University of Idaho murders survivor Dylan Mortensen is asking a judge to keep her face blurred in police interview footage, revealing that she and her family have moved nine times to escape relentless harassment.
Court Battle Over Records
In a sworn affidavit filed October 29, 2026, Mortensen described years of threats, false accusations of involvement, and strangers following her relatives to their homes. She now uses an alias at work, when ordering deliveries, and when meeting new people to avoid recognition.
The legal fight stems from an October 20, 2026, order by Latah County Judge Megan Marshall. Marshall granted a public records request brought by EWU Media LLC, a company that produces crime documentaries, requiring the city of Moscow to release investigative records including photographs and videos involving Mortensen.
Mortensen’s attorney, Robyn McPherson, filed a motion to intervene to overturn that ruling. McPherson argues that releasing unblurred footage of Mortensen would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy under Idaho law, exposing her to further scrutiny of her facial expressions during early police interviews.
Kohberger Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea for Idaho Murders
The audio and video files stem from the probe into the November 13, 2022, killings of University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves at an off-campus residence located in Moscow. Mortensen told investigators she encountered a masked man inside the house that morning.
Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, receiving four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. In a separate legal effort, Kohberger is trying to overturn his plea by alleging that his previous counsel gave him bad advice and coerced him into making admissions.
Judge Marshall is scheduled to hear Mortensen’s motion on November 12, 2026, to consider whether the city must continue concealing her face in publicly released recordings.
