Idaho student murders: Moscow police chief warns residents to 'stay vigilant' during busy weekend

Steff Thomas

December 10, 04:28 PM December 10, 04:28 PM

Moscow Police Chief James Fry has warned residents to "stay vigilant" ahead of the University of Idaho’s winter commencement weekend, which draws an "influx of people."

“With commencement this weekend, there will be an influx of people coming in from out of town. Moscow Police Department and Idaho State Police will provide coverage on campus and in the Moscow area,” said Fry on Saturday.

“As always, we want to remind the public to stay vigilant, travel in groups, and communicate with family and friends as you travel,” the MPD statement reads.

IDAHO STUDENT MURDERS: NEIGHBORS SAW FRONT DOOR ‘WIDE OPEN’ MORNING AFTER ATTACKS

The warning comes as the police department concludes its fourth week of investigations into the quadruple stabbings of students Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, and Madison Mogen that occurred on Nov. 13. Two other students survived the attacks and have since been cleared as suspects by police.

MPD provided an update on Saturday, sharing that more than 10 investigators joined the team to look into the unsolved deaths. Nearly 50 local and federal FBI agents are also working on the case.

“We're working steady on the investigation still. … We're still pushing forward,” Fry said, adding that while they’re continuing to receive items and conduct interviews, there’s not much more to share at this point.

Social media outlets have also blown up in recent weeks, particularly with true crime groups that have seemingly taken the matter into their own hands. Police have warned that the theories have led to the harassment of unnamed parties and are threatening criminal charges if web sleuths continue.

“Moscow Police Department cautions the public not to rely on rumors and remains committed to keeping the public informed,” read a Friday police statement.

Thus far, no suspects have been named in the investigation, and no weapon has been recovered.

MPD has also reached out to the community for any tips.

Any information can be shared with the tip line at 208-883-7180 or in an email to tipline@ci.moscow.id.us.

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.

IDAHO STUDENT MURDERS: AS MYSTERY GROWS, HERE ARE FOUR KEY QUESTIONS THAT HAVEN’T BEEN ANSWERED

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.