Idaho Police Collect Fresh Evidence From Student Murder Home

Investigators on Tuesday reportedly collected fresh evidence from the house where four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed last month.

The arrival of the investigators at the off-campus rental house where Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were found dead on November 13 was captured in a video and posted on Twitter by NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin.

In a tweet alongside the video, Entin noted that the two investigators "were carrying a black case and inside for about about 20 minutes," adding, "I saw them through the window on the 2nd floor. They did not answer any questions when they left."

Later, former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer tweeted that the black case suggested the investigators were at the house to collect evidence.

"This bag is so familiar," she wrote in a tweet. "Carried a similar one for most of my career in my vehicle trunk. In it was what was needed to collect evidence."

Aaron Snell, communications director for the Idaho State Police, told Newsweek on Tuesday: "Investigators will periodically return to the house. I don't specifically know why they were there yesterday, but each visit is not specific to evidence collection.

"For example, they could discuss a theory, potentially gather personal property, make sure the property remains secure, or confirm the utilities are working properly (given the winter weather). While it may happen, most evidence has already been collected."

The visit to the house comes as the police continue to face pressure to solve the murders that have left the tiny town deeply shaken. More than five weeks since the killings, they have yet to identify a suspect or make any arrests.

In a news release on Tuesday, the Moscow Police Department said it is working through almost 12,000 email and phone tips in a bid to solve the murders, along with more than 4,500 digital media submissions.

"Investigators believe someone has information that adds context to what occurred on the night of the murders and continue requesting additional pictures, video, and social media content," police said in Tuesday's release.

"Our focus remains on the investigation, not an individual's activities displayed in the tip. Whether you believe it is significant or not, your information might be one of the puzzles pieces that help solve these murders."

Police are also still looking for any information about a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra that was seen near the house where the students were killed in the early morning hours of November 13.

In Tuesday's update, they confirmed that a Hyundai Elantra located in Eugene, Oregon, is not believed to be connected to the murder investigation.

"The vehicle was involved in a collision and subsequently impounded," police said. "The vehicle is registered out of Colorado and the female owner is not believed to have any relation to any property in Moscow, Idaho or the ongoing murder investigations. The public is asked to stop contacting the owner."

Update 12/21/22, 10:10 a.m.: This article has been updated with comment from Aaron Snell.