MOSCOW, Idaho — Two roommates of the University of Idaho students found dead Sunday at a home near campus could be “key” to the investigation, authorities said on Thursday.
Moscow Police Chief James Fry said Wednesday that the two unidentified roommates were home at the time of the deadly attack on Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. Investigators believe the four were stabbed to death early Sunday morning.
Fry said the two roommates who have not been identified were not injured in the attack. He added that investigators were “not just focusing on them” but also “on everybody that may be coming and going from that residence.”
On Thursday, Idaho State Police spokesman Aaron Snell told ABC News that the surviving roommates are “working and talking with detectives, and they have been cooperative — very cooperative.” He said that they ultimately could be “the key to this whole thing.”
“Potentially they are witnesses, potentially they are victims,” Snell said, according to ABC News.
Police found Chapin, Kernodle, Mogen and Goncalves dead after responding to a report of an unconscious person at a home off-campus. Authorities said they believe the attack was isolated and targeted to the victims, citing unspecified details from the scene.
“We do not have a suspect at this time and that individual is still out there,” Fry said Wednesday. “We cannot say that there is no threat to the community, and as we have stated please stay vigilant, report any suspicious activity and be aware of your surroundings at all times.”
School officials and authorities said Chapin was a freshman from Conway, Washington, who was majoring in recreation sport and tourism management. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Kernodle was a junior from Post Falls, Idaho, who was majoring in marketing. She was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Mogen was a senior from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, who was studying marketing. She was also a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Goncalves was a senior from Rathdrum, Idaho, who was majoring in general studies. She was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority.
Authorities continue to investigate.
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