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The grieving father of one of four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in their beds has spoken out to reveal why he believes his daughter may have been the target of the brutal attack. Kaylee Goncalves’ father, Steve Goncalves, said the killer “chose” to go up to the third floor where his daughter and her best friend Madison Mogen were sleeping — a route that took the assailant out of the entry point into the home. “I use the logic that he chose to go there when he didn’t have to,” he told Lawrence Jones Cross Country, adding that the means of death of Mogen and Goncalves “do not match.” It’s been three weeks since Goncalves, Mogen, their roommate Xana Kernodle and Kernodle’s boyfriend Ethan Chapin were murdered at an off-campus home in the college town of Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13. No arrests have been made and no suspects have been identified. At a memorial service over the weekend, the two surviving housemates who slept through the attack paid tribute to their murdered friends in an emotional statement.
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The grieving father says losing a child is the hardest thing in the world
The bereaved father of University of Idaho student Madison Mogen, who was fatally stabbed along with three other friends last month, called the loss of his only child “the hardest thing in the world.” “It’s still hard to believe sometimes. We get up in the morning and it’s like, ‘Oh, that’s not happening,’ then it starts,” Scott Laramie told Fox News. “We love her and miss her, and it’s the hardest thing in the world to try to figure out how to live without her,” Mr. Laramie said. “It’s the hardest thing to imagine right now.” Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 December 2022 08:30 1670313600
Victim’s mother strikes during police investigation
Cara Denise Northington, mother of Xana Kernodle, has broken her silence three weeks after her daughter’s death. “There’s a lot more that can be done that hasn’t been done” he told NewsNation regarding the police investigation which has so far not found any suspects. Speaking to presenter Ashleigh Banfield, Ms Northington said of her contact with the police: ‘They haven’t said anything. I learn more from the news and TV than what I’ve been told.” The Independent has the story: Andrea Blanco6 December 2022 08:00 1670311807
The victim’s friend is speaking publicly for the first time since the murder
The boyfriend of slain University of Idaho student Madison Mogen has spoken publicly about his partner’s death, weeks after four victims were fatally stabbed at an off-campus home in Moscow. Jake Schriger, who knew all four students, spoke at a vigil held in Post Falls on Friday. “None of these people deserved this,” he told the service. Mr Schriger added: “He was the first person I spoke to every morning and the last person I spoke to before I went to bed.” “He was the person I loved the most.” Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 December 2022 07:30 1670310000
Timeline of the last hours of the victims
Despite more details becoming available in the two weeks since the murders took place, key pieces of what happened in the early hours of November 13 are still unknown. Police have revealed the last steps of the victims, but the timeline becomes blurry as the second part of the night of the murders progresses. The couple walked straight down Main Street to a red brick building that housed the now-defunct Garden Lounge. a beloved food truck, the Grub Wandering Kitchen—affectionately called the Grub Truck by its many local fans—often parks outside on Main Street. Goncalves and Mogen ordered, laughed and chatted with friends as they ate their pasta. According to police, they got a lift home from a “private party” and returned to King Road at around 1.56am. Kernodle and Chapin returned to King Road around 1.45am. The young couple had gone to a party across the street from Sigma Chi. The other two King Road roommates – who have not yet been named by authorities – had arrived home first, around 1 a.m., and fell asleep, police said. Mogen and Goncalves made several calls to the same number about an hour after arriving home. Goncalves’ sister said the missed calls were made to her ex-boyfriend, who dated her sister for years before they split amicably, and they still share a dog named Murphy. He has been ruled out as a suspect. Authorities believe a killer or killers fatally stabbed Chapin, Kernodle, Goncalves and Mogen between 3 and 4 a.m. Their bodies were found just nine hours later, around noon on November 13. (AP/Datawrapper/Moscow City Police Department) Andrea Blanco6 December 2022 07:00 1670308207
Former Idaho lieutenant governor defends police
Former Lt. Gov. Dave Leroy defended law enforcement after the parents of the four University of Idaho students killed in Moscow criticized police for “suppressing” information. Mr Leroy praised the authorities for not committing the “cardinal sin” of releasing information that could potentially compromise the investigation. “I understand today’s comments were extremely mild, but the police have not committed the cardinal sin here,” he told Fox News. “They have not said anything or done anything to jeopardize the ongoing investigation. I think it’s important to come together and understand how complicated this situation is.” Three weeks after the fatal stabbings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, police have yet to identify a suspect. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 December 2022 06:30 1670306400
Investigators seek surveillance footage from ‘two areas of interest’
Businesses and homes within the geographic areas are asked to share all exterior surveillance video taken between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. of November 13 – whether or not there appears to be traffic and content. Areas include: West Taylor Ave (northern boundary), West Palouse River Dr (southern boundary), Highway 95 south to the 2700 block of Highway 95 S (eastern boundary), and Arboretum & Botanical Garden (western boundary). “Investigators have determined the two areas of interest within the city and provided maps that are on our Facebook page and website,” Capt. Lanier said Sunday. “And those are areas that they’ve been investigating for additional surveillance video and tips and they’ve been in contact with a number of residents in the areas.” Police have not revealed why they are targeting these specific areas of the city. The freeway and arboretum are located around the route Kernodle and Chapin likely took to get from Sigma Chi to the off-campus house. Andrea Blanco6 December 2022 06:00 1670304622
The victim’s father says he is unsure about the police investigation
Steve Goncalves, father of slain University of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves, said he has lost confidence in the police investigation into the deaths of four students. “I don’t feel confident,” Mr. Goncalves told Fox & Friends on Sunday when asked about the investigation. “And that’s why I’m pushing the envelope and saying a little more. I hate to be that guy, but, you know… everybody has a job and a role to play and that’s my role as a parent.” Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 December 2022 05:30 1670302800
The victims were not bound and gagged, police say
Moscow police had previously debunked a false rumor circulating online that the four victims had been bound and gagged during the brutal attack. “Online reports of the victims being bound and gagged are not accurate,” the department said in a news release. Autopsies found that the four victims had multiple stab wounds and that some of them had defensive wounds. The Latah County Coroner said they were found in bed and likely asleep when the attack unfolded. There were no signs of sexual assault. Andrea Blanco6 December 2022 05:00 1670301043
Moscow police rule out the “pursuit” incident being linked to the murders
Police in Idaho have made new revelations about reports that Kaylee Goncalves, one of four University of Idaho students killed last month, was stalked. The department said in a statement on Facebook that they were aware of an “isolated” incident involving Goncalves and two men in October. The men, who allegedly followed Goncalves to a business and as she returned to her car, are not believed to be involved in the killing, Moscow police said. “In mid-October, two men were seen inside a local business. they parted ways and a male was seen following Kaylee into the business and as she exited to walk to her car. The male turned away and did not appear to have any contact with her,” the post read. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 December 2022 04:30 1670299230
No evidence of a dog was found in the home by investigators
Moscow police also revealed on Monday that the dog found inside the home by investigators was in a room where the crimes were not committed and no evidence was found on the pet. “While the dog was in the home when officers arrived, it has not been determined where the dog was physically located when the murders occurred,” the department said. Three weeks into the investigation, no suspects have been identified and no murder weapon has been found. Authorities have remained largely silent on any achievements. Andrea Blanco6 December 2022 04:00
