Idaho murders: Forensic pathologist claims 'one of the girls on 3rd floor' was the real target who 'knew' killer
This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently.
MOSCOW, IDAHO: Four University of Idaho students — Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21 — were stabbed to death on November 13 and police are still looking for a significant lead in the case. A pathologist Doctor Michael Barden recently gave his expert opinion about the murders, as reported by Express.
According to him, the murderer may have known at least one of the victims, and that the "accurate" stabbings show that the murderer knew how to wield the knife. The bodies of the University of Idaho students were found dead on November 13 on two different floors of their off-campus rental house in Moscow, Idaho.
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The forensic pathologist said, "The evidence thus far would indicate that whoever went into the residence and killed the four people, stabbed them with the same knife, knew the place." He further added, "Knew how to get up to the third floor first – it appears to be that one of the girls on the third floor was a target and would've known the person."
The pathologist added, "Then they went downstairs, woke up the people on the second floor, and stabbed them to death. The pathologist also mentioned, "The two people on the first floor, which is away from the other floors, were not touched and did not hear anything. For the moment, it's four unsolved murders, six weeks later, and real fear." As per reports, the victims were stabbed by a "pretty large knife." and there were multiple stab wounds.
All four students had gone out the night before and returned to the house a little after midnight. According to the coroner's assessment, all four victims were likely asleep when they were repeatedly stabbed, but Xana clearly had defensive wounds, indicating she may have woken up and fought the killer before she died.
Authorities have routinely released updates on the inquiry, though some details have been withheld to "preserve the integrity of the investigation," according to police. The inquiry has engaged dozens of Moscow Police Department, FBI, and Idaho State Police officers, and Governor Brad Little has directed up to $1 million in state emergency funds for the ongoing probe.
On December 20, Moscow police chief James Fry stated that the department had received over 16,500 suggestions regarding the slayings, including "hundreds of" reports about a stalker who was following Kaylee Goncalves. According to Moscow police, investigators "looked extensively" into those claims but "have not been able to verify or identify a stalker." Another lead in the case is a White Hyundai Elantra spotted near the house around the time the crime occured. Police have not yet found this vehicle despite chasing down tips. On December 20, the department stated they were "aware of a Hyundai Elantra located in Eugene, Oregon," approximately an eight-hour-drive from Moscow. Police initially stated that they were "working with the local jurisdiction to determine if the vehicle is related to our case," but later stated that they had spoken with the Elantra's owner and discovered that the Colorado-registered vehicle had been involved in a collision and had been impounded. The female owner of the car was not thought to have any connection to the murders, as reported by CBS.