Idaho Murder Case: Dylan Mortensen Confronts “Hollow” Bryan Kohberger

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Dylan Mortensen will never be the same after Bryan Kohberger’s brutal murders.

Approximately three years following the tragic murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle at the University of Idaho, she delivered an impactful emotional statement during his sentencing on July 23. (Additionally, Bethany Funke, a fellow roommate, also expressed her emotional distress at the hearing.)

On that fateful night, everything shifted dramatically, as expressed by the clearly moved Mortensen. Tragically, due to his actions, four remarkable individuals – kind, sincere, and empathetic souls – were prematurely removed from our world, seemingly without justification.

Mortensen detailed how her friends were robbed of their futures. 

She conveyed, her voice trembling with sobs, “Everything is lost.” The ones who cherished them remain, burdened for eternity by their absence. He didn’t merely remove them from existence; he ripped them away from me. My friends, those who seemed like a second home to me, are gone now too.

Just 19 when the murders occurred, Mortensen feels Kohberger robbed her of her youth. 

The actions he took left me feeling broken in parts I hadn’t realized were fragile,” the 21-year-old explained. “I couldn’t bear being on my own. I had to sleep with my mother because I was too petrified to shut my eyes, fearful that if I did, someone might appear.

Mortensen continues to suffer unexpected panic attacks, which she likens to a sudden, forceful wave similar to a tsunami.

She confessed that it’s not just anxiety she’s experiencing; rather, her body keeps replaying past events repeatedly. Her nervous system hasn’t received the signal that it’s all over, and it won’t let her forget the trauma she went through. While others praise her as strong and a survivor, they don’t witness the true nature of her new life. They don’t see the sudden bursts of fear, the constant watchfulness, the fatigue.

Although she acknowledged that the dream where she bid farewell seemed genuine and emotional, it could never replace the actual goodbye.

She stated, ‘No dream can fill the void they left and no farewell will ever seem complete.’ He’s a shell, lacking humanity. Devoid of empathy, regret, he opted for devastation. For wickedness. He feels nothing. He aimed to take everything from me – my companions, my security, my individuality, my prospects.

Now, she holds the weight of her friends’ future, the one they never got to see.

She expressed that living is her way of paying tribute to them. Speaking up now is her means of seeking some form of justice for them. I will ensure he doesn’t steal that away from me. Though he has taken a great deal from me, he will never be able to take my voice.

In the end, I’ll carry on living, even with this persistent pain. At least I can live my life. However, this place will remain vacant, neglected, and devoid of power.” (Mortensen concluded)

For more on Kohberger’s case, keep reading…

The following individuals – Kaylee Goncalves (age 21), Madison Mogen (also 21), Xana Kernodle (age 20), and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin (20) – were all university students at Idaho, residing in an off-campus apartment together.

On November 12, 2022, Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin were in different locations before midnight: Goncalves and Mogen were at a sports bar, while Kernodle and Chapin attended a fraternity party. By 2 a.m. on November 13, all four roommates and Chapin returned to their shared three-story rental house.

Goncalves, a senior, specialized in interdisciplinary studies at the College of Arts and Humanities. It was anticipated that she would graduate in December, after which she planned to move to Austin, Texas for work at a marketing company, as her friend Jordyn Quesnell shared with The New York Times.

Mogen, a marketing student, has been close friends with Goncalves since the 6th grade. As reported by The Idaho Statesman, Jesse Frost, a family acquaintance, mentioned that Mogen intends to relocate to Boise following graduation.

Back then, Kernodle was a marketing major in her junior year, as stated by the university. She and Chapin, who specialized in recreation, sport, and tourism management, had been together since the spring, according to their neighbor, Ellie McKnight, as reported to NBC News.

Two housemates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, were at home when the killings occurred. Text messages that became public on March 6, 2025, revealed that Mortensen and Funke attempted to reach their other roommates on November 13 after Mortensen spotted a masked individual wandering through their house, as suggested in documents acquired by TopMob News.

“No one is answering,” Mortensen texted Funke at 4:22 a.m. “I’m rlly confused rn.”

She persistently contacted her roommates, encouraging them to get back to her. At 4:32 a.m. and then again at 10:23 a.m., she messaged Goncalves saying, “Can you reply?” and “Are you awake?

11:58 a.m. saw a 911 call being made following the discovery of Kernodle’s unconscious state, as detailed in supplementary documents acquired by TopMob News. In the call transcript, a woman identified as A1 shared the ongoing situation with the operator.

She mentioned on the phone, “One of our flatmates is still unconscious from being heavily intoxicated last night and won’t wake up. They also reported seeing an unknown man in our home last night.

Bryan Kohberger, the individual who has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, was a doctoral student at Washington State University. Exactly one month after the discovery of the bodies of Gonclaves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin, Kohberger was apprehended on December 30 in Monroe County, Penn. He was transferred to Idaho on January 4, 2023.

It was through DNA evidence found on a knife sheath at the crime scene that authorities linked him to the murders, as reported by NBC News in their June 2023 court documents.

When the DNA didn’t correspond with anyone in the FBI database, authorities decided to search public ancestry websites to compile a list of possible suspects, as stated in the documents. Upon discovering that Kohberger had visited his parents’ residence in Monroe County, local authorities then examined their trash and found DNA links between it and the one discovered on the sheath.

Currently, specific reasons behind the attack remain undisclosed due to a court order that restricts those involved in the case from making public statements. Nonetheless, certain insights into their opening arguments have been revealed through unveiled court documents. (NBC News reporting)

Lawyers for Kohberger submitted a motion, made available by TopMob News, to remove the possibility of capital punishment. They argued that Kohberger, who was initially facing execution if found guilty on all charges, has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). They claim that executing someone with ASD would contravene the Eighth Amendment’s ban on “cruel and unusual punishment.

In simpler terms, the defense contends that Kohbereger exhibits inflexible thought patterns, repeatedly focuses on certain subjects, handles data in bits rather than as a whole, finds it hard to anticipate future events, and shows limited understanding of his actions and feelings.

The statement mentions that due to Asperger’s Syndrome, Mr. Kohberger finds it challenging to behave in a way society deems as normal. This situation raises grave concerns that he may face capital punishment based on his disability instead of the extent of his involvement in the crime.

Originally, the legal representative for me entered a not-guilty plea on my behalf during my arraignment in May of 2023, as I chose to remain silent at that time. Despite my trial being scheduled to start on October 2, 2023, I exercised my right to waive a speedy trial in August of the same year.

The commencement of his trial, initially planned for Ada County, over 300 miles away from Latah County where the crimes occurred, has been scheduled for August 11, 2025.

Previously, Judge John Judge from Latah County decided to grant the motion for a change of venue made by Kohberger’s legal team in September 2024, citing potential bias or prejudice that might arise if the trial were to take place within Latah County.

In the upcoming trial, Judge Steven Hippler of Ada County refused the defense’s plea to exclude crucial DNA evidence along with cell phone and email records, security camera footage, past purchases from Amazon, and DNA proof.

Kohberger’s murder trial was unexpectedly halted when he accepted a plea bargain from the prosecution on June 30, 2025. By agreeing to this deal, Kohberger consented to admit guilt for four counts of murder and one count of burglary, relinquish his right to appeal, and request a less severe prison term.

On July 2, 2025, he admitted his guilt in court, affirming “yes” when the judge queried whether he intentionally, illegally, deliberately, and with prior planning caused harm to all four of the victims, exhibiting both premeditation and malice.

On March 2025, a selfie taken by Kohberger the day after the murders was presented. In this picture, he stands in front of a shower with a thumbs up, which aligns with the description given by witness D.M., who stated in court documents that the suspect had “bushy eyebrows.

Steve Gonclaves, father of victim Kaylee, later responded to the image by referring to it as a “trophy” during an interview on Fox and Friends.

Gonclaves stated, “I’m aware of the sequence of events. He arrived at the crime scene shortly after returning, and it became clear to him that no one had dialed 911 for help.

In simpler terms, he was saying, “For him, that’s a small memento signifying, ‘I managed to escape unnoticed.’

In a 2025 Dateline documentary concerning the murders, a previous classmate of Kohberger’s shared an account about an “odd” message she got from him following their encounter at a party.

As a die-hard fan, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of duty to engage with him, given that he appeared slightly uneasy. He reminded me of a PhD student who was new to the party, possibly unsure of himself, trying his best to break out of his shell and connect with others.

The following day, Holly said she received a text from him, which she described as overly formal. 

Hey there, it seems we discussed hiking trips yesterday according to the records. Since I love hiking, could you fill me in on the details? Appreciate it!

In the same Dateline documentary, it was discovered that Kohberger’s web browsing contained queries about Ted Bundy, Britney Spears’ song “Criminal,” and the phrase “Murders at the University of Idaho.

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2025-07-23 20:19