Chilling text messages between the surviving roommates of the Idaho massacre have been released following the murder of four students at their off-campus student home on November 13, 2022. Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were the only two roommates to survive the horrific slayings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, who were all fatally stabbed during the incident.
The terrors of the night were laid bare as the court introduced these messages and the frantic 911 call made by Funke shortly after the event. Arrested approximately six weeks later, Bryan Kohberger, a criminology PhD student, was charged with the slayings, though he maintains he had no involvement.
Between 4:22 am and 4:24 am on the fateful night, Mortensen and Funke exchanged 17 frantic text messages as they feared for their safety. One message sent from Mortensen, who has since been identified by initials as DM, proclaimed, "I'm not kidding o [sic] am so freaked out." Funke responded over several messages, urging Mortensen to come to her room, instructing her to "Run. Down here." Their exchanges reflect the anxiety of the situation as they attempted to navigate the terrifying circumstances surrounding them.
Several hours later, at around noon, Funke's cellphone call to 911 revealed the extent of their ordeal. The caller stated, "Hi, something is happening. Something happened in our house. We don't know what." Another voice on the line mentioned seeing "some man" the previous night, indicating their fears were not unwarranted. The operator had to repeatedly intervene as the young women handed the phone around, battling their fear and trauma.
When authorities arrived, one voice concluded ominously, "I think we have a homicide," indicating the severity of the situation they were facing. The emotional strain on the girls is palpable, with the operator noting "heaving breathing and crying" audible during the call.
On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the court released these harrowing messages and the transcript of the 911 call, providing insight not only to the fears of the surviving roommates but also to the growing case against Kohberger. The released texts show Mortensen's escalation of distress, writing to Goncalves, "Kaylee. What's going on?" After receiving no reply, she texted Funke again, stating, "no one is answering," followed swiftly by, "I'm rlly confused rn."
Funke's concern grew as well, responding to Mortensen's panic: "Ya dude wtf... Xana was wearing all black." Mortensen, equally frightened, noted she had observed someone wearing what looked like "like a ski mask almost." With each subsequent text, the gravity of their situation sunk in, as Mortensen described being scared to run to Funke's room, yet aware it was safer to be together.
The experience culminated with the women huddled together for the night, trying to find solace amid chaos. Mortensen, who slept on the second floor, even had a terrifying encounter with the masked intruder, as she came face-to-face with him during the night. She recounted to investigators hearing noises, including whimpering from Kernodle’s room, along with a man’s voice assuring, "It's ok, I'm going to help you." Mortensen opened her door to sneak peaks outside three separate times before finally seeing the man described as having "bushy eyebrows" running past her room.
Kohberger's defense team has since requested to obstruct any evidence related to Mortensen’s description of the assailant, aiming to discredit the validity of her claims. Kohberger himself has reportedly offered little clarity about his whereabouts during the time, stating vaguely he was simply out driving. His attorney, Anne Taylor, admitted no available witnesses can corroborate this alleged alibi.
The prosecution asserts they can link Kohberger to the murders through DNA found on the crime scene—a knife sheath—and cellphone records positioning him near the victims' home during the time of the murders. The tragic end of the four students marked one of the darker chapters for the university community, with many still grappling with the aftermath of such violence.
Mortensen's fear from the incident was echoed fearlessly through the messages exchanged with Funke and highlighted during the chilling details of the 911 call, illustrating the horrific and chaotic moments as the events unfolded. Kohberger is scheduled to appear next in court on April 2025.
Despite the pursuit of justice, the fear and trauma of those tragic hours remain present for the surviving roommates and the families impacted by this case. The community still mourns the losses of Mogen, Goncalves, Kernodle, and Chapin, whose lives were tragically cut short.
This story continues to develop, with many awaiting the forthcoming trial and the revelations it will bring.