Idaho murders - update: Police search for white Hyundai Elantra seen near Moscow murder house
Moscow Police is looking to speak with the owner of a white Hyundai Elantra seen near the scene of the murders in the early hours of 13 November.
“Investigators believe the occupant(s) of this vehicle may have critical information to share regarding this case,” the department said in a statement on Wednesday.
“If you know of or own a vehicle matching this description, or know of anyone who may have been driving this vehicle on the days preceding or the day of the murders, please forward that information to the Tip Line.”
Moscow Police said that the vehicle, a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra with an unknown license plate, was seen in the immediate area of the 1122 King Street residence where Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, were killed.
The car was seen near the home during “the early morning hours” of 13 November, when the brutal stabbings took place.
The update is perhaps the most substantial development after weeks of reminders from law enforcement that only information that didn’t hinder the investigation would be released.
No arrests have been made, no suspects named and the murder weapon has not been recovered.
Key points
Police say individuals cleared as suspects may be reinterviewed
Kaylee Goncalves’ family mull legal options
Police chief breaks down as he vows case ‘not going cold’
Victims' belongings to be returned to families
Details revealed about Kaylee Goncalves’ ‘stalker’ claim
Idaho police address rumours about ‘hoodie guy’ seen near Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen hours before murders
11:20 , Rachel Sharp
A Twitch livestream from the Grub Truck in Moscow, Idaho, captured the man standing nearby Goncalves and Madison Mogen on the night of 12 November, hours before the women were stabbed to death along with their roommate Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin at an off-campus home.
While the man was cleared by Moscow police shortly after the video emerged, Goncalves’ father Steve Goncalves suggested that police may have ruled him out too quickly in his interview with the Post, claiming that he’d heard the man had since left the country and declined a DNA test.
On Wednesday, Idaho State Police spokesperson Aaron Snell told The Independent that investigators are “aware of the rumours”, but did not confirm or deny them.
“The person in question continues cooperating with the investigation,” Mr Snell added.
The Independent has the story:
Idaho police address rumours about ‘hoodie guy’ seen near victims before murders
Father turns to private investigators amid lack of updates
11:00 , Rachel Sharp
Steve Goncalves, whose daughter Kaylee Goncalves was brutally stabbed along with her friends Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin on 13 November, told the New York Post on Sunday - three weeks after the killings - that he has turned to private investigators for help.
His decision to seek outside help stems from a lack of confidence in the Moscow Police Department, which has been working with the Idaho State Police and the FBI on the murders.
Mr Goncalves noted that one of the officers in the investigation was only a teenager when Moscow saw its last murder in 2015. “So they’re just inexperienced — and I don’t want anyone making mistakes in my child’s case,” he said.
The lack of updates from law enforcement has caused frustration among the victims’ parents, students on campus, and locals who fear what the killer could do while still at large.
Police have yet to release updates about DNA results returned last week
10:40 , Rachel Sharp
Idaho State Police Communications Director Aaron Snell told Fox News Digital last week that investigators were starting to receive the results from forensic testing more than two weeks after Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death at an off-campus house on 13 November.
Mr Snell refused to confirm or deny if any DNA not belonging to the four victims or the two surviving roommates had been found at the crime scene.
Despite hopes that the forensics could finally provide some clues to lead police to the killer, authorities have yet to comment on any of the findings.
Boyfriend of Idaho murder victim speaks publicly for the first time
10:20 , Rachel Sharp
Jake Schriger, a fellow student at the university who had been dating Mogen for nearly a year, spoke about his 21-year-old girlfriend at a vigil in Post Falls, Idaho, on 2 December.
Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death in their off-campus home in the college town of Moscow on 13 November. Three weeks later, the police are yet to name a suspect in the quadruple murder.
“None of these people deserved this,” Mr Schriger said in front of the families of the victims in Kernodle’s hometown.
“She was the first person I talked to every morning and the last person I talked to before bed,” he said, adding: “She was the person that I loved most.”
Dog found unharmed inside the home did not tamper with the crime scene
10:00 , Rachel Sharp
Moscow Police said in an update on Monday that Murphy, the pet dog that victim Kaylee Goncalves shared with her former long-term boyfriend, was found in a room where the crimes had not been committed.
“Officers did not find any evidence on the dog and there was no indication the animal had entered the crime scene,” the statement said.
It remains unclear where Murphy was physically located when the murders took place, police said.
Investigators previously revealed that the dog was found inside the home when officers arrived on the scene of the murders on 13 November.
Moscow police reveal Kaylee Goncalves’ ‘stalker’ incident
09:40 , Rachel Sharp
In a statement on Monday, the department said on Facebook that they are aware of an “isolated” incident involving Goncalves and two men back in October. The men, who reportedly followed Goncalves into a business and as she returned to her car, are not believed to be involved in the murder, Moscow police said.
“In mid-October, two males were seen inside a local business; they parted ways, and one male appeared to follow Kaylee inside the business and as she exited to walk toward her car. The male turned away, and it did not appear he made any contact with her,” the post read.
It continued: “Detectives contacted both males and learned the two were attempting to meet women at the business, this was corroborated through additional investigation. Based on available information, detectives believe this was an isolated incident and not an ongoing pattern of stalking. No evidence suggests the two males were involved in the murders.”
These 11 questions could hold the key to solving the Idaho murders
09:20 , Rachel Sharp
While police won’t say what they do know, they have resorted to debunking some of these online theories that they know to be incorrect.
But, with each piece of information revealed or each theory debunked, dozens more questions emerge about the case.
Here, The Independent takes a deep dive into the mountain of unsolved questions – and the scant details we do know.
These 11 questions could hold the key to solving the Idaho murders
From campus to club to crime scene: What happened in the Idaho murder victims’ final hours
09:00 , Andrea Blanco
They did what they’d do on any Saturday night.
Could clues to the Idaho killings lie in victims’ ordinary evenings?
Reporting from Moscow, The Independent’s Sheila Flynn outlines the four young students’ final hours:
Campus to club to crime scene: Final hours of Idaho college murder victims
Father of Idaho victim says daughter may have been prime target and ‘means of death’ don’t all match
08:30 , Andrea Blanco
Steven Goncalves, father of 21-year-old Kaylee, said that the suspect went upstairs where his daughter and her best friend Mogen, 21, were sleeping on the same bed on the top floor, which was out of the way of the killer’s entry point.
Authorities said that the perpetrator entered the house through a sliding glass door or window on the second floor of the home, which meets a hill on the ground level in the backyard.
The other two victims — Kernodle and Chaplin — were found dead on the second floor of the house.
Read more:
Father of Idaho murder victim says his daughter may have been prime target
Investigators are seeking surveillance footage from ‘two areas of interest'
08:00 , Andrea Blanco
Businesses and homes within the geographical areas are being asked to share all outside surveillance video taken between 3am and 6am on 13 November – whether there appears to be motion and content or not.
The areas include: West Taylor Ave (north boundary), West Palouse River Dr (south boundary), Highway 95 south to the 2700 block of Highway 95 S (east boundary) and Arboretum & Botanical Garden (west boundary).
“Investigators have determined the two areas of interest within the city and have provided maps which are on our Facebook page and on our website,” Captain Lanier said on Sunday.
“And these are areas that they have canvassed for additional surveillance video and tips and have contacted several residents in the areas.”
Everything we know about the 911 call
07:30 , Andrea Blanco
The 911 call was made at 11.58am on 13 November and originated from the phone of one of the two roommates who survived the attack.
A dispatcher was told there was “an unconscious individual.”
Authorities have since revealed that other “friends” were present in the house when the 911 call was made after they were “summoned by the roommates.
“The surviving roommates summoned friends to the residence because they believed one of the second-floor victims had passed out and was not waking up,” a statement by Moscow PD read.
“Multiple people talked with the 911 dispatcher before a Moscow Police officer arrived at the location. Officers entered the residence and found the four victims on the second and third floors.”
Police have refused to reveal who made the 911 call and will not release the audio.
When pressed by The Independent on why the call could not be released, the department said: “The contents are exempt from public disclosure because the records are active investigatory records which, if released, would interfere with enforcement proceedings...”
It is unclear what the roommates and “other friends” discussed in the call and what led them to describe a victim as merely “unconscious”.
It is also unclear what the roommates and friends saw inside the home before placing the 911 call.
ICYMI: Here’s everything we know about the ‘messy’ crime scene
07:00 , Andrea Blanco
Describing the crime scene to Today, coroner Ms Mabbutt said that there was “quite a bit of blood”.
DNA has been recovered from the home, which Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle shared with at least two other roommates.
Those roommates were home at the time of the killings but apparently were unaware of the murders until hours later. Nearly three weeks after the killings, police revealed a sixth person may have lived at the home.
Police have taken more than 4,000 pictures of the residence after the murders. The door appeared to be unlocked with no sign of forced entry and nothing seemed to have been taken, investigators said.
The bodies were found in the victims’ beds on the second and third floors, leading authorities to believe they were asleep when killed.
At a vigil on 30 November, Goncalves’ father revealed that his daughter and Mogen were in the same bed when they were killed.
Goncalves’ parents had previously said that they had been told by authorities that the investigation is moving slowly because the killer left behind a “mess” of evidence.
Steve and Kristi Goncalves said they’ve heard from police that the crime scene is sprawling and chaotic.
“They’re telling us that there’s so much evidence that it’s going to take a lot of time to process it all,” Mr Goncalves told Fox News. “This wasn’t like a pinpoint crime. This person was sloppy.”
A neighbour told Fox that the victims often hosted gatherings at the home and had a lot of people coming in and out of the residence, which could potentially complicate crime scene analysis.
Officers investigate a homicide at an apartment complex south of the University of Idaho campus on Sunday, 13 November.
University of Idaho alumna raised $20,000 for personal alarms in wake of murders
06:00 , Andrea Blanco
Kerry Ulhorn, a 37-year-old former member of the Delta Gamma sorority, told The Independent that she wanted to help students feel safe in the college town after four sorority and fraternity members were stabbed to death in a brutal knife attack back on 13 November.
“The hope is that these will give the students on campus a small sense of security and also just let them know that their alumni and others deeply care about keeping them and the university that we love a safe space for them to be,” she said.
The Independent’s Io Dodds and Rachel Sharp have the story:
Ex-University of Idaho student raises $20,000 for personal alarms after murders
Moment fake reporter questions police about Idaho murders
05:30 , Andrea Blanco
A woman has been exposed as falsy posing as a journalist to question police about the killing of four University of Idaho students.
Everything we know about the murder weapon
05:00 , Andrea Blanco
Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt revealed that each victim was stabbed multiple times with a “large knife”, describing their wounds as “pretty extensive” and revealing that they bled out inside their student home.
“I’ve been a coroner for 16 years... we have had multiple [victim] murders in the past, but nothing, nothing like this,” she said.
Police have now revealed that they believe the murder weapon was a fixed-blade knife and confirmed that they had visited local stores to inquire about any recent purchases.
A local store owner previously said that officials had been especially interested in sales of a military-style Ka-Bar or “Rambo” knife.
No murder weapon has been found.
President of University of Idaho fraternity where Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle spent final hours speaks out
04:30 , Andrea Blanco
Ethan Chapin was a member of Sigma Chi and attended a party at the frat house with her girlfriend Xana Kernodle just hours before they were killed. They were at the party from 8pm to 9pm on 12 November before returning to the home where they were killed at around 1.45am.
It remains a mystery where they were in the roughly five hours between the two places.
Reed Ofsthun, president of the university’s Sigma Chi chapter, told reporters on Tuesday that the fraternity is fully cooperating with the investigation.
“As of right now, we’ve told Moscow PD, Idaho State Police and the FBI all we know,” Mr Ofsthun told NewsNation.
Read our story:
President of fraternity where two victims spent final hours speaks out
Cars seized from murder house by authorities languish in snow
04:00 , Andrea Blanco
The five vehicles seized from the house where four students were murdered have now been left languishing in the snow in an outdoor parking lot.
Last week, investigators towed the vehicles – some of which belong to the victims – away from the property on King Road to a storage facility.
The vehicles had already been searched but are being held as the investigation continues.
Photos captured by Fox News have now revealed that the cars have been left in the snow exposed to the elements – as well as potential trespassers – for the past week.
Rumours and conspiracy theories debunked by investigators
03:30 , Andrea Blanco
While officials are remaining tightlipped about key parts of the investigation including why they believe the murders were targeted, they have debunked several online rumours and ruled out potential ties to the killings.
Moscow Police dispelled a false rumour circulating online that the four victims had been bound and gagged during the brutal attack.
The department also ruled out a connection between the murder and two other stabbings in 1999 and 2021.
Idaho college murders: The rumours and conspiracy theories ruled out
Murdered Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves died in same bed as her best friend
03:00 , Andrea Blanco
On Friday, Steven Goncalves spoke about the strong bond between his daughter Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both killed on 13 November.
“They just found each other, and every day they did homework together, they came to our house together, they shared everything,” he said.
He added: “Then they started looking at colleges, they came here together. They eventually get into the same apartment together.”
“And in the end, they died together, in the same room, in the same bed.”
Former FBI agent says case could take ‘a long time’ to solve
02:30 , Andrea Blanco
Jennifer Coffindaffer, a former FBI agent who worked 25 years for the agency, told NBC News on Wednesday that it could be a long time before the murderer of four University of Idaho students is brought to justice.
“This is a case that only the most experienced crime techs can solve and answer,” Ms Coffindaffer said. “It’s going to take a long, long time.”
The veteran former agent said on Twitter that the case, which entered its third week on Sunday, could test the patience of law enforcement.
“True joint LE effort with local, state & federal authorities coming together to do everything in their power to solve this case,” she added. “This case will test patience as LE examines evidence to find the killer.”
‘We’re gunna get our justice’: Parents share warm memories and grief at vigil for slain Idaho students
02:00 , Andrea Blanco
During a vigil last week, Steve Goncalves, father of the slain Kaylee Goncalves, vowed to get justice for the victims.
“We’re gunna get our justice,” he continued. “We’re gunna figure stuff out. This community deserves that.”
The event concluded with a reading of the victims’ names along with a moment of silence, as students held lights and phones up in the air.
The Independent’s Jos Marcus has the story:
‘We’re gunna get justice’: Parents share memories and grief at Idaho murders vigil
Video: Idaho police to return belongings to families of victims
01:30 , Andrea Blanco
Moscow Police Chief James Fry, along with members of the department, have started to collect and remove some of the victims’ personal belongings from the crime scene.
The items removed are no longer needed for the investigation and will be returned to the families.
“Anyone near the residence Wednesday morning is asked to keep roads clear. Movement of the items will be done as privately as possible in an effort to maintain respect for the victims and their families,” the department said in a statement.
Moscow Police urges the public not to engage in speculation
01:00 , Andrea Blanco
Three weeks into the investigation of the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, and Ethan Kernodle, police have yet to name a suspect in the killings.
On Wednesday, the department reminded the public not to engage in speculation.
“At this time, no suspect has been identified and only vetted information that does not hinder the investigation will be released to the public,” the department said.
“We encourage referencing official releases for accurate information and updated progress.”
Kaylee Goncalves’ family considers legal action
00:30 , Andrea Blanco
The grieving family of murdered student Kaylee Goncalves is considering legal action to force police to release information about the case, as tensions continue to mount between law enforcement and the victims’ families.
Law enforcement officials are remaining tight-lipped about several details of the brutal killings, including who may have been the target of the attack.
Some of the victims’ families are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of information, with Goncalves’ father Steve Goncalves accusing officials of “messing up a million times” during the ongoing probe.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
Murdered Idaho student’s family mull legal action as tensions mount with police
Moscow Police give potential breakthrough update on car seen near the murder scene
Wednesday 7 December 2022 23:53 , Andrea Blanco
Moscow Police said that the vehicle, a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra with an unknown license plate, was seen in the immediate area of the 1122 King Street residence where Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, were killed.
The car was seen near the home during “the early morning hours” of 13 November, when the brutal stabbings took place.
“Investigators believe the occupant(s) of this vehicle may have critical information to share regarding this case,” the department said in a statement on Wednesday.
“If you know of or own a vehicle matching this description, or know of anyone who may have been driving this vehicle on the days preceding or the day of the murders, please forward that information to the Tip Line.”
Former tenant of Idaho murder house tells why surviving roommates may not have heard killings
Wednesday 7 December 2022 22:51 , Andrea Blanco
Moscow Police’s announcement early in the investigation into the slayings of Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen that two roommates had been in the home during the violent murders but were not “necessarily considered witnesses” raised questions about how they were seemingly able to sleep through it.
The surviving roommates are thought to have arrived nearly an hour before the victims and were on the first floor when the killings took place between 3am and 4am, authorities have said.
A 911 call was then made at 11.58am from the cellphone of one of the roommates.
A former tenant of the residence, which is just five minutes away driving from the University of Idaho, has now come forward saying that it was not unusual for him not to hear noises from the upper levels when he was downstairs.
“I wouldn’t have heard it from downstairs,” 43-year-old Ryan Augusta told Fox News Digital last week.
Victim’s father turns to private investigators amid lack of updates from ‘inexperienced’ police
Wednesday 7 December 2022 22:03 , Andrea Blanco
Steve Goncalves, whose daughter Kaylee Goncalves was brutally stabbed along with her friends Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin on 13 November, told the New York Post on Sunday - three weeks after the killings - that he has turned to private investigators for help.
His decision to seek outside help stems from a lack of confidence in the Moscow Police Department, which has been working with the Idaho State Police and the FBI on the murders.
Read the story:
Idaho murder victim’s frustrated father is seeking help from private investigators
Investigators found no evidence on Kaylee Goncalves’ dog
Wednesday 7 December 2022 21:09 , Andrea Blanco
Moscow Police said in an update on Monday that Murphy, the pet dog that victim Kaylee Goncalves shared with her former long-term boyfriend, was found in a room where the crimes had not been committed.
“Officers did not find any evidence on the dog and there was no indication the animal had entered the crime scene,” the statement said.
It remains unclear where Murphy was physically located when the murders took place, police said.
Investigators previously revealed that the dog was found inside the home when officers arrived on the scene of the murders on 13 November.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the story:
Idaho police address rumours about ‘hoodie guy’ seen near Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen
Wednesday 7 December 2022 20:19 , Andrea Blanco
The man dubbed “hoodie guy” in online sleuth communities - who police previously said is not considered connected to the 13 November killings - became the target of renewed speculation this week after the father of slain student Kaylee Goncalves mentioned rumours around him in an interview with The New York Post on Monday.
A Twitch livestream from the Grub Truck in Moscow, Idaho, captured the man standing nearby Goncalves and Madison Mogen on the night of 12 November, hours before the women were stabbed to death along with their roommate Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin at an off-campus home.
Read the story:
Idaho police address rumours about ‘hoodie guy’ seen near victims before murders
Stepfather of University of Idaho murder victim pleads for updates three weeks on: ‘We’re angry’
Wednesday 7 December 2022 19:27 , Andrea Blanco
Speaking to Fox News Digital on Monday, Scott Laramie described the nightmare of losing his and his wife’s only child as “the hardest thing in the world.”
Mr Laramie is the stepfather of Madison Mogen, one of four students killed in Moscow.
“It’s still hard to believe sometimes. We get up in the morning, and it’s like, ‘Nah this isn’t happening,’ then it kicks in,” Mr Laramie told Fox.
“We love her and we miss her, and it’s the hardest thing in the world to try to figure out how to live without her.”
The Independent has the story:
Stepfather of University of Idaho murder victim speaks out: ‘We’re angry’
Former FBI agent says case could take ‘a long time’ to solve
Wednesday 7 December 2022 18:43 , Andrea Blanco
Jennifer Coffindaffer, a former FBI agent who worked 25 years for the agency, told NBC News on Wednesday that it could be a long time before the murderer of four University of Idaho students is brought to justice.
“This is a case that only the most experienced crime techs can solve and answer,” Ms Coffindaffer said. “It’s going to take a long, long time.”
The veteran former agent said on Twitter that the case, which entered its third week on Sunday, could test the patience of law enforcement.
“True joint LE effort with local, state & federal authorities coming together to do everything in their power to solve this case,” she added. “This case will test patience as LE examines evidence to find the killer.”
Ted Bundy’s defense attorney draws similarities between serial killer’s crimes and Moscow murder
Wednesday 7 December 2022 17:49 , Andrea Blanco
In an interview with Fox News Digital, John Henry Browne compared the crime scene at 1122 King Road to a “de facto sorority house,” which Bundy targeted during his violent crime sprees in the 1970s.
“Just the randomness of it is actually something that does stand out,” Mr Browne told the outlet.
“Of course, most of Ted’s misbehaviour was random. There were times when Ted would follow people and then decide not to kill them. And that was his way of exercising his grandiosity, you know, ‘I can control life here and there.’”
Rumours and conspiracy theories debunked by investigators
Wednesday 7 December 2022 16:26 , Andrea Blanco
While officials are remaining tightlipped about key parts of the investigation including why they believe the murders were targeted, they have debunked several online rumours and ruled out potential ties to the killings.
Moscow Police dispelled a false rumour circulating online that the four victims had been bound and gagged during the brutal attack.
The department also ruled out a connection between the murder and two other stabbings in 1999 and 2021.
Video: Moscow Police Chief speaks out
Wednesday 7 December 2022 15:50 , Rachel Sharp
Moscow Police Chief James Fry said on Tuesday that police will start returning personal items to the victims’ families.
Watch the video below:
Up to 40 percent of students haven’t returned
Wednesday 7 December 2022 15:30 , Rachel Sharp
Up to 40 percent of University of Idaho students have chosen not to return to campus for the remainder of the winter semester in light of the killer of four students still being at large.
Data from the college has revealed that around 60 to 75 percent of students are on campus – meaning around 25 to 40 percent are not.
In October 2022 – one month before the murders – the university was home to around 11,500 students.
The student population accounts for a large proportion of the small college town of around 25,000 people.
But, with no arrests made in the brutal murders, many students have chosen not to return.
Among those who have, many have changed their habits.
The Independent previously reported how students are arming themselves with guns and ordering deadlocks for their doors in efforts to keep them safe.
Murdered Idaho student’s family mulls legal action as police chief breaks down and vows case ‘isn’t cold’
Wednesday 7 December 2022 15:10 , Rachel Sharp
The grieving family of murdered student Kaylee Goncalves is considering legal action to force police to release information about the case, as tensions continue to mount between law enforcement and the victims’ families.
More than three weeks have now passed since Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were murdered in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, and police appear to be no closer to catching the killer.
No suspects have been named, no arrests made and the murder weapon – a fixed-blade knife – is yet to be recovered.
Law enforcement officials are remaining tight-lipped about several details of the brutal killings, including who may have been the target of the attack.
Some of the victims’ families are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of information, with Goncalves’ father Steve Goncalves accusing officials of “messing up a million times” during the ongoing probe.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
Murdered Idaho student’s family mulls legal action as tensions mount with police
Idaho police say individuals cleared as suspects in student murders may be reinterviewed
Wednesday 7 December 2022 14:50 , Rachel Sharp
Individuals who have already been cleared as suspects in the brutal murders of four University of Idahostudents may be reinterviewed by law enforcement as the investigation rumbles on for a fourth week and the killer remains at large.
Moscow Police Chief James Fry told Fox News on Tuesday that “cleared” individuals could still be called back in to speak with police if the evidence leads law enforcement back to their doors.
“We always have the option of re-interviewing,” he said.
“We’ve actually re-interviewed people two or three times because we’ll get tips, or we’ll get information that we need to verify again, and sometimes we need to ask the questions just a little bit different to ensure that we’re getting the proper information to continue on with this investigation. So, that happens regularly in all investigations.”
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
Idaho police say people cleared as suspects in student murders may be reinterviewed
Sigma Chi president says fraternity is cooperating with police
Wednesday 7 December 2022 14:30 , Rachel Sharp
The president of the Sigma Chi chapter at the University of Idaho has said that the fraternity is cooperating with the police investigation into the brutal murders of four students.
Victim Ethan Chapin was a member of Sigma Chi and he and girlfriend Xana Kernodle attended a party at the frat house just hours before they were killed.
The young couple attended the party from 8pm to 9pm on 12 November before returning to the home where they were killed at around 1.45am.
It remains a mystery where they were in the roughly five hours between the two places.
Reed Ofsthun, president of the university’s Sigma Chi chapter, told reporters on Tuesday that the fraternity is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Mr Ofsthun, who said that he knew Chapin as a member of the fraternity and Kernodle as a friend, revealed that there are no cameras in the Sigma Chi house that could help piece together the two victims’ final movements.
Cleared suspects could be called back to speak to police
Wednesday 7 December 2022 14:10 , Rachel Sharp
People who have already been cleared as suspects in the quadruple murder case could still fall under the spotlight and be called back for interviews with law enforcement, according to authorities.
Moscow Police Chief James Fry told Fox News on Tuesday that “cleared” individuals can still be called back in to speak with police if the investigation leads law enforcement back to their doors.
“We always have the option of re-interviewing,” he said.
“We’ve actually re-interviewed people two or three times because we’ll get tips, or we’ll get information that we need to verify again, and sometimes we need to ask the questions just a little bit different to ensure that we’re getting the proper information to continue on with this investigation. So, that happens regularly in all investigations.”
The police chief’s comments come after the mother of victim Kaylee Goncalves hit out at the speed with which some people were ruled out as suspects by police.
“I just feel like there have been a couple of individuals that were cleared very fast that maybe should not have been,” Kristi Goncalves told NewsNation last week.
Investigators have so far ruled out: a man caught on camera with Madison Mogen and Goncalves at a food truck, the person who gave them a ride home from the food truck, the two surviving housemates who were left unharmed and appear to have slept through the murders, other friends who were in the home when the 911 call was made alerting police to the murders and Goncalves’ former long-term boyfriend.
A sixth person listed on the lease of the student home and two men involved in a “stalker” incident with Goncalves around a month earlier are also not believed to be connected to the murders.
Police chief breaks down as he vows case ‘not going cold’
Wednesday 7 December 2022 13:50 , Rachel Sharp
Moscow Police Chief James Fry broke down in tears on Tuesday as he vowed that the case is “not going cold”.
The police chief became emotional in an interview with Fox News as he said that, as a father, the brutal murders of the four students “affects us”.
“This case is not going cold. We have tips coming in, we have investigators out every day interviewing people. We’re still reviewing evidence, we’re still looking at all aspects of this,” he said.
“I said early on that no stone will go unturned, and I mean that. We are going to continue. This case is not going cold.”
He revealed that the investigation is taking its toll on law enforcement as authorities are doing everything they can to catch the mass murderer.
“I’m a dad with daughters, and it’s tough. We’re human,” he said.
“We don’t go to these and just turn it off. It affects us. But we have a job to do, and we’re going to continue to do that job, going to continue to push forward.”
Idaho lawmaker warns of ‘snowballing disaster’ if killer isn’t caught
Wednesday 7 December 2022 13:30 , Rachel Sharp
An Idaho state lawmaker has warned there will be a “snowballing disaster” if the killer who knifed four students to death in their beds isn’t caught.
Idaho House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, a Democrat who represents parts of Boise, told local outlet KHQ on Tuesday that, if the case isn’t solved soon, the University of Idaho will likely face “collapsing enrollment” at the college.
“I think, actually, it’s going to be a snowballing disaster if they don’t get to the bottom of it,” she said.
“I’m really concerned that we’re going to see dropping enrollment at U of I. My daughter’s best friend is there. I know folks who are there who do not want to go back.
“I think they’re going to see collapsing enrollment. They’re going to see people transferring out.”
The lawmaker said that parents won’t want to send their children to a campus where a killer could still be at large.
“Nobody wants to send their kids to a community where they could face this kind of horror,” she said.
“It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, it’s every student’s worst nightmare. They have got to find the perpetrator.”
Vehicles seized from murder house languish in snow
Wednesday 7 December 2022 13:10 , Rachel Sharp
The five vehicles seized from the house where four students were murdered have now been left languishing in the snow in an outdoor parking lot.
Last week, investigators towed the vehicles – some of which belong to the victims – away from the property on King Road to a storage facility.
The vehicles had already been searched but are being held as the investigation continues.
Photos captured by Fox News have now revealed that the cars have been left in the snow exposed to the elements – as well as potential trespassers – for the past week.
