Consternation in the United States after the discovery last Sunday of four students found dead in their beds, not far from the University of Idaho. If for the moment the police have no suspects in sight, investigations are underway to find the perpetrator and establish the circumstances of the tragedy.
BFMTV.com takes stock of what we know about these murders.
Four students surely murdered in their sleep
On Sunday, four young men ages 20 to 21 who lived in a house not far from the University of Idaho were found dead in their beds in the city of Moscow. According to the investigators’ first findings, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were stabbed, most likely while they were sleeping, reports in particular the Washington Post this Saturday.
The three young women were roommates, while Ethan Chapin was the boyfriend of one of them.
They were allegedly murdered on the night from Saturday to Sunday, one or two hours after they returned home. According to the Latah County Medical Examiner, cited by our colleagues, each of them received multiple stab wounds. Faced with certain marks and injuries, some tried to defend themselves, adds the same source.
An ongoing large-scale investigation
Despite these initial elements, investigators have yet to identify any specific suspects. Given the lack of progress on this side, they now seek the help of the population and possible witnesses.
In addition, the person who alerted the police on Sunday at noon has not been identified.
always according to Washington PostTherefore, the authorities carried out 38 interrogations and received more than 500 testimonies, but they are still waiting for elements that will clarify the circumstances of the tragedy and the author’s motivations. More than 40 FBI investigators were dispatched to look into the case.
· The schedule of the victims reconstructed
Using surveillance video and testimony, investigators began to reconstruct as accurately as possible the last hours of the victims. On Saturday night, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen had gone to a downtown bar and then had dinner at a food truck before going home by taxi.
For their part, Ethan and Xana spent the evening inside the Sigma Chi fraternity, still recounts the Washington Post. The four students returned home around 1:45 a.m., investigators say.
Two other people, housemates, were present at the house that night and were spared, but police quickly dismissed any suspicions about them.
The gray areas persist
It is also unknown how the killer got into the house: when they arrived at the housemates’ house, investigators noticed that the door to the house was open and there was no damage.
However, the lock on the front door consists of a keypad that requires a code to enter, according to information from CNN. The sister of one of the victims pointed out in particular that parties were regularly organized in this house, which could explain why many people may know the code.
The murder weapon was also not found. Investigators have asked local businesses for any information regarding the purchase of a “fixed blade knife” recently. The police also hope that the more in-depth testimonies of the two pardoned roommates can add more information and elements of context to this dramatic night.
Source: BFM TV
