Idaho police backtrack and admit there is a threat to the public after four students murdered

Yahoo News / The Independent ^ | November 17, 2022 | Io Dodds

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Idaho police have distanced themselves from claims that the unsolved murder of four students poses no danger to the public, saying: "There is a threat out there still."

Officials in the small college town of Moscow had insisted that there was "no imminent threat to the community at large", despite identifying no suspects.

Investigators do not yet know who killed Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves with an "edged weapon" in the small hours of Sunday morning.

On Tuesday, Moscow police chief James Fry admitted that the killer could still be at large, partially walking back the department's previous statements.

Asked at a press conference how he could be sure there was no danger, Mr Fry said: "That's kind of unknown... we still believe it's a targeted attack, but the reality is, there's still a person out there who committed horrible, horrible crimes.

"So there is a threat out there still, possibly. We don't know it's going to be to anybody else. But we all have to be aware of our surroundings and make sure that we're watching out for each other."

"The reality is, I probably should have been up here a day or so ago. But I'm here now. We're going to continue to be here. We're going to continue to give you the information we can.

"I care about this community. I've worked here for 27 years. I want this community to be the safest community around.... we're looking at every aspect of this."

The four murders have rocked Moscow's student community, prompting a lockdown on campus and outpourings of support.

But some residents and relatives of the victims had expressed doubts about the police claims, questioning how there could be no threat to the public when the killer was still at large.

[Round Earther]

“They had to have been incapacitated for one person to kill all four, or they were overpowered by more than one killer.”

There was a case in the 1980’s of a kid murdering four family members with an axe.

In this case, I think the victims had to have been drugged and drugged by a person they invited into the house.

[Round Earther]

What door was locked?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Hard to get drugs into four different people. But I agree there’s a good possibility that they might have come home from a party or bar somewhat drunk.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Tract home doors are very weak and a firm kick knocks them open.

[1FreeAmerican]

The door to the bedrooms the 2 unharmed were in?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“especially Idaho”

Very true.

I’ve got deep family roots in Idaho. Mom was born and grew up not far from Moscow. She met dad at the U of I and they were married in Moscow in 1947 after he returned from Japan. He was part of the occupation after the war.

[Round Earther]

“Hard to get drugs into four different people.”

Not hard at all.

The person who pours the drinks, drugs the drinks, or the kids take pills that they think are MDMA and instead, they tranquilize.

[Round Earther]

That may very well be the case and makes sense.

Your housemate invites a person or person over to the house late at night, you get a bad vibe, go to your room and lock the door. However, it is too late, as you have already been drugged but you are lucky since the killer(s) does not want to make noise kicking in the door.

[43north]

I lived in Idaho for 20 years, 12 of them in north Idaho. Moscow, ID is one of the few liberal bastions in the state (no doubt owing to the presence of the university). I have no confidence in the abilities of the local police to investigate and solve this case. The “chief” has worked in that same department for 27 years. He needs to get out more.

[dragnet2]

Moscow Idaho is the equivalent of California’s Berkeley. A leftist hell hole

[leaning conservative]

Absolutely one of the most bizarre & horrifying things ever. I completely understand why a lot of families are bringing their kids home.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Now this new article from The Independent:

University of Idaho murders: Prosecutor says student stabbings may have multiple suspects as police seek knife

Twitch footage, seen by The Independent, captured Mogen and Goncalves stopping by a local food truck for a late-night bit to eat – not long before the murders unfolded. The footage shows the two best friends arriving at the food truck at around 1:41 am. An unidentified man appears to be walking with them, before he steps back as they approach the truck.

Mogen and Goncalves go up to the truck and order food, while the man stands a few feet behind them – before pulling his hood over his head. Mogen appears to spot someone she recognises and walks over to a man, hugging him briefly before returning to Goncalves’ side.

After ordering, the two best friends move over to the collection side of the truck. The mystery man who arrived with them follows and stands close by. Over the next 10 minutes, the group of young people and students are seen laughing and chatting away as they wait for their orders.

The man is seen chatting and laughing to another man in the line, while Mogen and Goncalves appear to laugh and joke with each other and take photos. When their food is ready, Mogen and Goncalves leave together, walking away from the truck and turning left. The man, who was chatting to another student at the time appears to notice them walk off and gestures at them, before he turns and walks away from the truck, turning right – the opposite direction.

It's been very cold in Idaho, so pulling up his hood may not signify anything. But he obviously knows who he is and it will be interesting to see if he comes in for questioning.

The article just says they police haven't ruled anything out, but there's really nothing to indicate multiple suspects. The headline is bad sensationalism -- not entirely untrue, but not really truthful, either.

This new photo (below) is hard to take. It appears the kids are out on Lake Coeur d'Alene. We often are boating in the summer in a nearby lake and it looks just like this. We have pics just like this of our kids, their husbands, boyfriends, and girlfriends out with us on the boat having fun.

[NWFree]

It’s a very small college town in nowhere Idaho. Kids should be safe there.

We’ve failed them as a society. This is unacceptable

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Yes, I would agree the local PD is out of its depth. They need to bring in some big guns and forensic experts. Being Chief in Moscow means dealing with rowdy student parties and property crimes, not many murders.

[thefactor]

What would you have done? Locked down the town? Spread panic?

[NWFree]

They already brought in the State police and the FBI

[PGR88]

What would you have done? Locked down the town? Spread panic?

For starters, I would not have said "there is no threat to the public." Which they now basically admit was false. So now its just more LIES from government. Does that inspire trust??

Now that they have reversed themselves, you should ask that same question of these Idaho Police. Are they spreading panic?

[TauntedTiger]

Hard to trust LE when they routinely discount the danger of certifiable maniacs.

[Bonemaker]

NYC has thousands of murderers running around loose. At least Idahoans can carry a gun rather than relying on Kathy Hochul for protection.

[metmom]

Just another reason to carry.

Always.