MOSCOW, Idaho – FIRST ON FOX: Detectives investigating a quadruple homicide of a group of University of Idaho students have ruled out a connection between the jarring attack and two other unsolved stabbings with similar characteristics.
“We don’t believe, at this time, that these murders are actually related to two other knife murders that have occurred,” Aaron Snell, director of communications for the Idaho State Police, told Fox News Digital on Friday. “At this time, our detectives were aware of these cases and we have investigated them.”
Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20, were found dead hours after police said someone attacked them in their sleep on November 13. Reporters at a news briefing on Wednesday asked Moscow police about the possible connection between the student murders and a second unsolved stabbing that left Travis Juetten dead and seriously injured his wife Jamilyn in Oregon.
Authorities say an intruder attacked the couple as they slept around 3 a.m. on Aug. 13, 2021.
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Map showing a series of murders in the Washington-Idaho-Oregon region
(Fox Digital News)
Travis Juetten, 26, fought back but succumbed to his injuries.
His wife, now 26, survived 19 stab wounds.
Travis and Jamilyn Juetten were attacked in their home at around 3:00 am on August 13, 2021 by a knife-wielding assailant.
(Marion County Sheriff’s Office)
The next morning, the Idaho Tribune reported that a third nearby attack under eerily similar circumstances.
Sandra Ladd, 71, was found dead at her home in Washougal, Washington, according to Oregon Crime Stoppers. Her death was ruled a homicide after the medical examiner found multiple stab wounds to her torso, Washougal police said at the time.
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Sandra Ladd, 71, was found stabbed to death in June 2020.
(Oregon Crime Stoppers)
The attacks against the students and the Juetten occurred between 3 and 4 am on the 13th of a month. Ladd was found dead in her bed on June 14, 2020.
In all three cases, no suspects have been identified and no weapons have been recovered.
However, investigators say the Idaho attack was targeted.
And while Snell previously said investigators “had not ruled out any ideas or concepts,” he confirmed Friday that they were confident the three cases were unrelated, based on the evidence they had obtained so far.
Victims of the November 13 massacre at the University of Idaho.
(Instagram @xanakernodle / @maddiemogen / @kayleegoncalves)
“We have excellent investigators on these cases, and as we get criticized by other people who don’t have any knowledge about it, it’s always very interesting to get criticized by people who don’t have knowledge of a specific case,” he said. , although he added that the researchers would consider new evidence if it emerged.
“Based on what they know of the other two cases, it doesn’t seem like they’re the same,” he said.
A photo of Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, who were killed Sunday with two other University of Idaho students.
(instagram)
As they continue to search for answers about the murders at the university, they are also asking the public for information about Goncalves’ possible stalker, no matter how small the details.
“We think if there was a stalker, that would be pretty important information that we’d like to know,” Snell said. “So, we have followed all the advice and clues in this regard, that we have been able, we have not been able to corroborate anything.
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But he said that if it is true that there was a stalker, it would be “very important for the investigation.”
Anyone with information about the harasser or the case in general is asked to call the tip line at 208-883-7180 or email tipline@ci.moscow.id.us.
