Investigators won’t let the case of four murdered University of Idaho students go cold, the police of chief of the small town that is home to the school said Tuesday.
Moscow Police Chief James Fry told Fox News that his detectives are still hard at work on the case, combing through evidence and interviewing potential witnesses, although they’ve not identified a suspect or found a murder weapon approaching a month after the gruesome killings.
Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Ethan Chapin. 20; and Xana Kernodle, 20, were found stabbed to death in the rented off-campus home, built into a hill, near the school on November 13, as CrimeOnline previously reported. Two other roommates who lived in the house’s first floor, which had its own entrance, were not harmed, and police don’t believe they had anything to do with the murders.
Moscow Police said on Tuesday that they planned to remove some personal belongings no longer needed in the investigation on Wednesday “so that they can be returned to the families.” They made available on their YouTube page an interview with Fry — separate from the Fox News interview — about that process.
A day earlier, investigators gently rebuked family members and others for speculation about victims’ injuries and cause of death, none of which has been released publicly.
“We recognize the frustration this causes and that speculation proliferates in the absence of facts,” the department said. “However, we firmly believe speculation and unvetted information is a disservice to the victims, their families, and our community.”
In his interview with Fox, Fry said he understood the frustrations the families of the victims must be feeling.
“I’m a dad with daughters. And that’s tough. We’re human,” he said. “We don’t go to these and just turn it off. It affects us. But we have a job to do. And we’re going to continue to do that job and we’re going to continue to push forward.”
Detectives have received thousands of email and phone tips and digital media submissions.
“This case is not going cold,” the chief said. “We have tips coming in. We have investigators out every day interviewing people. We’re still reviewing evidence. We’re still looking at all aspects of this.
“And I said early on that no stone will go unturned. And I mean that. We are going to continue. This case is not going cold.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Left, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle; Top right: Kaylee Goncalves; Bottom right: Madison Mogen/Instagram]
