MOSCOW, Idaho — Police have dismissed a number of rumors circulating about the Nov. 13 murders of four University of Idaho students at their home near campus in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Authorities have yet to announce any suspects in the stabbing deaths of Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 20, and Madison Mogen, 20, prompting speculation among members of the Moscow community and internet sleuths eager for answers.
“There’s a lot of speculation out there,” Idaho State Police Public Information Officer Aaron Snell told Fox News Digital. “Ultimately, detectives on scene have the information. The people that are working this case from all three agencies … they’re the best and the brightest, and they have the most up-to-date resources.”
Snell added that rumors sometimes do “a disservice to the families and to the community because it puts out additional information that hasn’t been vetted.” He then mentioned several rumors that police have swatted down since the murders took place.
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO STUDENTS KILLED: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS
Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, along with the women’s two other roommates in Kaylee Goncalves’ final Instagram post, shared the day before the slayings.
(@kayleegoncalves/Instagram)
Victims not bound and gagged
Authorities have shot down false rumors that the four victims were bound and gagged during the attack early on in their investigation.
“At one point, we heard that the victims were bound and gagged. Well, we were able to successfully say, ‘No, that’s not indeed accurate.’ And so, we’re trying to put out that information,” Snell said.
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Each of the four victims had multiple stab wounds, and “some” of them had defensive wounds, according to autopsy results from the Latah County coroner, but there has been no indication that they were tied up during…
