Idaho murders: Kaylee Goncalves' mom Kristi to offer reward for information as investigation enters week 4
Warning: This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently
MOSCOW, IDAHO: The family of one of the four slain victims in the Idaho tragedy is looking to raise reward money for information in the case as the investigation hits the four-week mark without Moscow Police making an arrest or publicly identifying any suspects.
"Our family would like to fundraise in hopes to offer a reward, and possibly hire a private investigator if that becomes necessary," said Kristi Goncalves, the mother of 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves, to Fox News Digital on Sunday, December 11. Her daughter and three friends, Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, both 20; were slaughtered in a rental home on King Road near campus during the early hours of the day on November 13. According to Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt, the students, who were stabbed to death, were likely attacked in their sleep. Toxicology reports for the victims are yet to come back.
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"To raise funds, the family is supporting a pair of online fundraisers – a GoFundMe set up by Goncalves’ former boss Jeremiah Shea, and a GiveSendGo campaign from a family friend named Brooke Miller," Kristi Goncalves further said. "The money raised will go directly to getting us answers as well as helping to pay for Kaylee’s final arrangements and her celebration of life on December 30," she added. The family had previously delayed announcing memorial plans.
The investigators, on the other hand, have told Fox News Digital that they were already receiving an ample amount of information in the case."Investigators continue to get good tips and leads and are focusing on those at this time," said police spokeswoman Robbie Johnson to the news outlet.
The local police found a white 2011 to 2013 Hyundai Elantra seen near the victims' home around the time of the slayings and had asked the help of the public to find the occupant/s of the vehicle. As a result of which they received a deluge of calls that the FBI is currently working on. "The global call center has the resources to take those calls, categorize them, and send them on to investigators, so they can utilize those tips in the investigation," said the Moscow Police Department on Thursday, December 8.
Outside experts with experience in similar investigations second Kristi Goncalves’ decision and believe that the earlier a reward is offered the better since the number of investigators assigned to the task force will decrease over time. "I would give out the reward now while they still have the personnel," stated Paul Mauro, a lawyer and retired NYPD inspector who has been closely scrutinizing the case. "When it starts to dwindle is no time to put out a reward. You won’t have the bodies to investigate the tips."
According to the outlet, Pat Diaz, a private investigator and former Miami-Dade homicide detective who worked on a high-profile child murder case in the 1990s believes that the cops are waiting for “one lucky lead” that is “gonna help them solve the case.”