'Run': Newly Revealed Texts Show Roommates' Panic During Idaho Murders
The brutal murders of four University of Idaho students in November 2022 shocked the small town of Moscow, Idaho, and the entire nation. As the trial of accused killer Bryan Kohberger approaches, newly released court documents and text messages shed light on the terrifying moments inside the house that night and the reactions of the two surviving roommates.
The Murders and Ongoing Investigation
The now-infamous murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, occurred in the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022. The victims were all found brutally stabbed to death inside the girls' off-campus home, where they lived with two other roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke.
Investigators later discovered a knife sheath at the scene, which contained DNA evidence allegedly linking Bryan Kohberger to the crime. Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, was arrested six weeks later and charged with four counts of murder. Prosecutors argue that DNA found at the scene and cell phone records place him near the house at the time of the killings. His trial is set to begin in August 2025, and if convicted, he could face the death penalty.
What We Know About the Survivors
Mortensen and Funke, who lived in the off-campus house with victims Goncalves, Mogen, and Kernodle, survived the attack. According to previously released court documents, Mortensen told investigators she was awakened by noises early that morning and later saw a masked man in black clothing walking past her toward the sliding glass door before leaving.
Now, newly revealed text messages between Mortensen and Funke provide insight into their panic during and after the murders. The new court filings clarify that both surviving roommates were actively communicating during the time frame of the murders. Their messages indicate growing anxiety as they attempted to reach their friends but received no response.
Surviving Roommates' Terrified Text Exchange
The court documents show that at around 4:22 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022, Mortensen texted Funke, writing, "I'm freaking out rn," after seeing a man wearing something that resembled a ski mask inside the home, according to BBC.
Funke responded with disbelief, texting back, "Stfu."
Mortensen insisted she was serious, writing, "I'm not kidding (I) am so freaked out." Funke then urged her to "come to my room" and later told her to "run," as reported by PEOPLE.
The texts suggest that both roommates were alarmed but may not have immediately realized the severity of the situation. Despite their growing concerns, authorities were not called until around noon the next day, after one of the victims, Xana Kernodle, was found unresponsive.
Lingering Questions
The new details highlight the terror inside the house that night, but they also raise questions about why the police were not contacted sooner. The 911 call, made hours after the texts, came from Funke's phone and was placed by an unidentified person. In the call, the caller reported that a roommate was "passed out" and "not waking up," according to BBC, seemingly unaware of the full extent of what had happened.
As the case moves toward a summer 2025 trial, the testimony of Mortensen and Funke will likely play a key role in establishing the timeline of events and potentially strengthening the prosecution's case against Kohberger.
References: Chilling Texts Reveal Surviving Roommates Were 'Freaking Out' After Not Being Able to Contact Idaho College Students on Day of Killings | 'I'm freaking out': Text messages show housemates' panic during Idaho students' murders | Bryan Kohberger case: Idaho court releases surviving roommates' text messages from night of student murders
