Moscow police said in a brief statement Friday night that the slayings of four Idaho State University students do not appear to be related to similar stabbings in Oregon and Washington.
In a news release, the Moscow Police Department said it had received “numerous media inquiries” about possible similarities between the Nov. 13 killings and a 1999 double stabbing in Pullman, Washington, as well as a 2021 double stabbing in Salem, Oregon, where one person died.
“Although these cases are similar to the King Street murders, there does not appear to be any evidence to suggest that the cases are connected,” police said.
All four victims in the Moscow case are seniors Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, and Kayleigh Gonsalves, 21, of Rathdrum; junior Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls; and freshman Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington, were stabbed to death.
Gonsalves, Mogen and Kernodle lived in the house on King Street where the murders took place, and Chapin spent the night at Kernodle’s. Two other roommates, who have not been charged with the murders, were sleeping in the home at the time of the killings but were not injured.
According to the Salem Statesman Journal, in the early morning hours of August 13, 2021, Travis and Jamilyn Yueten were attacked by a masked assailant and each suffered multiple stab wounds. Travis died in the attack, while Jamilyn survived with 19 stab wounds. No one has been arrested in connection with the attack.
A A 1999 article in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News describes a knife attack on two Washington State University students as they slept. Both women survived. It doesn’t look like anyone was ever arrested for that stabbing.
Police are keeping the details of the killing to a minimum
In the press release, the officials revealed a few more minor details of the investigation. They said they received more than 260 digital clues Online FBI tip form for the case. Police also said they collected 113 pieces of evidence that will be analyzed by the Idaho State Police crime lab.
The update is coming in a few days the police held a press conference addressing rumors that Gonsalves had a stalker. Police said Wednesday they had “extensively” investigated the claims, but did not say whether they were accurate.
Police have not identified any suspects and are keeping many details under wraps, saying Wednesday that confidentiality is necessary to maintain the integrity of the investigation.
Anyone who has information on the case can submit it by phone 208-883-7180by e-mail at tipline@ci.moscow.id.us or online at fbi.gov/moscowidaho .
This story was originally published November 26, 2022 at 2:07 p.m.
