REVEALED: The lead investigator into the Idaho homicides is a US Army veterinarian with just TWO YEARS of police experience… as the desperate FBI adds agents and the families grow even more impatient
- Officer Brett Payne joined the Moscow Police Department in 2020 from the army
- Payne, 32, is now the “lead investigator” in the unsolved quadruple murder case
- Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin died on November 13
- The Idaho students were all brutally stabbed while they slept in their beds
- No one was arrested and the police still have no leads in the case
The lead investigator in the excruciatingly slow investigation into four murdered Idaho students is a 32-year-old US Army veteran who was prosecuted just two years ago.
It has been over five weeks since Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were brutally butchered in Moscow, Idaho, at the home the girls shared.
Her killer remains at large, and the struggling Moscow police department has yet to name suspects, let alone make arrests.
The FBI added 30 additional agents to the case this week to bolster its efforts.
Now Kaylee’s family lawyer has revealed that her parents were told yesterday that the man responsible for the investigation – Brett Payne – has only been on the job for two years.
The man in charge of the investigation – Brett Payne – has only been with law enforcement for two years. He previously served in the army
Payne, shown alongside his brother Kyle when they were both serving in Afghanistan, was part of the 82nd Airborne Division
“We support the investigation and everyone working on it, but we also need to hold people accountable for the decisions they make,” attorney Shanon Gray told NewsNation’s Banfield.
“When he arrived at the meeting on Monday, Brett Payne was the person posing as the chief investigator from the Moscow Police Department dealing with the case.
“To my knowledge he was hired as a rookie in 2020. He has a total of two years of experience.
“I emailed the Moscow Police Department asking them to send some testimonials of some experience or training that Officer Payne might have that would give us some confidence and their response was, ‘It’s personal records , and we are not privy to it.”
Kaylee Goncalves, center, Maddie Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were all brutally murdered on November 13th
Kaylee Goncalves’ family attorney Shanon Gray told NewsNation’s Banfield about her concerns about Payne’s lack of experience
is able to reveal that Payne served in the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan before joining the Moscow Police Department.
Officer Payne joined the Moscow Police in 2020 – his first police job – and was named Rookie of the Year.
In that year’s annual police department report, the department gave him plenty of praise and raved about his performance at the police academy.
“Officer Brett Payne was honored with the CHAMPS Rookie of the Year Award.
Officer Payne brings a wealth of experience to the Moscow Police Department through his military service.
“Officer Payne was the first officer in POST history to be awarded three POST Academy Awards.
The home in Moscow, Idaho where the four students were murdered in their beds on November 13. Police have yet to name or arrest suspects
“His approach to community policing is exemplary. He has a desire to serve and protect the community. In addition, in addition to his own duties, he regularly makes time to help his colleagues, especially new officers.
“Whether they’re citizens or other officers, Officer Payne is always willing to put his needs aside to help others. He exemplifies the core values of our department and is an excellent example for other officers.’
While his military record may be impressive (the 82nd Division conducts violent parachute raids into denied areas), it remains unclear what qualifies him to lead one of the most high-profile homicide investigations in recent memory.
Officer Payne did not immediately respond to inquiries Tuesday.