The University of Idaho student who survived a gruesome quadruple homicide that captured national attention last year should prepare to be “jumped” by suspect Bryan Kohberger’s defense when he testifies, a trial expert told The Post.
Dylan Mortensen survived the November 13, 2022 massacre that left his friends — Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin — dead.
He confronted the killer shortly after the bloody slaughter, telling authorities he saw “a figure dressed in black and masked” walking toward the back exit of the house shortly after 4 a.m., according to the police report.
Another roommate, Bethany Funke, also survived the horror.
But Court TV producer Ted Rowlands told The Post he believes Mortensen’s testimony will be central to the trial, which begins later this month.
“I think Dylan is going to be big because defenses are going to jump on him,” Rowlands, 57, said Friday.
“If he was so scared, and he locked his door and stayed in the room, and froze like he told investigators, then why didn’t someone call 911 for 12 hours? He would have been important.”
Dylan Mortensen’s (left) living roommate can expect to be “jumped” by Bryan Kohberger’s defense when he testifies.VSCO / Dylan Mortensen
Rowlands, who produced the Court TV documentary on Kohberger that aired Sunday, said at the “end of the day, his story will be compelling” and he believes he will sway the jury to his side.
“The story is straight out of a horror movie,” he said.
“What he went through was traumatic off the charts… He was a child who had been put in a terrible position. I think his story will help the prosecution a lot.”
Bryan Kohberger allegedly tore apart an off-campus home, killing four others in their beds.AP
As for Funke — who is fighting a subpoena that would compel him to testify — Rowlands isn’t sure his story will have the same impact.
The two girls were at home when Kohberger allegedly tore into an off-campus home, wounding four others in their beds. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
The two girls, who were allegedly texting each other during the murders, received an onslaught of online hate — especially Mortensen after it was revealed no one called 911 for hours after the quadruple slaying took place.
“They need to have survivor’s guilt,” Rowlands said. “Both of them were theoretically close to death and they survived.”
Mortensen’s story “is straight out of a horror movie,” says Court TV producer Ted Rowlands. Instagram / Maddie Mogen Bethany Funke also survived the horror. “They need to have survivor’s guilt,” Rowlands said. “Both of them were theoretically close to death and they survived.” Instagram
Many speculated that the 28-year-old criminology student’s defense would also withdraw to remind jurors that the house was known as a “party house” – explaining why his DNA was found there.
“I think the fact that he was in the area 12 times in the five months before the murder, I would argue that he had been in the house before and he had gone to the girl’s room before,” Rowlands said.
Criminal Defense Attorney Jack Rice said in Rowland’s documentary that he also believes the defense will take this angle.
Rowlands said Kohnerger’s team will argue he was in the house before the murder. New York Post
“One of the most important parts of this case is that DNA, and what we know is that this is a party house,” Rice said in the clip, exclusively obtained by The Post.
“We know that there are hundreds of children in this house – that might include her. And the thing is, if she’s in this house, are you suggesting that the four of them know everyone who’s been there? I doubt it.
“All of a sudden, you might have a completely different experience.”
Kohberger’s defense team has also claimed that the Pennsylvania native has an alibi – but has yet to reveal what exactly it is.
His lawyer, Anne Taylor, said over the summer that alibi would most likely be revealed during cross-examination of witnesses.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
