On November 13th, four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death in their off-campus home. When officers arrived on the scene, they reported finding “lots of blood” on the walls of the second and third floors of the home – where Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen were found.
While investigators confirmed each body had multiple stab wounds, they weren’t specific about how many stab wounds or where those stab wounds were located. They did, however, confirm some of the bodies had defensive stab wounds on their hands. Autopsies found no signs of sexual assault on the bodies.
On Friday, the City of Moscow Police Department posted an update on their official Facebook page. Despite speaking with dozens of people who “may have information” and collecting trash from nearby dumpsters as potential evidence, authorities have yet to find the weapon and have no one in custody.
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In the update, they gave a timeline of the events that transpired that night. Ethan and Xana spent about an hour at a Sigma Chi fraternity house, while Kaylee and Madison were at a sports bar for more than three hours before stopping at a food truck on their way home. All four victims were home by 1:45 AM.
Later that day, the police responded to a 911 call that ‘reported an unconscious individual’ – they haven’t yet released the identity of the 911 caller. They have, however, determined that the victims were ‘likely asleep’ when attacked and that there were two other roommates in the house at the time – both survived.
While the investigation is ongoing, authorities don’t believe the two surviving roommates were involved in the attack. They were also initially looking at a male individual who was seen near Kaylee and Madison at the food truck – which was streaming live on Twitch at the time. The girls ordered their food and left.
“We cannot say there’s no threat to the community. And as we have stated, please stay vigilant, report any suspicious activity and be aware of your surroundings at all times,” said Moscow Police Department Chief James Fry. They remain focused on finding the murder weapon and, most importantly, the suspect.
University of Idaho Students React to the Ongoing Investigation
The University of Idaho is usually a busy campus this time of year, but that wasn’t the case all week with a murderer on the loose and little information coming from the police department. “Everybody kind of just went back home because they’re scared. … It’s definitely uneasy on campus right now,” said one student.
When police learned of the incident, students started receiving Vandal Alerts on their phones – warning them to “stay away from the area and shelter in place.” Most students decided to leave campus and head home, but those that stayed have been left with more questions than answers – which is frustrating.
“We are all still working through our grief and a range of emotions. Compounding this is the frustration and concern that no one has been arrested for these crimes. Students, you are encouraged to do what is right for you. Whether this is going home early or staying in class, you have our support,” said the University president.
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The University of Idaho is planning a candlelight vigil sometime after the holiday – it was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but they decided to change it. The police are urging anyone with information about the victims or potential suspects to please call the Tip Line at 208-883-7180 or email tipline@ci.moscow.id.us.
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