Idaho student murders: Chilling new clue found as hunt for vicious killer continues

Cami Mondeaux

December 03, 12:19 PM December 03, 12:19 PM

A student at the University of Idaho reported strange footprints that were found near her home located less than a mile away from the off-campus home where four students were killed last month.

A university student reported footsteps in the snow leading up to her back patio that weren’t present when she left her home to go to class around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, according to a police report.

The tip comes as police have reported a significant increase in the number of 911 calls claiming “unusual circumstances” and requests for welfare checks as students grapple with the quadruple stabbings that occurred on Nov. 13. Police have not identified a suspect or retrieved a weapon despite investigators collecting more than 100 pieces of physical evidence and over 4,000 photos and 3D scans of the home, according to officials.

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Four students, identified as Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were slain on Nov. 13. Each was killed in bed and stabbed in the chest and upper body with a large knife.

As of Sunday, law enforcement officers have gotten 78 calls for unusual circumstances and 36 welfare check requests from family members since the Nov. 13 attack, officials said. That’s an increase from the 70 calls and 18 welfare checks that were received throughout the duration of October.

Officials in Moscow, Idaho, initially reported that they believed the deaths were the result of an “isolated, targeted attack” by someone who had “specifically looked at this residence.” However, police backtracked on these statements on Wednesday, explaining they resulted from a “miscommunication” with the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office.

“Detectives do not currently know if the residence or any occupants were specifically targeted but continue to investigate,” city officials said in a statement on Wednesday.

Investigators further clarified the next day, releasing a statement noting that "we remain consistent in our belief that this was a targeted attack, but investigators have not concluded if the target was the residence or if it was the occupants."

Police are asking the community to submit tips or any possibly relevant information by calling 208-883-7180 or emailing tipline@ci.moscow.id.us.

Investigators have already received more than 260 media submissions that people have submitted via an FBI form, and authorities are processing more than 1,000 tips, according to police. Investigators have also completed at least 150 interviews.