University of Idaho student murders: Here’s what we know—and what we don’t

CNN
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As the University of Idaho mourns the loss of four students killed in an attack at an off-campus home last weekend, the community remains in crisis over the few details surrounding the students’ deaths and the lack of an identified suspect.

The four students – Ethan Chapin, 20; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Madison Mogen, 21 — were found stabbed to death Sunday on the second and third floors of the Moscow, Idaho, home, according to authorities.

Key details of how the horrific attacks unfolded remained unclear Friday, even as the Moscow Police Department provided an update on the wide-ranging investigation that involved federal, state and local law enforcement.

Police revealed that the four victims were “probably asleep” before the attack began in the early hours of Sunday morning and each had been stabbed multiple times. The attacks were not reported to authorities until around noon that day, police said.

A week after the killings rocked the small college town of about 26,000, investigators have not identified a suspect or found the murder weapon used to carry out the gruesome attacks.

“We’re trying to expedite anything that could lead to a suspect,” Latta County District Attorney Bill Thompson told reporters. “I wish we had more answers and (detectives) are still asking questions.”

Here’s what we know — and don’t know yet — as the investigation continues.

The slayings of all four victims have been ruled murders by stabbing, according to Latta County Coroner Kathy Mabbutt. Of the victims, “some had defensive wounds,” Moscow police said in their latest update on Friday.

But it is not clear how many of the victims, or which victims exactly, had defensive wounds.

Earlier this week, Xana Kernodle’s father revealed that his daughter fought her attacker to the very end.

“Bruises torn by the knife. She’s a healthy child,” Jeffrey Kernodle told CNN affiliate KPHO/KTVK in Avondale, Arizona.

When Mabbutt arrived at the crime scene, she saw “a lot of blood on the wall,” she told CNN.

Each victim was stabbed multiple times — possibly with the same weapon, Mabbott said, without specifying how many wounds or where most were located.

Moscow police also indicated on Friday that the victims were not “bound and gagged” during the attack. Autopsies on the victims found no signs of sexual abuse, Mabbutt said.

When police arrived at the home after a 911 call, the door was open and there was no damage inside, Moscow Police Chief James Fry said. There was no evidence of forced entry, he said.

One of the doors used to access the home has a keypad lock that requires a code to enter, according to Jeffrey Kernodle.

Alivea Goncalves — Goncalves’ sister — noted that the residence was known as a “party house” and had been for some time.

“So I’m not going to say they were very personal with that code,” Goncalves told ABC World News Tonight.

The house also has a sliding door that can be used for entry, Jeffrey Kernodle told KPHO/KTVK.

Along with the lack of identification of the suspect, police have yet to find the weapon used in the murder.

To that end, investigators have asked local businesses for information on recent purchases of a “fixed blade knife.” Moscow police did not provide further information on these details.

Hoping for tips from the community, investigators on Friday released a map and timeline of the victims’ movements last weekend. The map shows that the four students spent most of the night separated into pairs.

Chapin and Kernodle attended a party at the Sigma Chi fraternity house from 8 to 9 p.m. local time on Saturday.

Goncalves and Mogen were at the Corner Club sports bar between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The couple was then seen ordering from a food truck, according to a live Twitch stream from the truck.

While they waited about 10 minutes for their food, they talked to each other as well as to other people standing by the truck. The person driving the truck told CNN that the couple did not appear to be in trouble or in any way.

Goncalves and Mogen used a “private party” for a ride, arriving home at 1:45 a.m., police said in their update. All four victims returned to the house around 1:45 a.m. Sunday.

Alivea Goncalves told the New York Times that there were seven unanswered calls made from her sister’s phone to her ex-boyfriend between 2:26 a.m. and 2:52 a.m., based on information from phone logs that Alivea Goncalves was able to retrieve. downloaded from his sister’s phone provider.

She told the New York Times that the frequency of the calls was not unusual, and her sister often called people repeatedly until they picked up the phone.

CNN made numerous attempts to contact Alivea Goncalves this week. The boyfriend’s mother told CNN on Saturday that she had no comment out of respect for the Gonsalves family’s wishes.

Two other roommates were home at the time of the attack and were found unharmed, Fry said earlier this week. Moscow police “do not believe” the two surviving roommates or a man seen on video from the food truck were involved in the crime, the department said Friday.

Aaron Snell, director of communications for the Idaho State Police, told ABC that the surviving roommates could provide some important leads in the investigation.

“Potentially they’re witnesses, potentially they’re victims,” ​​Snell said in an interview with ABC’s Kaina Whitworth. “They’re potentially the key to this whole thing.”

Authorities hope the roommates will be able to help them “figure out what happened and why,” Snell said.

“This is their story to tell,” he said. “No one has been ruled in or out as a person of interest and/or suspect. All are still being investigated,” he said.

Police said they received a 911 call around noon Sunday reporting an unconscious person inside the home. Caller not identified.

By late Friday afternoon, investigators had completed 38 interviews of people “who may have information about the murders,” Moscow police said.

Authorities also seized items from three dumpsters near the house to examine for potential evidence, police said Friday. No further search updates have been revealed.

Detectives were working on nearly 500 reports received as of late Friday afternoon, police added. The Moscow Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from the Idaho State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Latah County Sheriff’s Office.

University officials have provided email advice line at the Moscow police on Friday.

The university announced that it will hold a candlelight vigil in memory of the four slain students.

A vigil will be held on campus on November 30, According to university on Friday, and those unable to attend in person are also invited to participate in the ceremony.

“Please join us from wherever you are, individually or as a group, to help us light up Idaho. Light a candle, turn on the stadium lights, or observe a moment of silence with us as we unite on campus,” the university said. The vigil will be held after the Thanksgiving break to allow more people to attend.

University of Idaho President Scott Greene sent a memo Thursday encouraging students to take their best course of action as the university community processes the murders.

“We must remain flexible this week and allow our students and colleagues space to process these unprecedented events in their own way,” Green said. “Students, we encourage you to do what is right for you. Whether it’s getting home early or staying on time, you have our support.”