Idaho faculty murders: Sole eyewitness Dylan Mortensen wants ‘trauma remedy’; GoFundMe web page arrange

Mortensen, who was an eyewitness within the high-profile case, has maintained a low profile because the killings of her 4 roommates – Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin – of their off-campus Moscow, Idaho residence in November 2022.

‘Silently and bravely’ shifting ahead

In response to the GoFundMe web page, arrange by kin, Mortensen has spent the previous two and a half years “silently and bravely placing one foot in entrance of the opposite,” cooperating with regulation enforcement and dealing by means of the trauma of the murders.

Her household wrote that she has needed to alter to “a brand new actuality” – one that’s “without end missing peace, safety, security, and her closest buddies.” They added that public scrutiny and on-line criticism have added to her emotional burden, although they hope social media also can function a platform for kindness and assist.

Bethany Funke, the opposite surviving roommate, has largely averted the general public highlight because the killings. Court docket data and police statements point out she was additionally inside the home on the time of the murders however didn’t witness the assault. Funke later moved out of Idaho, and her title surfaced briefly throughout pretrial proceedings when the protection sought her testimony – a request she initially contested earlier than agreeing to cooperate.

Relocation, trauma remedy, and security measures

In response to the fundraiser, contributions will assist Mortensen go away her present location for a safer, extra non-public setting – a transfer her household says is crucial to her long-term well-being. Funds may also cowl the price of intensive, ongoing trauma remedy to deal with the emotional and psychological toll of surviving such a violent crime.

As well as, a part of the donations will go towards further safety and privateness measures, guaranteeing she will dwell with out the fixed concern of being approached or harassed. “In case you aren’t capable of assist her financially however nonetheless need to assist, we might sincerely admire sharing this to unfold the phrase,” her household wrote, urging the general public to assist encompass Dylan with “assist, love, and light-weight” after such a darkish interval in her life.

Mortensen’s emotional courtroom assertion

In July 2025, Dylan Mortensen confronted Bryan Kohberger in court docket to ship her sufferer assertion forward of his sentencing. Holding again tears, she described how the assault had left her deeply scarred each emotionally and bodily.

“What he did shattered me in locations I didn’t know might break. I ought to have been determining who I used to be,” she instructed the court docket. “I ought to have been having the school expertise and beginning to set up my future. As an alternative, I used to be compelled to learn to survive the unimaginable.”

Mortensen went on to disclose that she now suffers from common panic assaults and an amazing concern of being alone. “I can’t breathe, I can’t assume, I can’t cease shaking. It’s far past anxiousness. It’s my physique reliving every little thing again and again. My nervous system by no means bought the message that it’s over, and it received’t let me overlook what he did to them,” she stated.

Kohberger sentenced to life with out parole

Bryan Kohberger, 30, has been sentenced to 4 consecutive life phrases with out the opportunity of parole for the November 2022 murders. The previous criminology scholar confirmed no seen emotion as he listened to hours of harrowing sufferer impression statements from grieving relations.

The brutal killings shocked the small faculty city of Moscow and gripped nationwide headlines till Kohberger’s arrest almost two months later. In delivering the sentence, Choose Steven Hippler described Kohberger as “the worst of the worst,” including, “I’m unable to search out something redeemable about Mr. Kohberger.”