Idaho murder survivor asks court to blur her face in new video release

Dylan Mortensen, a survivor of the 2022 University of Idaho murders, has asked a judge to blur her face in police video recordings that are set for public release. In a court filing, Mortensen described years of threats and unfounded accusations that she says have disrupted her daily life. She told police she saw a man with bushy eyebrows and a ski mask in the home on the night her four roommates were killed. Now, she fears that new footage will make it easier for strangers to identify her.

The case began on November 13, 2022, when four students were stabbed to death in their Moscow, Idaho, home. Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison last year after pleading guilty to the killings. He is currently attempting to withdraw that plea. No motive has emerged for the murders, and it remains unclear why Mortensen and one other roommate survived.

The push for video records stems from a lawsuit filed by EWU Media, a crime documentary producer, against the city of Moscow. Judge Megan Marshall ordered the release of records last month after finding the city failed to prove specific exemptions applied. In an October 20 decision, Marshall noted that Idaho public records law does not broadly protect the identities of witnesses. Mortensen filed an affidavit on October 29 to support her motion to intervene in the case.

Mortensen stated that the attention she has received has affected nearly every aspect of her life. She and her family have moved nine times while enduring hateful messages. She used an alias at work and often introduces herself with a different name to avoid recognition. She does not use her real name for package deliveries to keep her address private.

The survivor said she has received numerous unsolicited messages from strangers who accuse her of participating in the murders or blame her for their deaths. She noted that while her identity is publicly known, there is a difference between existing photos and the lengthy police interviews recorded during a traumatic period. She does not want her facial expressions and reactions analyzed by the public.

Mortensen wrote that she is already being recognized despite current privacy protections. She worried that making additional footage of her face available would make identification even easier in everyday situations. She stated she wants to work, meet new people, and attend concerts without constantly worrying about being confronted.

The Associated Press contacted the city of Moscow, EWU Media, and Mortensen’s attorney for comment on Tuesday. A motion hearing is scheduled for next week in Latah County. The outcome of that hearing will determine if specific footage requires editing before it becomes part of the public record.