Idaho police are appealing for information about a white Hyundai Elantra that was in the “immediate vicinity” of the Moscow home where four students were found dead.
The car was found near the King Road in the “early hours” of November 13 the same morning Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were found dead in their off -Campus found home.
Police believe the vehicle’s occupants may have “critical information” about the murder, for which the state has already committed $1 million to investigate.
Authorities did not explain why they believed the vehicle was somehow involved in the incident and said they did not know the car’s license plate number.
Police were also seen Wednesday at the King Road home removing victims’ personal belongings.
Moscow Police Department released archive images of a white Hyundai Elantra (pictured) as they went to speak to the occupants of a similar vehicle found near the home of the four University of Idaho students who were murdered on November 13. Police believe the occupants of the vehicle contained “possibly important information” about the murder
Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were found dead at their off-campus home last month
Police officers arrived with boxes around 9.40am local time Wednesday and entered the scene of last month’s massacre, with Moscow Police Chief James Fry joining the effort and personally driving a U-Haul filled with the personal belongings.
About a dozen police officers and other personnel entered the home, which is still taped as an active crime scene. Once inside, they closed the front door, which is decorated with a Christmas wreath.
Among the items removed from the home were victim Madison Mogen’s favorite pink cowboy boots, which have sat undisturbed in a window since Nov. 13, when the four University of Idaho students inside were fatally stabbed while they slept.
“We just went in to get the stuff and we’re just trying to get stuff back to the families so they can graduate,” Fry told reporters before driving off in the rented U-Haul.
Three weeks after the grisly murders, police still have no suspects and no murder weapon, but Fry insisted the case hasn’t gone cold.
“We have a job to do and we will do it to the best of our ability. We owe it to families, we owe it to victims, we owe it to our community. We’ll keep going,’ said Fry.
“We’re at this point in the investigation where we’re still gathering information, we’re still gathering tips, we’re still gathering evidence,” Fry said in an earlier video statement released by the department.
Police in the college city of Idaho, where four college students were murdered in their off-campus home, have begun the gruesome task of removing the victim’s personal belongings
Moscow Police Chief James Fry drives a U-Haul full of personal belongings on Wednesday
Members of the Moscow Police Department and the Idaho State Police on Wednesday collected and removed the personal items and property from the quadruple homicide’s home
Among the items removed from the home were victim Madison Mogen’s pink cowboy boots, which had sat undisturbed in a window since the November 13 murders
“But there also comes a time when the family needs to have those things back, the ones where we can get them back,” he added. “They reclaimed some of those things, so we’re ready to take care of that.”
Chief Fry explained why he wanted to personally help with the packing and removal of items from the house.
“We will return these items to the families. It’s time we got back the things that really matter to these families and hopefully help in their healing,” Fry said.
“I’m a father, so I understand the meaning behind some of these things,” added the chief, whose department has been scathingly criticized by victims’ families for perceived missteps and delays in investigations.
Kaylee and Madison had spent the evening visiting a sports bar and food truck while Xana and Ethan visited Ethan’s frat house, which was a short walk from Xana’s house
The Moscow Police Department, a tiny 36-strong force leading the complex investigation, said in a statement personal belongings are being transported from the home to a secure location where family members can view and retrieve them.
“The home remains an active crime scene and the investigation continues to make progress,” the department said.
“Moscow police and investigative partners continue to work with the victim’s families on the investigation and ongoing developments,” the statement added.
The victims are believed to have been killed in their sleep after returning home from a Saturday night.
Kaylee and Madison had spent the evening visiting a sports bar and food truck while Xana and Ethan visited Ethan’s frat house, which was a short walk from Xana’s home, where they were killed.
Housemates Kaylee Goncalves, 21, killed in home invasion; Madison Mogen, 21 (together left); Xana Kernodle, 20; and Xana’s friend Ethan Chapin, 20 (together right)
Three weeks after the killings, police have not identified a suspect or the murder weapon, and victims’ families have more questions than answers.
Kaylee’s father, Steven, has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the Moscow Police Department’s investigation, which he “fucked up a million times over” in a recent Fox News interview.
He said he hopes a personal attorney will be able to compel investigators to release any evidence they have to the public.
“There are things we can request and things we can do to get to the truth more quickly,” he said. “You have to fill out forms to have that evidence made available to you. I don’t know how to do this.’
“There seems to be confusion everywhere. It’s just absurd what’s happening right now.’
Among his frustrations at the department’s lack of transparency was its refusal to reveal the alibis of certain people, which they say have been cleared of any suspicion.
“If you don’t share your alibi, you’re afraid that your alibi isn’t strong enough to share with the community because that gives them an opportunity to verify it,” Goncalves said.
He also expressed frustration that investigators refused to explain why they thought there was no connection between the recent stabbings that took place in both Washington and Oregon.
“Don’t treat us like a bunch of little kids,” he said. “You say it has nothing to do with it. Then tell us why it’s not related.’
“They screwed it up a million times. But I can’t say that because what’s Steve’s experience?’ he added. “He does not know. He’s just a father who woke up one day and turned his life upside down.’