The quadruple murder of a student shocks Idaho

(CNN) — Police in Moscow, Idaho have asked the public to remain vigilant after they provided new details about a quadruple homicide that occurred near the University of Idaho campus. Among the new details is that two roommates were in the house where the students were killed at the time of the attack and that the door to the house was open when officers arrived at the crime scene.

“We cannot say that there is no threat to the community and, as we have already said, please remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity and always be aware of your surroundings,” the Moscow police chief said on Wednesday James Fry. , during a press conference. Earlier, police said there was no threat to the community.

New details of the investigation come just days after four University of Idaho students (Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves) were found dead at a bloody crime scene Sunday afternoon, vandalizing the sense security of the small college community near the Idaho-Washington border.

Local police have been working with the Idaho State Police and the FBI but still don’t have any suspects, motives or weapons, worrying the city of 25,000 which hasn’t had a homicide since 2015, according to data from the state. Police.

The crime has “affected all of us, the families, the University of Idaho, our community, our country and our officers,” Fry said.

“We are reviewing the video we obtained, but we ask citizens to contact us with any information that could be useful in this investigation,” he added.

The University of Idaho canceled classes on Monday but have since resumed, according to Scott Green, the university’s president.

“A number of our students want to go to class,” Green said Wednesday. “They feel comfortable with the other students. They feel comfortable interacting and keeping busy with their faculty and attending lectures, workshops; some are working on their semester projects, from what we’ve learned.

Green said the school “encourages students and staff to be alert” as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

In a statement released Wednesday, Green said the school has “continually pushed for as much information as possible, knowing we can’t interfere with the important work of good research.”

“We just want justice for the victims,” ​​he said.

Police: Two housemates were in the house during the killings

As the investigation proceeds, police have begun to trace a timeline of what happened in the hours leading up to the murders.

Chapin and Kernodle were at a party on campus Saturday night, while Mogen and Goncalves were at a downtown bar before everyone went home early Sunday morning, shortly after 1:45 a.m., Fry said.

Mogen and Goncalves were seen ordering at a late night food truck in Moscow that night, a live Twitch stream of Grub Truckers shows. The pair approached the truck at around 1:41am, ordered food, and chatted with each other and others as they waited for their order.

Joseph Woodall, 26, who drives the bus, said the two students didn’t appear to be in any danger or distress.

All four of the victims died early Sunday morning, Fry said, but there were no 911 calls until noon. All four victims were stabbed with a knife, he added.

The police chief did not reveal who called 911, but said two other housemates were in the house at the time of the deaths, neither of whom were injured or taken hostage.

“We’re not just targeting them, we’re targeting anyone who may have been in and out of that residence,” he said.

The two housemates cooperated fully with law enforcement, Idaho State Police spokesman Aaron Snell told CNN Wednesday.

Clockwise from left: University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Kaylee Goncalves.

After calling 911 for an unconscious person, officers found the door to the house open and a gruesome crime scene inside.

There was no evidence of forced entry, Fry said. “We’re not 100% sure the door was open, but there was no damage and the door was still open when we arrived at the scene,” Fry said.

Latah County Medical Examiner Cathy Mabbutt told CNN affiliate KXLY Tuesday that there was “a lot of blood in the apartment.”

“It was quite traumatic to find four college students dead in a residence hall,” he said.

Mabbutt added that autopsies could provide more information about what happened.

“There might be some, you know, some evidence about suspicion that we get in autopsies that is helpful,” Mabbutt said.

Families pay homage to a group of friends

Just hours before her death, Goncalves posted a photo of the foursome with the caption, “(I’m) a lucky girl to be surrounded by these people every day,” adding a heart emoji.

The 21-year-old from Rathdrum, Idaho, was a senior general studies major and a member of Alpha Phi fraternity.

His older sister, Alivea Goncalves, sent a statement to the Idaho Statesman on behalf of her and Mogen’s family.

“They were smart, they were observant, they were observant, and it all happened the same way,” she said. “No one is in custody and that means no one is safe. Yes, we are heartbroken. Yes, we are resisting. But stronger than any of these feelings is anger. We are angry. You should be angry too.”

Mogen, 21, was from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in her senior year of a marketing major. He was a member of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity.

Chapin, 20, was one of triplets, all enrolled at the University of Idaho, his family said in a statement. He was a freshman from Conway, Washington, majoring in recreation, sports, and tourism management. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

“Ethan lit up every room he walked into and was a kind, loyal, loving son, brother, cousin, and friend,” said his mother, Stacy Chapin. “Words cannot express the pain and devastation our family is experiencing. It breaks my heart to know that we can never hug or laugh with Ethan again, but it’s also unbearable to think about the horrible way he was taken from us.”

Kernodle, 20, was from Avondale, Arizona. He was majoring in marketing and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity.

She was “positive, funny and loved by everyone who knew her,” said her older sister, Jazzmin Kernodle.

“He was so upbeat and always lifted the mood in the room,” said Jazzmin Kernodle. “She made me a proud big sister and I wish I could spend more time with her. She had so much life to live. My family and I were left speechless, confused and anxiously awaiting updates on the investigation.”

He also offered his condolences to the other victims and their families. “My sister was so lucky to have them in her life.”