Nov. 19 – The Moscow Police Department on Friday released new details of the murder case involving four University of Idaho students and ruled out three people as suspects.
No suspect is in custody and the murder weapon has not been found.
Detectives are asking the public for additional guidance to further their investigation into the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.
According to Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt, the four students were likely sleeping at the King Road residence when they were stabbed. Some had defensive wounds. There were no signs of sexual assault.
Police found the four victims at the King Road residence around noon on Sunday, along with two surviving housemates. Detectives do not believe these two roommates were involved in the crime. The identity of the 911 caller who alerted police to an unconscious person has not been released.
The Moscow Police Department posted a map on Facebook showing the locations where the four students were last seen before they were attacked.
The map shows Chapin and Kernodle were seen at the Sigma Chi house on the UI campus between around 8 and 9 p.m. Saturday. They met at the King Road residence at around 1:45 a.m. Sunday. The map does not take into account their location between 9 p.m. and 1:45 a.m.
Mogen and Goncalves were seen at the Corner Club on Main Street between 10 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 a.m. Sunday. They then visited the Grub truck on Main Street around 1.40am before returning to the King Road residence around 1.45am after being driven by a “private party”, police said in an update to their Press release.
Video surveillance showing Mogen and Goncalves at the Grub Truck also shows an unnamed man. Police do not believe this man was involved in the crime.
“Furthermore, online reports of victims being bound and gagged are not accurate,” police said.
Detectives are also looking at possible evidence in three dumpsters that were seized in King Road.
“In addition, detectives have contacted local businesses to determine if a fixed blade knife was recently purchased,” police said.
Investigators have received nearly 500 tips and have conducted 38 interviews with individuals so far.
Anyone near the areas where the victims were last seen and who has observed suspicious behavior, has CCTV or can provide relevant information is asked to call the information line at (208) 883 -7180 or email [email protected].
Police have been more open since holding a press conference on the case on Wednesday.
In the first days after the investigation began on Sunday, emails from members of the Moscow City Council to city officials expressed disappointment with the way information about the killings was conveyed to the public and to the press.
In an email Wednesday to City Council and City Supervisor Bill Belknap, Councilman Hailey Lewis urged Mayor Art Bettge not to take questions from the media about the case.
“Mayor Bettge, I believe it is imperative that you no longer answer questions from the media in any capacity,” Lewis wrote in an email obtained by a request for the Daily News tapes. “Even what you may think is a non-response is used as a response in the media – saying you weren’t informed by the police doesn’t help.”
Bettge was quoted in the New York Times on Monday describing the murders as a “crime of passion.” He later clarified to the Daily News that this quote was part of a larger comment that “it could have been: a crime of passion, a botched burglary or a robbery gone wrong.”
Lewis urged the city to appoint a single spokesperson to communicate with the media. Idaho State Police Director of Communications Aaron Snell is now the point of contact for media inquiries regarding the case.
In emails sent on Tuesday and acquired by the Daily News’ request for records, councilors Anne Zabala and Julia Parker expressed frustration with the police department, initially saying there was no threat to the public even if the suspect had not been identified or arrested. Police have backtracked on that statement and asked the public to remain vigilant as long as the killer is still free.
Zabala and Parker both urged the city to hold a press conference. On Wednesday, a press conference was held with Moscow Police Chief James Fry, UI President Scott Green and PSI Colonel Kedrick Wills.
Kuipers can be reached at [email protected].
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