Idaho homicide - live: University town on edge as killer who stabbed four students to death still at large

An Idaho college town remains on edge on Wednesday as the killer or killers who stabbed four students to death in a brutal “targeted” attack is still at large three days on from the slayings.

The bodies of University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were found in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, at around midday on Sunday.

Just hours earlier, one of the group had shared smiling photos of the four friends on her Instagram page.

The victims died of stab wounds from an “edged weapon such as a knife” that has not yet been recovered, police said on Tuesday.

Their deaths have been ruled as homicides, but no arrests have been made and no suspect or suspects named.

Despite the killer remaining at large, police have insisted that it was an “isolated, targeted attack” and that there is no “ongoing threat” to the community.

Key Points

• Smiling victims pictured together one day before killings

• Idaho students’ cause of death revealed

• Police say no threat to the community

• Grieving family pay tribute to Kaylee Goncalves

More information about mystery deaths expected Wednesday

10:00 , Rachel Sharp

More information about the mystery deaths that have rocked the small town of Moscow, Indiana, is expected to be released on Wednesday.

The Moscow Police Department said in a statement late on Tuesday night that they “hope to have more information tomorrow”.

The department thanked the public for its patience, saying that officials “have shared every piece of information that we can without compromising the ongoing investigation”.

On Tuesday, police finally released the cause of death of the four students, revealing that they had each been stabbed to death.

Besides that, very little is known about the killings or the suspect who remains at large.

Police have not revealed if they have a suspect or suspects in mind.

Local police try to reassure concerned community

09:45 , Rachel Sharp

Moscow Police Department released a statement late on Thursday night seeking to reassure the small college town that there is “no ongoing threat” following the quadruple murders of the four students on Sunday.

The community of Moscow is on edge and many students have left town after Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were found stabbed to death in an off-campus home.

Police have said that the attack was “targeted” and that there is no active threat to the community – despite having no suspect in custody.

In Tuesday’s statement, police doubled down on its assertion that the public is not in danger while also urging people to be “vigilant”.

“We would like to address community concerns about public safety. We hear you, and we understand your fears,” the statement read.

“We want you to know that we, like you, have been devastated and distressed by these young lives that were cut short needlessly. We determined early in the investigation that we do not believe there is an ongoing threat for community members. Evidence indicates that this was a targeted attack.

“At this time, we have shared every piece of information that we can without compromising the ongoing investigation.”

The statement continued: “First and foremost, we continue to be steadfastly committed to ensuring the safety of our community. We want answers and deeply desire to see this case solved thoroughly and quickly and to bring justice for Ethan, Madison, Xana and Kaylee and their families.  We owe it to them, their families, and this community to do all that we can do and do it well.

“We are working closely with Idaho State Police investigators and with the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office. We are utilizing many other resources within the law enforcement community to bring about a fast resolve to this incident. As soon as we have more information that we are able to share with the community, state and nation, we will.

“This incident highlighted that violence is possible in our own community and in every community. Until this case is completely resolved, we ask the community to continue to be vigilant, alert, report suspicious activity and help us to be the eyes and ears in our community.”

Four friends posted photos enjoying Idaho college life. Hours later they were killed. What happened?

09:30 , Bevan Hurley

Two days after four students were found dead in an off-campus home, no arrests have been made and no suspects named.

So why are authorities insisting there is no danger to the community?

Rachel Sharp reports.

Four friends posted photos enjoying Idaho college life. Hours later they were killed

Family of Idaho quadruple stabbing victim ‘anxiously awaiting updates’

08:30 , Bevan Hurley

The sister of University of Idaho stabbing victim Xana Kernodle has told ABC News that the family are “anxiously awaiting updates on the investigation”.

Jazzmin Kernodle said in a statement that her sister had “so much life left to live”.

“She was so lighthearted, and always lifted up a room,” Jazzmin told ABC News.

“She made me such a proud big sister and I wish I could have more time with her.”

In a text to the New York Times on Monday, Jazzmin said she and her family were “confused” about what had happened and hoped to get more information from law enforcement by Tuesday.

Mother of Idaho stabbing victim rebuts ‘crime of passion’ speculation

07:30 , Bevan Hurley

Stacey Chapin, the mother of University of Idaho homicide victim Ethan Chapin, has pushed back against speculation about the horror stabbing that left four dead in comments to the Idaho Statesman.

Moscow Mayor Art Bettge told the New York Times in an interview on Monday that the quadruple homicide appeared to be a “crime of passion”.

Ms Chapin told the Statesman: “I don’t want people to make assumptions about our kids. It wasn’t drugs and it was definitely not some passion thing between these kids. Someone entered the house.”

Police say there is no ongoing threat to the community, but have not released any information about suspects or made any arrests.

Police say an ‘edged weapon such as a knife’ used in quadruple homicide

06:30 , Bevan Hurley

In its first substantive information release since four University of Idaho students were found dead on Sunday, City of Moscow police said in a statement on Tuesday that an “edged weapon” was used in the homicide.

Police responded to a call for an unconscious individual just before midday on Sunday and found the bodies of Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, at an off-campus house.

Police described the homicides as an “isolated, targeted attack” and said there was “no imminent threat to the community at large”.

Autopsies are scheduled for later in the week, Moscow police said.

Timeline: What we know so far about the murder of four University of Idaho students

05:57 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Officials say the students were killed between 3am and 4am on Sunday morning, just hours after one of them posted smiling photos on Instagram.

Timeline: What we know so far about the murder of four University of Idaho students

Mystery deepens over four University of Idaho students found dead

05:30 , Bevan Hurley

Moscow Mayor Art Bettge urged citizens not to worry for their own safety, calling the homicide of four students “a targeted, one-off situation” .

Moscow police likewise said that they did not believe there was an “ongoing community risk” based on their preliminary investigation, although no suspects had been arrested as of Monday night.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to each and every person affected by this incident,” the police department said.

Read more.

Mystery over four University of Idaho students found dead in ‘crime of passion’

‘Four students stabbed to death and no one knows who did it, but there’s no threat? What?’

04:30 , Bevan Hurley

University of Idaho students and their families are gripped with fear after hearing little from law enforcement about the horror quadruple homicide in Moscow on Sunday.

Many have taken to social media to question the lack of clear information about the stabbings of four students from town officials.

Annie Reneau, who says she is the mother of a U of I senior, wrote a lengthy Twitter thread that summed up the community’s fears.

“I’m not sure if people who aren’t directly tied to the University of Idaho in some way understand how little information students, parents and community members have gotten about the murder of 4 students in an off-campus apt two days ago,” she wrote.

“It took over 24 hrs to find out who had been killed which, okay yes, families have to be notified, obvs. But 24 hrs is a long time. Almost 48 hrs to find out how they died—nothing but ‘it’s a homicide.’ This is a small town. Murders are rare, and four students at once? WTH.

“A shelter in place order after the bodies were discovered, then lifted after an hour because the PD don’t believe there’s an ongoing threat. But no suspect. NO SUSPECT. Four students stabbed to death and no one knows who did it, but there’s no threat? What?

“Police believe it was an isolated, targeted attack. Okay, but somebody who was crazy/angry/drugged up/whatever enough to stab four people to death, even if targeted, is out there somewhere. I’m not generally paranoid, but that doesn’t sit well, does it?”

Mayor calls homicides a 'crime of passion'

03:41 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The mayor of Moscow, Idaho, has called the killing of four students there a “crime of passion”.

Art Bettge said that the authorities were still investigating what had transpired but that the case was being treated as a homicide. He added that “the overall assessment is that it’s a crime of passion”.

“With a crime of this magnitude, it’s very difficult to work through,” Mr Bettge said. He said that the police will need to piece together the mystery.

Stacey Chapin, the mother of University of Idaho homicide victim Ethan Chapin, however, has refuted the “crime of passion” angle.

Ms Chapin told the Statesman: “I don’t want people to make assumptions about our kids. It wasn’t drugs and it was definitely not some passion thing between these kids. Someone entered the house.”

Friends set up fundraisers for University of Idaho stabbing victims

03:30 , Bevan Hurley

Friends of the University of Idaho quadruple victims have set up fundraisers to help their families.

A GoFundme page for Madison “Maddie May” Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves had raised more than $18,000 on Tuesday evening.

“Our hearts are so broken with the tragedy and loss of the U of I students,” the page organiser wrote.

A friend of Xana Kernodle set up a separate GoFundme to help cover funeral costs for her family, which had raised more than $16,000 by Tuesday evening.

“Waking up and realising it’s a day Xana wont be in - is unbearable,” the organiser wrote.

The parents and siblings of Ethan Chapin, who was dating Kernodle, donated $1,000 to the fundraiser.

Four friends posted photos enjoying Idaho college life. Hours later they were killed. What happened?

02:30 , Bevan Hurley

Two days after four students were found dead in an off-campus home, no arrests have been made and no suspects named.

So why are authorities insisting there is no danger to the community?

Rachel Sharp reports.

Four friends posted photos enjoying Idaho college life. Hours later they were killed

Police say an ‘edged weapon such as a knife’ used in quadruple homicide

01:30 , Bevan Hurley

In its first substantive information release since four University of Idaho students were found dead on Sunday, City of Moscow police said in a statement on Tuesday that an “edged weapon” was used in the homicide.

Police responded to a call for an unconscious individual just before midday on Sunday and found the bodies of Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, at an off-campus house.

Police described the homicides as an “isolated, targeted attack” and said there was “no imminent threat to the community at large”.

Autopsies are scheduled for later in the week, Moscow police said.

Idaho restaurant where two victims worked shuts down to ‘process and grieve’

00:30 , Bevan Hurley

A restaurant in Moscow, Idaho, has shut down to “process and grieve” after two servers were killed in the University of Idaho quadruple homicide.

The Mad Greek restaurant posted a moving tribute to Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen on Facebook about the “deep sadness” staff felt at losing “two of their own”.

“Xana and Maddie have been servers here for several years and brought so much joy to our restaurant and all of those they encountered. Maddie was also the face behind our social media pages.

“With this incredible loss, we have shut down to process and grieve. Our deepest sympathies go out to all of the friends and families of Xana, Maddie, Ethan and Kaylee.”

Triplet Ethan Chapin remembered as smart and athletic student

00:00 , Bevan Hurley

Ethan Chapin, one of four University of Idaho students killed on Sunday, has been remembered as a beloved member of the community of Conway, Washington, where he grew up.

Chapin, a triplet with sister Mazie and brother Hunter, attended Conway School and Mount Vernon High School where he played on the basketball and tennis teams, neighbour and family friend Dave Hayton told King5.

“You just couldn’t ask for better kids,” Mr Hayton told the news site, adding he was a smart and athletic student.

A local school superintendent told GoSkagit.com that they had offered counselling to students.

“Ethan and the Chapin family have family, friends, and connections to Conway who are also feeling the depth of this loss,” a school official told the site.

Police are looking for a suspect in connection with the homicides.

Mystery deepens over four University of Idaho students found dead

Tuesday 15 November 2022 23:30 , Bevan Hurley

Moscow Mayor Art Bettge urged citizens not to worry for their own safety, calling the homicide of four students “a targeted, one-off situation” .

Moscow police likewise said that they did not believe there was an “ongoing community risk” based on their preliminary investigation, although no suspects had been arrested as of Monday night.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to each and every person affected by this incident,” the police department said.

Mystery over four University of Idaho students found dead in ‘crime of passion’

Three female victims of University of Idaho slaying lived at house where murders took place

Tuesday 15 November 2022 23:00 , Bevan Hurley

University of Idaho stabbing victims Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, all lived at the off-campus house where the gruesome quadruple homicide took place, a friend has told the Idaho Statesman.

Maya Hippenstiel told the Statesman two other women also lived at the address.

The fourth victim Ethan Chapin was dating Kernodle and was spending the night at the address, his mother Stacey Chapin told the Statesman.

Authorities are yet to name a suspect, but say there is no ongoing danger to the community.

‘Four students stabbed to death and no one knows who did it, but there’s no threat? What?'

Tuesday 15 November 2022 22:30 , Bevan Hurley

University of Idaho students and their families are gripped with fear after hearing little from law enforcement about the horror quadruple homicide in Moscow on Sunday.

Many have taken to social media to question the lack of clear information about the stabbings of four students from town officials.

Annie Reneau, who says she is the mother of a U of I senior, wrote a lengthy Twitter thread that summed up the community’s fears.

“I’m not sure if people who aren’t directly tied to the University of Idaho in some way understand how little information students, parents and community members have gotten about the murder of 4 students in an off-campus apt two days ago,” she wrote.

“It took over 24 hrs to find out who had been killed which, okay yes, families have to be notified, obvs. But 24 hrs is a long time. Almost 48 hrs to find out how they died—nothing but ‘it’s a homicide.’ This is a small town. Murders are rare, and four students at once? WTH.

“A shelter in place order after the bodies were discovered, then lifted after an hour because the PD don’t believe there’s an ongoing threat. But no suspect. NO SUSPECT. Four students stabbed to death and no one knows who did it, but there’s no threat? What?

“Police believe it was an isolated, targeted attack. Okay, but somebody who was crazy/angry/drugged up/whatever enough to stab four people to death, even if targeted, is out there somewhere. I’m not generally paranoid, but that doesn’t sit well, does it?”

Four friends posted photos enjoying Idaho college life. Hours later they were killed. What happened?

Tuesday 15 November 2022 22:00 , Bevan Hurley

Two days after four students were found dead in an off-campus home, no arrests have been made and no suspects named.

So why are authorities insisting there is no danger to the community?

Rachel Sharp reports.

Four friends posted photos enjoying Idaho college life. Hours later they were killed

Family of Idaho quadruple stabbing victim ‘anxiously awaiting updates’

Tuesday 15 November 2022 21:40 , Bevan Hurley

The sister of University of Idaho quadruple stabbing victim Xana Kernodle has told ABC News that the family are “anxiously awaiting updates on the investigation”.

Jazzmin Kernodle said in a statement that her sister had “so much life left to live”.

“She was so lighthearted, and always lifted up a room,” Jazzmin told ABC News.

“She made me such a proud big sister and I wish I could have more time with her.”

In a text to the New York Times on Monday, Jazzmin said she and her family were “confused” about what had happened and hoped to get more information from law enforcement by Tuesday.

Mother of Idaho stabbing victim rebuts ‘crime of passion’ speculation

Tuesday 15 November 2022 21:20 , Bevan Hurley

Stacey Chapin, the mother of University of Idaho homicide victim Ethan Chapin, has pushed back against speculation about the horror stabbing that left four dead in comments to the Idaho Statesman.

Moscow Mayor Art Bettge told the New York Times in an interview on Monday that the quadruple homicide appeared to be a “crime of passion”.

Ms Chapin told the Statesman: “I don’t want people to make assumptions about our kids. It wasn’t drugs and it was definitely not some passion thing between these kids. Someone entered the house.”

Police say there is no ongoing threat to the community, but have not released any information about suspects or made any arrests.

Idaho restaurant where two victims worked shuts down to ‘process and grieve’

Tuesday 15 November 2022 20:45 , Bevan Hurley

A restaurant in Moscow, Idaho, has shut down to “process and grieve” after two servers were killed in the University of Idaho quadruple homicide.

The Mad Greek restaurant posted a moving tribute to Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen on Facebook about the “deep sadness” staff felt at losing “two of their own”.

“Xana and Maddie have been servers here for several years and brought so much joy to our restaurant and all of those they encountered. Maddie was also the face behind our social media pages.

“With this incredible loss, we have shut down to process and grieve. Our deepest sympathies go out to all of the friends and families of Xana, Maddie, Ethan and Kaylee.”

Four friends posted photos enjoying Idaho college life. Hours later they were killed. What happened?

Tuesday 15 November 2022 20:25 , Bevan Hurley

Two days after four students were found dead in an off-campus home, no arrests have been made and no suspects named.

So why are authorities insisting there is no danger to the community?

Rachel Sharp reports

Four friends posted photos enjoying Idaho college life. Hours later they were killed

University of Idaho president ‘heartbroken'

Tuesday 15 November 2022 20:05 , Bevan Hurley

Scott Green, the president of the University of Idaho, said he and wife Gabriella are “heartbroken” after four students were killed at an off-campus home in Moscow over the weekend.

“Words cannot adequately describe the light these students brought to this world or ease the depth of suffering we feel at their passing under these tragic circumstances,” Mr Green said in a statement released on the university website.

“No one feels that loss more than their families and friends. The university is working directly with those affected and is committed to supporting all students, families and employees as this event undeniably touches all of us.”

Candlelit vigil to honour murdered students

Tuesday 15 November 2022 19:45 , Bevan Hurley

A candlelit vigil will be held to honour four University of Idaho students who were stabbed to death on Sunday.

Idaho Public Radio tweeted that the event will be held on the Administration Lawn in Moscow at 5pm local time on Wednesday.

Grieving family pay tribute to Idaho homicide victim Kaylee Goncalves

Tuesday 15 November 2022 19:25 , Bevan Hurley

The family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of four University of Idaho students who were killed has described her as their “defender and protector”.

Goncalves, 21, was found stabbed to death at an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on Sunday.

“Kaylee was, is, and always will be our defender and protector,” her sister Alivea told KREM2.

Goncalves was the middle sister of five siblings, and was the “fairness fighter” of the family, Alivea told the news site.

“She did absolutely everything she set her mind to. She didn’t hold back on love, fights or life. Kaylee was the ultimate go getter and constantly wanted an adventure.”

Police say the four friends were stabbed to death. They have not yet arrested any suspects.

Mayor says students were killed in ‘crime of passion’

Tuesday 15 November 2022 19:05 , Megan Sheets

Moscow Mayor Art Bettge reacted to the University of Idaho student slayings by saying he believed they were a “crime of passion”.

He declined to explain that belief to the New York Times, saying only: “It seems to have some of the hallmarks thereof.”

Asked to elaborate by The Spokesman-Review, a newspaper based not far across the state border in Spokane, Washington, Mr Bettge said he had reached that judgement via process of elimination.

“We don’t really know what it was,” he admitted.

Nevertheless, Mr Bettge urged citizens not to worry for their own safety, calling it “a targeted, one-off situation” that was “not likely to be repeated”.

Read more:

Mystery over four University of Idaho students found dead in ‘crime of passion’

Police say no threat to the community

Tuesday 15 November 2022 18:45 , Megan Sheets

Police described the University of Idaho student slayings as “an isolated, targeted attack” and continued to insist “there is no imminent threat to the community at large” in an update on Tuesday.

It is not clear what evidence has led investigators to that conclusion.

Two days on from the slayings, the murder weapon has not been recovered, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been named. While police have said that they are treating the incident as a homicide and are seeking a suspect, they have not confirmed whether or not they have a suspect or suspects on their radar.

Investigators are currently working to establish a timeline of the victims’ movements on the evening of 12 November and early morning of 13 November as part of the probe.

Smiling victims pictured together one day before killings

Tuesday 15 November 2022 18:25 , Megan Sheets

On Saturday – just hours before their murders – 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves had shared photos of the four victims and some of their other friends on her Instagram account.

In one carefree image, the group had their arms around each other, lifted each other on their shoulders and smiled into the camera.

“One lucky girl to be surrounded by these ppl everyday,” Goncalves captioned the post.

Hours later, four of the friends were dead.

Idaho students’ cause of death revealed

Tuesday 15 November 2022 18:19 , Megan Sheets

The four University of Idaho students found dead in an off-campus home over the weekend were all stabbed to death in an “isolated, targeted attack” – with the killer still at large.

The bodies of Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were found inside a home on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, at around midday on Sunday.

Police had responded to the property after receiving a mysterious 911 call reporting an “unconscious individual”.

When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the four friends – all sorority or fraternity members at the college – dead inside the home.

On Tuesday, Moscow Police released new details about the murders, revealing that all four victims were killed with “an edged weapon such as a knife”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp reports:

Four Idaho students found dead in off-campus home were stabbed in ‘targeted attack’