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IDAHO MURDERS: Ex-detective says cops should've released white Hyundai Elantra info 'immediately'!

'You do not wait three weeks, you immediately put that information out there to the public,' said former homicide detective Ted Williams

This is based on sources and we have been unable to verify this information independently.

IDAHO, MOSCOW: Retired Washington, DC, homicide detective Ted Williams said that instead of waiting for three weeks, Idaho police could have released information "immediately" about a white sedan spotted near the scene of November 13 quadruple homicide close to the University of Idaho campus. 

"I'm not being critical of law enforcement. What I'm saying is: you must bring the public along to assist you in an investigation of this nature," Williams told Fox News. "And when you have knowledge of a white car that you can't identify, you don't wait two to three weeks to put that information out to the public. You get the public engaged right away."

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On December 7, the Moscow Police Department sought help from the public for a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra that was noticed near the off-campus home where students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kerndole, Kaylee Goncalves, and Maidson Mogen were brutally stabbed to death between 3 am to 4 am on November 13.

According to the outlet, the police department asked for surveillance footage from landlord Kane Francetich on the day after the murders which were recorded from his six-unit rental building on Linda Lane, situated .3 miles from the murder scene. The video showed a light-colored car driving around at the time of the murders.

"The mere fact that within 24 hours of the murder of these four college students, they were able to identify that there was a [white or light-colored] car in the vicinity that they needed to try to identify — you do not wait three weeks," Williams said of Francetich's footage. "You immediately put that information out there to the public. Every nugget of information that is gathered by law enforcement is not gonna pay off. … When it comes to evidence of a car that was in the neighborhood, perhaps you must immediately act on that information," he added.

It is not clear though when police exactly learned of a white sedan driving near the crime scene during the time of the murders. Williams opined that in a homicide case, police typically have a "48-hour window to try and process evidence that will bring the killer to justice," or else the situation tends to get out of hand if the investigators wait to get assistance from the public. 

"Law enforcement is trying to solve this crime, and I do believe that they will solve it, hopefully sooner rather than later. However, when you've got evidence that the public can help you with, even while you are dealing with the integrity of the investigation, you bring the public aboard," Williams said of Francetich's footage. "I see absolutely no reason to keep that car in fold."

The former detective also criticized the fact that a Moscow gas station clerk found video footage of a white sedan passing by in the early morning hours of November 13 before the police. The authorities reportedly gathered eight hours of surveillance video from a gas station on November 14, which is about 1 mile away from the crime scene. According to store workers, a clerk witnessed a white sedan passing by at 3.45 am on the night of the unsolved stabbing deaths. 

"There is absolutely no way that law enforcement — knowing that there may very well be video in the area — that a clerk at a gas station should be canvasing a video for valuable information needed by law enforcement," Williams said. "The very first thing you do in law enforcement is you get any and all video you can in that area, and a law enforcement officer — an experienced law enforcement officer — goes through all the video to try to determine if they can identify if they believe, let's say, a white car is involved."

Williams believes the "person or persons who killed these students have been in that house before," and it "wasn't the very first time they went in that house" on November 13. Even after more than a month, the police have not announced any suspects or persons of interest in the case.

Police believe the occupant(s) of that vehicle may have important information related to the murders. Officials are asking anyone with information to submit digital media evidence to the FBI at fbi.gov/moscowidaho. Authorities are asking the public to call in tips at 208-883-7180, email tipline@ci.moscow.id.us or submit digital media here.