Kaylee Goncalves’ family are defending the surviving housemate who saw Idaho as a ‘killer’ but didn’t call the police

The family of Idaho murder victim Kaylee Goncalves is defending the surviving roommate who claims she saw the ‘killer’ but didn’t call the police.

Dylan Mortensen, who survived with roommate Bethany Funke while their four friends were stabbed Nov. 13, did not call police but still gave police information about the suspect, attorney Shanon Gray told Fox News.

Gray, who represents the Goncalves family, said Mortensen was probably “scared to death” when she met the man and insisted she was “still a victim in this case”.

“The fact that she was able to provide additional ID is an advantage in this case, I think,” Gray said. “She could kind of give the type and the physique and what [the suspect] looked like a bit – bushy eyebrows, things along those lines.

The Goncalveses are the last to defend Mortensen after the housemate of a woman who suffered a brutal attack in 1992 said she also had a delayed reaction during a similar scenario.

Dylan Mortensen was one of two housemates to survive the brutal Idaho murder case that claimed four of her friends. It was revealed that Mortensen saw the murder the night of the crime but did not call the police

Despite the revelation, victim Kaylee Goncalves’ family (above) said Mortensen was likely “scared to death” that night, noting they were still speaking to police about what she saw

Suspect Bryan Kohberger (pictured) was facing the death penalty as he is accused of killing Goncalves, Madison Mogen, both 21, Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, both 20, at their home off campus on November 13

Pictured: Kaylee’s father Steve, who has spoken out about the case

Goncalves, Madison Mogen, both 21, Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, both 20, were stabbed to death in the bed of a home in Moscow, Idaho — with Mortensen and Funke the only survivors.

Suspect Bryan Kohberger, 28, faces the death penalty if convicted of the quadruple murders.

This week, a probable cause affidavit revealed that Mortensen heard several scuffles and opened her door on the night her roommates were murdered.

Mortensen told police she saw a suspect dressed all in black with a mask covering her face and heard one of her roommates say, “There’s someone here.”

Mortensen “said she opened her door for the third time after hearing the crying and seeing a figure dressed in black and wearing a mask covering the person’s mouth and nose approaching.”

She heard the suspect say, “It’s okay, I’m here to help you,” as the person stalked the home and committed the quadruple murders.

The affidavit adds, “DM described the character as being 5ft 10” or taller, male, not very muscular but of athletic build with bushy eyebrows.

Mortensen hasn’t revealed why she didn’t call authorities sooner, but some argue she may have been “frozen” in fear.

Alanna Zabel, 50, said she could understand she too had a delayed reaction as she pieced together the horrific 1992 attack on her sorority.

(LR) Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee’s shoulders), Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke

Alanna Zabel, 50, found her college roommate near death in her bloodied room in 1992 and has defended the belated response of University of Idaho quadruple homicide survivor Dylan Mortensen

Pictured: Investigators remove one of the mattresses from the crime scene

Zabel lived in a house with five sorority sisters off the University of Buffalo campus and said she could relate to the “agony” Mortensen and Funke feel.

She said she too had a delayed reaction and felt guilty that she had fallen asleep despite hearing muffled heavy breathing in her roommate’s room – and didn’t call the police until the next day.

“Someone followed us and broke in one night when we were partying and drinking late,” she said.

“They brutally beat and raped my roommate. I found her six hours later and she almost died.’

“At first I didn’t see any blood even though the room was covered with it,” she said.

Zabel said she went through a similar situation and lived with the guilt of not calling 911 sooner.

“I’ve lived with the guilt my entire life for not calling 911 sooner. I didn’t see the attacker or any sign of the break-in until I found my roommate the next morning,” she said.

“I can only imagine the guilt this surviving roommate in Idaho must have felt. I also called 911 and reported an unconscious person because I didn’t understand the magnitude of what happened.

She went on to say when you live in an environment like college, where having strangers in your home becomes normal, it’s hard to “fathom” a tragedy like this.

“You don’t want to believe it’s true. Being so young I can imagine she went into shock, it’s a true defense mechanism to survive,” she said.

Investigators said they found Kohberger’s DNA at the crime scene

Kohberger was arrested 2,532 miles from the scene

The blood-soaked bodies of Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle and Chapin were found by police just before noon after Mortensen and Funke – two housemates who survived the killings – woke up at around 11am to find their friends dead.

The brutal killings shocked Moscow — a small college town in Idaho of just 26,000 people — which hadn’t seen a murder since 2015.

Police this week unseal an arrest affidavit that explains why they pointed the finger at Kohberger, 28, more than a month after the four students were murdered in their beds.

He was denied bail during a brief court appearance in Moscow on Thursday, shortly after the affidavit outlining part of the case against him was shared online.

The papers included details of how Kohberger’s DNA was found on a knife sheath near the bodies of Mogen and Goncalves.