Details of Murdered Idaho Student Released as Victim’s Parents Push Back Against Police – National

Police have released some new and important details from the investigation into the murder of four University of Idaho students that rocked the small town of Moscow, Idaho.

Since news of the death broke, Moscow police have been hesitant to release details of the incident, but have assured community members that it was a targeted attack that “does not pose an immediate threat to the community as a whole.” ing.

Parents and family members of the four dead students have criticized the police response, criticized the lack of information available about the deaths, and criticized the wider community as criminals remained at large. I questioned whether the risk was real. As of Wednesday night, police had yet to detain a suspect after Sunday’s murder.

Officials said they continued to believe the attacks were targeted, but retracted earlier statements that there was no threat to the public while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.

Latest details

At a press conference on Wednesday, Moscow Police Chief James Fry gave reporters an incomplete timeline of the incident, admitting that the press conference should have been held a day or two earlier.

He said the four victims were Ethan Chapin, 20. Zana Karnodol, 20 years old. Madison Morgen, 21 years old. 21-year-old Cary Gonsalves was attending various events around the University of Idaho before returning home early Sunday morning. Chapin and Carnodle were attending a party on campus while Morgen and Gonsalves were at a nearby bar.

Chapin didn’t live in the house with the other three victims, but spent the night with his girlfriend Carnoldle, his mother, Stacey Chapin, told ABC News.

Police Chief Fry said four students were “stabbed with knives” early Sunday morning. Fry added that there was no evidence of a forced entry into the home and that the murder weapon had not yet been found.

Around noon, police arrived at the home after receiving a call that someone was unconscious and found four dead.

Frye said two other roommates were at the house when police arrived on the scene, and police believe the roommates were there at the time of the killings. but did not elaborate on whether they were considered suspects.

Police explained why the 911 call reporting the incident came hours after police believed a murder had occurred, and that the caller said there were unconscious people instead of four people stabbed. I didn’t have an answer as to why. Police refused to answer media questions about the identity of 911 callers.

When reporters asked what his roommate witnessed on the night of the murder, Frye replied, “I won’t go into what they shared.”

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At a press conference, Idaho State Police Colonel Kedrick Willis said, “We’re all watching.” No, there is no one who does not interview.”

Police also retracted earlier comments that the killing posed no threat to the community, amid outrage from University of Idaho students and the families of the victims who abandoned the campus in droves ahead of American Thanksgiving. .

“At this point, there are no suspects,” Frye said at a press conference. “He’s still out there.” “We cannot say that there are no threats to the community.”

An autopsy was performed Wednesday near Spokane, Wash., and Idaho police and the FBI were also working on the case, Fry said.

Lata County Coroner Kathy Mabat said the autopsy is complete and will see what details can be released to law enforcement on Thursday.

“Horrible,” Mabat told KHQ.

In a press release on Tuesday, police said they “shared as much information as possible without compromising the ongoing investigation.”

Victim’s family’s anger

The lack of information about the case has left some relatives of the victims angry and vocal about the police’s muted response.

Ethan Chapin’s father, Jim Chapin, said in an email to AP News, “There is a lack of information from the University of Idaho and local police, which only fuels hoaxes and innuendos in the press and social media.

“Silence only exacerbates the family’s suffering after the murder of their son,” Chapin said. “For Ethan and his three dear friends and our entire family who were killed in Moscow, Idaho, I am telling the authorities the truth, sharing what they know, and identifying the perpetrators. We urge you to find and protect the greater community.”

Goncalves’ family has issued a warning to the person behind the killing.

“Whoever is responsible, we will find you. We will never stand still. The pain you have caused has fueled our hatred and sealed your fate,” the family said. In a statement he tweeted, he said: “Justice will be served.”

Meanwhile, Kaley’s sister, Aubrey Gonsalves, posted a message on Instagram urging the students to move out.

“Your grades are far less important than your life. I wish safety and peace to all U of I students,” she wrote hours before the police press conference. “Until this sick man is found, you guys are not safe. If the person who did this can kill four innocent people, they can kill many more.

Moscow is a town of about 25,000 in the Idaho Panhandle about 80 miles south of Spokane. The Idaho Statesman says he hasn’t had a murder in the town since 2015.

News of the killing prompted many of the 11,000 students to leave the Idaho campus early for the Thanksgiving holiday.

University of Idaho President Scott Green also spoke at a press conference, saying some students felt safe being on campus with faculty and classmates, so the school would be open for the rest of the week. also allowed truancy for those who felt it would be better to leave school early.

“We will support each other while we are grieving,” Green said, his voice breaking as he read out the four names. “We just want justice for these victims.”

— Using file from Associated Press