Although it is by no means set in stone, this month’s recent actions in the case of the four University of Idaho students murdered back on Nov. 13, 2022, could eventually lead to a trial. Yes, a trial for the man who offered a guilty plea last July in the deaths of Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
Bryan Kohberger, a graduate student at Washington State University at the time of the murders, was arrested in late December 2022 at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. Although Kohberger maintained his innocence for a period of time, he did ultimately plead guilty.
Now, Kohberger looks to a court-appointed public defender as he takes back his guilty plea, claiming, among other things, that his previous legal counsel did not properly represent him last summer.
For many of us, having followed the case from day one, there are still various questions we want answers to.
Some of those questions revolve around the two surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke.
Mortensen appeared in the courtroom last summer, facing the man she and others claim murdered her four friends that November morning in the home the five women rented in Moscow. Funke chose not to appear in court, though a friend read a statement from her.
While I have never thought the two survivors were directly involved with the murders, I don’t for a second believe they do not know more than they let on.
Among the questions I would have for them if they were called to the stand and under oath, should a trial take place:
- What did you do for nearly eight hours between the reported timing of the murders and finally deciding to call 911?
- If you (Dylan) saw a masked stranger in the home, as was reported, why not call police? Did you think it was a prank? Were you too drunk and/or on drugs to not comprehend what was going on at the time?
- If Kaylee’s dog was in fact in her bedroom while she slept down the hall in Maddie’s room, didn’t the dog bark at any point from say 4:15 a.m. up to noontime? One would think it would want to be left out of the room to go use the bathroom, get food and water, etc. I find it hard to believe the dog slept for eight hours straight.
- You were unable to reach your three roommates and Ethan via text or phone calls during this eight or so hour time period. Did you ever think about going to one of the bedrooms and knocking on the door to make sure all was okay?
- If, in fact, you were both huddled down in Bethany’s first-floor room for eight or so hours, neither of you went up to the kitchen to get food or drink all that time? While there was a bathroom on the bottom floor, there was no indication that there was a refrigerator down there or any means to make food.
- Did you ever see any illegal drugs in the home during the time you lived there?
- If you looked out front window and saw the vehicles of your roommates there all morning, would you not figure some or all of them were home at the time?
While Dylan and Bethany are not on trial, they should be two of the first people called to testify should a trial take place.
It just makes sense you would want to hear from the only two people to make it out of that home alive.
DavidAlanThomas 