BOISE, Idaho — It’s been five days since four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death in an off-campus home, and a lot is still unknown about the attack, but Friday evening authorities released a few additional details.
In a Friday Facebook post, the Moscow Police Department said detectives do not believe that two roommates who survived or a man that was seen in a Twitch feed outside a food truck with two of the victims were involved in the crime.
Police also said unsubstantiated online reports that the victims were “tied and gagged” are not true.
The victims were Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene; Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls; and Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington. They were found dead in a home just behind old Greek row in the 1100 block of King Road. The three female victims lived there with at least two other women.
Chapin was dating Kernodle and was staying at the house that night.
As information slowly trickles in from the multiple local, state and federal agencies handling the case, so do rumors, misinformation and speculation. Idaho State Police spokesperson Aaron Snell told the Idaho Statesman by phone Friday afternoon that authorities do not plan to address specific rumors consistently, but if something specifically contradicts information they have released, they will speak up.
“We understand that there is frustration out there, but the length of investigation — most TV shows end in 60 minutes; however, this is a complex case, and it is going to take time,” Snell said.
“We won’t address individual rumors, speculations, those types of things, but we will attempt to the best of our ability to provide accurate information and in a timely fashion. With a caveat, though, that sometimes there’s not going to be information that we can provide.”
Authorities still have no suspect or motive behind the homicides. Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt has said the four victims were killed with “a large knife,” and the one-page autopsy report ruled the cause of death as “Homicide — Murder.”
Police are searching the contents of three dumpsters along King Road for evidence, according to the Friday news release, which also noted that the victims were likely asleep when first attacked and that some of them had defensive wounds. Each student was stabbed multiple times, and there was no indication that any of them were sexually assaulted.
The release attributed that information to the coroner.
Early Friday afternoon, the Moscow Police Department released a map and timeline of the whereabouts of Mogen, Goncalves, Kernodle and Chapin on Saturday evening and early Sunday before the attack.
Throughout the night the students had multiple interactions with many people in the tight-knit college town. Kernodle and Chapin were at a fraternity party at Sigma Chi, while Mogen and Goncalves spent the evening at the Corner Club, a local college bar, and then grabbed food at Grub Truck.
The childhood best friends Mogen and Goncalves took an Uber home.
Snell confirmed that police have attempted to identify and contact any individuals who may have information about the case. In Friday’s news release, police said that 38 interviews have been conducted and that they have received nearly 500 tips, which are still being “processed, investigated and cleared.”
Police still have not said who made the 911 call Sunday at around noon, and Snell declined to identify that person.
Snell also said that once someone has been cleared by police and is not a suspect, the public likely would be informed.
“I think that’s only fair for those individuals and for the community, so that way they have an idea,” Snell said.
The Moscow Police Department is leading the investigation but is being assisted by the Latah County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police and the FBI. There are over 120 law enforcement personnel working on the case.
Snell also said there was a dog in the home, and the dog “healthy and fine.” It’s unclear to whom the dog belonged.
