Roommate’s Chilling Words: Kaylee’s Name Heard During Murders

A court documents that were released has new and grisly details about the 2022 University of Idaho murders.  And, for the first time, it's been revealed to the public that one of the surviving roommates heard the accused killer say the name of one of the victims moments before the frenzied attack. 

The testimony is coming from Dylan Mortensen, one of the two survivors, in the off-campus house where four students were killed. Mortensen's details shed grim light on what occurred inside the Moscow, Idaho residence during the early morning hours of November 13th, 2022.

Survivor’s Account Reveals Haunting Words

In unsealed documents, Mortensen told investigators she woke up around 4 a.m. to some strange noises. After initially dismissing the sounds as nothing, she stepped out of her bedroom into the hallway, and reported hearing a man's voice say: "It's okay, Kaylee. I'm here for you."

She said that voice was followed by the sound of crying, which Mortensen initially thought was victim Kaylee Goncalves crying. Later, she thought it may have also been Xana Kernodle crying. Mortensen still was sure that the intruder spoke Kaylee's name out loud.

Mortensen explained how she later saw a man in dark clothing with "bushy eyebrows" walk past her in the direction of the home's sliding glass door. She remembered that he spoke softly and at one point said he was there to help. Although she later looked at a picture of Bryan Kohberger, the man charged in the murders, she was not able to say definitively that he was the man she saw.

This information indicates that the attack may have been significantly more calculated and targeted than investigators had previously offered.

Important points

• A male voice calls Kaylee's name
• Sounds of a person crying within the house right prior to the kills
• A man dressed in dark clothing with bushy eyebrows identified by Mortensen
• Survivor was not physically harmed but was traumatized.

Aftermath and Legal Outcome

Bryan Kohberger was arrested and charged in the murders where he was a criminology Ph.D student. In July 2025, Kohberger entered a plea agreement to avoid the death penalty, as the plea deal included four concurrent life sentences without the possibility of parole, along with additional time for the burglary charge. 

There is division among the families of the victims over the plea agreement. Some saw this as a way to bring closure to the horrific acts after nearly three years of wondering if justice would ever come from it. Others, especially the Goncalves family, disagreed with the agreement and felt it un-fair as it robbed them of the chance to see Kohberger put on a full trial.

During the sentencing, Kaylee Goncalves’ sister made a heartfelt victim impact statement, calling Kohberger “a cold and remorseless killer.” Kaylee Goncalves’ sisters' words have reverberated the pain and anguish felt by not only their family, but the families of the other three victims.

The testimony of Mortensen has now been unsealed and adds another layer to the tragedy by giving people an idea of how terrifying that night had to have been inside that home.

Alivea Goncalves, Kaylee’s sister, goes OFF on Brian Kohberger:

“If you hadn’t attacked them in the middle of the night while they were asleep, like a PEDOPHILE, Kaylee would have kicked your fucking ass.” pic.twitter.com/pLgCS5j92L

— Martin Walsh (@martinwalsh__) July 23, 2025

Conclusion

The Idaho murders surprised the nation and made inroads in the University of Idaho community. The surviving roommate, who gave a statement that is now part of public record, shows just how personal and disturbing the invasion was.

By stating Kaylee Goncalves’ name, the killer left behind physical evidence and macabre reminder that may never fade for those who survived. With the guilty plea and the cessation of legal battle, those who died and those who lived through that unnerving night will carry emotional and psychological injuries forever.