more familiar with my appearance, and circulate images of me during an incredibly vulnerable time." Dylan Mortensen, Idaho Murders Survivor
The dispute stems from a public records request filed in August 2025 by EWU Media LLC, an independent outlet, for investigative video and images related to the Moscow murders. While city officials approved a portion of the request, EWU Media subsequently petitioned a court to compel the release of the remaining records. Judge Megan Marshall granted this request on October 20, a ruling that would include police interviews and body-camera footage where Mortensen's face currently appears blurred.
In a sworn affidavit submitted to the court, Mortensen clarified her position, stating, "I am not asking for the interviews or body-camera recordings to be withheld from the public, nor am I for information about the investigation to be hidden." Her objection is more specific, focusing on the incremental value of unblurring her face. "I am asking the Court to consider what additional information is actually gained by removing the blurring from my face," the affidavit read. She emphasized that "My statements do not change when my face is visible, and the information being discussed in those recordings remains the same."
Mortensen articulated the personal cost of such a release, asserting that "What changes is the public’s ability to examine my facial expressions, become more familiar with my appearance, and circulate images of me during an incredibly vulnerable time." Her attorney’s motion to intervene seeks to halt the order until Mortensen's petition and any potential appeals are resolved. It also requests Moscow authorities to identify the withheld records and create a detailed index, allowing for a private "in-camera" review by a judge. This process, McPherson argues, would enable Mortensen to understand the contents of the records fully and present her case with complete knowledge.
The affidavit paints a vivid picture of the challenges Mortensen has faced since the tragic events of four years ago. Public attention, persistent threats, and rampant speculation about her role have profoundly impacted her daily life. She described how these pressures have influenced her routine, including where she goes and what personal information she shares. According to the filing, her family has been forced to move nine times. She detailed instances where "reporters and strangers investigating the case on their own have shown up outside of our homes, followed family members and invaded our privacy in ways that have made it difficult to feel safe."
To protect herself, Mortensen stated she now introduces herself to strangers using an alias and provides that name when receiving deliveries. She avoids being photographed and rarely ventures out alone. The affidavit reveals she has collected over 30 screenshots of menacing messages sent over several years. These messages include direct accusations like "Some individuals have called me a murderer, accused me of lying, and told me that I should have died that night." More alarmingly, some messages contained threats such as "I’ll find you" and "Don’t let me find out where you live," with others allegedly threatening to publish her parents’ address. Her mother reportedly discovered a TikTok comment from a user threatening to abduct Mortensen if spotted in Boise.
While acknowledging that photos and videos of her already circulate online and her identity is public, Mortensen distinguished the newly sought footage. She argued that the extensive interviews and body-camera recordings capture her during one of the most vulnerable periods of her life. She fears that releasing new, unblurred footage would grant viewers increased access to her mannerisms and demeanor, providing critics with fresh material for screenshots, pauses, and detailed dissection.
On the night of the killings, Mortensen told police she saw a masked man in the house around 4 a.m. She texted her roommate Bethany Funke but did not call 911. The four victims were discovered by Mortensen and Funke around noon the following day, prompting a police response. Mortensen later testified for the prosecution in the murder case. Bryan Kohberger, 31, pleaded guilty to the murders in July 2025 but attempted to withdraw his plea earlier this year. He is scheduled to return to court on December 10 for a hearing on his petition for post-conviction relief. Meanwhile, a hearing on Mortensen’s request regarding the unblurred footage is set for November 12.
