Idaho student murders: Police believe four killed in ‘targeted attack’
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A neighbour of the four murdered University of Idaho students has denied the “upsetting” rumours swirling about him online after Reddit sleuths cast suspicion on him in the wake of the brutal stabbings.
Student Jeremy Reagan said on Tuesday that he has “nothing to hide” but admitted that it was “upsetting being compared to a murderer” after his previous media interviews became the subject of intense online scrutiny.
His comments came as officials appeared to walk back previous claims that the killings were “targeted” with Latah County Prosecutor Prosecutor Bill Thompson now admitting that “perhaps isn’t the best word to use”.
On Wednesday, the Moscow community will hold vigils in honour of slain students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kerndole and Ethan Chapin, who were found butchered in their beds back on 13 November.
The vigils were delayed until after the Thanksgiving break as terrified students fled the town. Police call logs analysed by The Independent reveal that, in the aftermath of the murders, locals remain on edge and have called 911 multiple times to report “suspicious” men and other disturbing incidents in the area.
Last known movements: Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle
Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle spent the night of 12 November at a frat party at the Sigma Chi house on the University of Idaho Campus.
However, there is a large gap of time that police have not yet publicly accounted for.
The young couple were reportedly seen at the frat house from 8pm to 9pm.
They then arrived home to Kernodle’s house at around 1.45am.
Last known movements: Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen
Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen spent the night of 12 November at The Corner Club bar in downtown Moscow.
They arrived at the sports bar at around 10pm and left around 1.30am.
They then stopped by local food truck the Grub Truck at 1.40am.
Surveillance footage shows the two best friends at the truck ordering food, laughing and having a good time with each other and other students.
They then got a ride home from an unnamed “private party” – believed to be a sorority service – arriving at the house at 1.56am.
After arriving home, multiple calls were made from the phones of Goncalves and Mogen to the phone of Goncalves’ former longtime boyfriend. Between the two best friends, 10 calls were made between 2.26am and 2.52am. None of the calls were answered.
Why police won’t release killer’s profile:
Investigators are refusing to release a profile put together about the killer for fear that it will cast suspicion on “a wide variety of people”.
Idaho State Police communications director Aaron Snell told Fox News that officials were working on a profile of the supsect but would not be sharing it.
“It will potentially put more fear, more suspicion on a wide variety of people versus if we use that to really refine where we’re at in our investigation,” he said.
“I think that will be more pertinent.”
He added: “And so if we just provide information to the public, I just don’t think that that’s going to be a wise choice.”
It is not clear what “group of people” could become the focus of attention if a profile is released.
The four victims were all students and were all members of fraternities and sororities.
Idaho police investigation of murder house coming to end – despite no signs of students’ killer
Police in Idaho are wrapping up the investigation at the house where four University of Idaho students were brutally murdered – despite the killer still being at large and officials appearing to be no closer to solving the crime.
The three female students all lived at the three-storey home on King Road together with two other roommates and Chapin was staying the night with his girlfriend Kernodle.
Now 17 days into the investigation, the killer or killers are still at large with no suspects identified, no arrests made and the murder weapon still nowhere to be found.
Despite the lack of progress in the case, Idaho State Police Communications Director Aaron Snell revealed the investigation of the crime scene is coming to end.
“The collection of evidence at the house is coming to a conclusion,” he told Fox News Digital on Monday.
“It’s a very complex crime scene, and we’re doing a very thorough investigation.”
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
Two of the victims were found on the third floor of the home, with the other two on the second floor in a horror scene that officials described as ‘bloody’
The rumours and conspiracy theories ruled out by investigators
Two weeks have now passed since four University of Idaho students were brutally stabbed to death in the small college town of Moscow – with no suspects identified, no arrests made and the murder weapon nowhere to be found.
Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were found murdered in the off-campus home that the three female students shared in the early hours of 13 November.
The four victims were all stabbed multiple times with a fixed-blade knife and are believed to have died at around 3am or 4am that morning.
Their bodies went undiscovered for around eight hours when police were finally called to the home to a report for an “unconscious individual”.
Despite multiple law enforcement agencies being drafted in to work on the case, police appear to be no closer to catching the killer, leaving students and residents of the notoriously safe town racked by fear and social media awash with speculation.
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.
This is what police have ruled out so far:
From the outset of the investigation, Moscow authorities have insisted the attack was ‘targeted’ – but have refused to reveal what has led them to that conclusion
Weather forces university to move vigil
The extreme weather has forced the University of Idaho to move the vigil in memory of the four victims to a different location.
The university announced the location change on its Twitter page.
“LOCATION CHANGE: Please join the Moscow university community in a candlelight vigil Nov. 30 at the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center at 5 p.m. #VandalStrong,” read the statement.
Prosecutor refuses to confirm exact locations of bodies
A local official has refused to confirm the exact locations where the victims’ bodies were found inside the student home.
Latah County Prosecutor Prosecutor Bill Thompson told NewsNation on Tuesday that such information might only be known by the killer.
“As for as the victims who are deceased, I can’t say for sure [where they were found] and that would be one of the details that investigators would want to protect as very few people would know the exact locations of the victims in the house,” he said.
Mr Thompson also said that he didn’t know if the victims’ bedroom doors were left locked.
Police have revealed that two of the victims were found on the second floor, and the other two on the third floor – but have not confirmed who was where.
The two surviving students were in their bedrooms on the first floor of the house.
Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt previously said that the autopsies showed the victims were “likely” asleep when the killer struck. “Some” of the victims had defensive wounds, she said.
Police repeat cryptic message about ‘activities'
Moscow Police have reposted a cryptic message about the focus being on the investigation and “not the activities” as they urge people to come forward with any information no matter how big or small.
On Tuesday, the department reposted an earlier release asking for tips about “any odd or out-of-the-ordinary events”.
“Detectives are looking for context to the events and people involved in these murders. To assist with the ongoing investigation, any odd or out-of-the-ordinary events that took place should be reported,” the statement said.
“Our focus is the investigation, not the activities. Your information, whether you believe it is significant or not, might be a piece of the puzzle to help investigators solve these murders.”
Officials appear to be seeking to reassure students who may have encountered the victims in their final hours that they are not interested in any illicit or illegal activities that did not result in the victims’ deaths.
Prosecutor admits it ‘could be while’ before killer is caught
Local prosecutor Bill Thompson has revealed that law enforcement still doesn’t have any suspects on its radar, admitting that “it could” take some time before the killer is caught.
“I think it’s fair to say that there have been people of interest to the investigators and everyone that they’ve identified so far they’ve been able to exonerate. Perhaps, exonerate isn’t the best word. But they’ve been able to eliminate them as being an actual suspect,” he told NewsNation on Tuesday.
“And we do not have a name of a person or persons who are actual suspects. That’s what they’re focusing on still.
“I’m not aware of any single person with a name that we’re focusing on, the investigators are focusing on.”
He added that “it could” be some time before the case is solved, “or it could break open any time”.
This admission will not be welcome news to the victims’ families or to the terrified students and local residents of Moscow, living in fear that the killer could be walking among them.
No known link to drugs, no symbols left at crime scene
The killer did not leave any symbols at the crime scene and there is no reason to believe the murders are connected in any way to drugs, according to officials.
Latah County Prosecutor Prosecutor Bill Thompson told NewsNation on Tuesday that he “is not aware of anything like” symbols or signatures being left at the scene.
He added that he not aware of any suspicions that drugs or a drug deal gone wrong played a part in the killings.