A former Federal Bureau of Investigation detective says hair follicles from a suspect in a Nov. 13 quadruple homicide near the University of Idaho may lead authorities closer to making an arrest, as forensic evidence of the evidence begin to be shared with the authorities.
Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, all students at the University of Idaho, were killed during the early hours of November 13 between 3 and 4 am and police have yet to identify a suspect. Police say the victims were stabbed multiple times, with some showing signs of defensive wounds according to an autopsy conducted by the Latah County Coroner.
Authorities recovered more than 113 pieces of “physical evidence” from the crime scene, which were sent to the Idaho State Police Forensic Services crime lab. Idaho State Police Communications Director Aaron Snell told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that investigators have begun receiving forensic test results on some evidence.
Former FBI Special Agent Jonathan Gilliam told Fox News Digital that if the suspect left hair follicles at the crime scene, it could help investigators find a possible suspect.
SCHEDULE OF MURDERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO: WHAT WE KNOW
A split photo showing the school and the victims, including University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21.
(Derek Shook for Fox News Digital/Jazzmin Kernodle via AP/ Instagram/ @kayleegoncalves)
“Yes [the attacker is] standing on them and it’s stabbing ferociously, then you might have hair follicles that might fall out, your own skin might spill out there, if you cut yourself and bleed on it. If they do their collection diligently, then they will find those DNA particles and then they will have them,” Gilliam said as authorities began receiving the results of the forensic tests.
Gilliam noted that DNA testing is a “very detailed exercise” that takes time to process, adding that authorities are likely working on a removal process.
Front view of the house where four Idaho students were murdered.
(Adam Sabes/Fox News Digital)
“There were so many people there, the fact that they are young means that the DNA may not be anything again,” Gilliam said. “But with a house like that and you’re talking 10 to 40 people a week and even more, there’s a tremendous amount of repeating DNA. Right there, you’re looking at 50 different people, DNA strands.”
“They’re going to get those, separate them and then try to see if they can place them with somebody,” he added.
IDAHO MURDERS: STAINED HANDPRINT NEXT TO EVIDENCE TAPE AT HOUSE WHERE FOUR STUDENTS WERE MURDERED
A side view of the house in Moscow, Idaho, on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, where four students were murdered.
(Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Police say that between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m., Goncalves and Mogen were at the Corner Club bar located in Moscow before being seen near the Grub Wandering Kitchen food truck at 1:40 a.m. The two arrived at King Road home at 1:56am after being led away by a “private party” not considered suspicious by police.
Chapin and Kernodle were at the University of Idaho Sigma Chi fraternity house before returning to the King Road home at 1:45 a.m. Nov. 13, police say.
IDAHO POLICE SAY THOUSANDS OF TIPS RECEIVED AS COLLEGE MURDER INVESTIGATION NEARS THREE WEEKS WITHOUT A SUSPECT
A memorial to the students killed at the University of Idaho on Monday, November 28, 2022 is covered in snow. The menorial is in honor of the victims of a quadruple homicide involving an off-campus home on November 13.
(Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
The 911 call was made at 11:58 a.m. on the cell phone of one of the two surviving roommates. Police say the two roommates didn’t wake up until later in the morning on November 13.
While police have yet to identify a suspect in the attack, authorities remain confident the attack was targeted.
“Our clarification last night directly addressed comments made by Latah County Attorney Thompson, who said that the suspects specifically observed this residence and that one or more of the occupants was undoubtedly attacked. We remain consistent in our belief that this was in fact a targeted attack, but I have not concluded whether the target was the residence or its occupants,” read a statement from the Moscow Police Department to Fox News on Thursday.
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Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Moscow police at 208-883-7054 or email tipline@ci.moscow.id.us.
Stephanie Pagones, Cristina Coleman and Alexandria Hernandez of Fox News contributed to this report.
