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'Bryan Kohberger didn't see her': Web sleuths debate why Idaho key witness Dylan Mortensen wasn't killed

A Reddit user suggested Dylan Mortensen was spared because she was not one of Bryan Kohberger's intended targets

This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently.

MOSCOW, IDAHO: The probable cause affidavit filed against Bryan Christopher Kohberger has shocked the Internet and given rise to multiple theories about the Idaho murders. According to the affidavit, surviving housemate Dylan Mortensen is the 'key witness' who saw the killer. Internet users have since been positing various theories about why Kohberger spared the eyewitness. 

Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 20, and Madison Mogen, 20, were stabbed to death in their sleep on November 13, while housemates Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen survived. Kohberger, who was apprehended in Monroe County, Pennsylvania on December 30, was denied bail in his first court appearance in Idaho on Thursday, January 5. The affidavit claims he left behind a knife sheath with his DNA on it.

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'He let her live'

A Twitter user wondered why Kohberger let the witness live. "Dylan was standing right there and he let her live. Which seems pretty wild. He walked right on past her and out of the door," wrote the user. Another replied, "I wonder if he didn’t see her, or maybe he did but he was too exhausted from the murders he just committed. It’s really difficult to say honestly…"

Someone suggested Kohberger experienced tunnel vision and might not have seen Mortensen in the dark. "I feel like Bryan had tunnel vision at that point. He accomplished his goal and was full of adrenaline. I’m thinking he didn’t really see Dylan and she stood frozen in the dark," they wrote.

'He was trying to act as fast as possible'

Similar theories appeared on Reddit too as users suggested Mortensen went unseen by the killer. "I think its highly possible he did not see her.. If she only cracked the door open, he is focused on his pathway out, he turns that corner to his right after leaving X's room, and he pretty much has to turn right AGAIN in like 3 steps (also there's a landing step there, so he's probably not even looking left towards her door, if it was only cracked open a bit its possible in his fluster to get out he just completely missed her.." one wrote.

Another concurred, "This is what I think also. I think he was trying to act as fast as possible and because it was dark he just didn’t see her as he was gunning for the exit."

Some floated the theory that Mortensen was spared because she was not one of Kohberger's intended targets. "It said that he was walking towards her so she locked her door and hid. It’s possible he saw her but since she wasn’t one of his ‘targets’ he didn’t bother. But you’d think if he saw her, he would want to at least get rid of any potential witnesses," a user said.

Others speculated that exhaustion or lack of preparation on Kohberger's part might have saved Mortensen's life. "I'm wondering if he was exhausted or his arm was shaky from the exertion. I also lean toward he did not see her even though she saw him," someone wrote. "And he probably wanted to get the heck out of there. Seems like such an amateur in his preparation. I bet he didn’t realize how difficult it is to stab multiple people. He probably thought it would be a breeze," added another.

'He thought Mortensen had called 911'

Another theory that emerged was that Kohberger assumed Mortensen called 911 and the police were on their way, “My guess is that he had assumed DM had called 911. It’s possible that when she came face to face with him, he thought police were already on the way which is why he left at a high rate of speed. Also why he didn’t take time to attack DM. He most likely wanted to get far away and not go directly home in case police in the Moscow/Pullman area had been notified,” wrote a user.

"He probably thought she already called 911. How ever loud it got - it’s going to be loudest where BK was and he doesn’t know what was heard further away. He’s probably afraid if he attacked DM LE would catch him in the house or as he was trying to drive away," added another.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online