Crime

Police Seek Occupants Of Newly Identified Vehicle In Case Of 4 Murdered Idaho Students

By Daniel M

December 08, 2022

Police in Moscow, Idaho, are searching for the occupant(s) of a newly identified vehicle that they say may have critical information about the murders of four college students last month at the University of Idaho.

It’s been more than two weeks since Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Madison Mogen, 21, were murdered in their off-campus residence — and police still have not named any suspects or found the murder weapon.

“Detectives are interested in speaking with the occupant(s) of a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra, with an unknown license plate,” investigators said in a statement. “Tips and leads have led investigators to look for additional information about a vehicle being in the immediate area of the King Street residence during the early morning hours of November 13th.”

“Investigators believe the occupant(s) of this vehicle may have critical information to share regarding this case,” the statement continued. “If you know of or own a vehicle matching this description, or know of anyone who may have been driving this vehicle on the days preceding or the day of the murders, please forward that information to the Tip Line.”

An interesting update just now from police investigating the University of Idaho killings: They want the public's help in finding who was in a white Hyundai Elantra (2011-13) that was in the neighborhood around the time of the murders. pic.twitter.com/VOXGf25Saa

— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) December 7, 2022

“We remain consistent in our belief that this was a targeted attack, but investigators have not concluded if the target was the residence or if it was the occupants,” police said in a press release last week.

When the homicides were first reported, police said in press releases that, in addition to being a targeted attack, there was no ongoing threat to the community. On November 16, however, Moscow Police Chief James Fry acknowledged that there may be a threat to the community since the police still did not have a person of interest connected to the slayings.

Authorities have also said they do not believe that the two surviving roommates — who apparently did not hear the killings take place — are involved in the crimes. They also do not believe a man observed in surveillance video outside a food truck visited by Goncalves and Mogen the night of the murders was involved, nor was a driver who drove the women home.

Story cited here.