As investigators continue to work on finding the person(s) responsible for the November 13 killings of four University of Idaho students, additional information about the crime scene is surfacing.
Fox News Digital reports that investigators bagged the victims’ hands at the crime scene to save possible evidence before moving their bodies, according to Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt.
Forensic experts said that the students’ hands might contain evidence, including hair or skin underneath their fingernails, which could lead to investigators obtaining the killer’s DNA.
“This is good crime scene protocol, which also they can say that if they did this right, then more than likely everything else was done right, too – which should allay some of the concerns from people,” professor and retired NYPD sergeant, Joseph Giacalone, said.
“When you have an up-close attack like this, the chances are good that the victim scraped at the face or the arms [of the assailant] as they try to defend themselves. So this is an awesome development.”
Should investigators find DNA evidence from the scene, it can be put into the Idaho state DNA database, a state fingerprint database, and national databases in “an effort to try and identify a potential perpetrator,” Idaho State Police Forensic Services Laboratory Systems Director Matthew Gamette told Fox News Digital.
As CrimeOnline reported, Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee, 21; Ethan Chapin, 20; and Xana Kernodle, 20, were murdered in their off-campus rental off King Street in Moscow. According to Moscow police, two victims were found on the second floor, and another two were found on the third floor of the house, which is built into a hill.
Two roommates on the first floor were not attacked by the intruder, and police say they do not believe the surviving roommates had anything to do with the murders. Police said that the suspect, who has yet to be named or found, used a sharp-edged knife in the killings.
On Wednesday, police said they were “interested in speaking with the occupant(s)” of a white Hyundai Elantra that was reported in the area around the time the students were murdered.
They asked anyone who owns or knows of someone who owns a white Elantra — a 2011-2013 model — to send that information to the tip line at 208-883-7180, email to tipline@ci.moscow.id.us, or upload digital media at fbi.gov/moscowidaho.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves (left)Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle;/Instagram]
