It’s been more than five weeks since four University of Idaho students were brutally stabbed to death in their rental home in Moscow, Idaho, and with no suspects publicly identified, many are wondering why the Federal Bureau of Investigation hasn’t taken homicide control. research.
The four University of Idaho students, Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were stabbed to death, likely in their sleep, on November 13 between 3 a.m. and 4 p.m. am in a Moscow building. , Idaho, home on King Road near the University campusaccording to the police.
Former FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam told Fox News Digital that the FBI cannot exercise control as the lead investigative agency because it does not have jurisdiction over the case.
“The FBI does not necessarily have jurisdiction in this case. That is the state case. And there is no federal nexus in this case at this time. There is no evidence that a killer crossed state lines. There is no evidence that there was a kidnapping or something with children were involved. You know, something that would escalate to the level of the FBI taking over the case,” Gilliam said.
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Victims of the November 13 massacre at the University of Idaho
(Instagram @xanakernodle/@maddiemogen/@kayleegoncalves)
Gilliam said that “despite what people believe,” the FBI “can’t just come in and exert its power and take over any state or local investigation.”
As an example, Gilliam said that if there was a serial killer and the state or local law enforcement agency could not handle the investigation, the FBI could take over with the approval of the Department of Justice.
However, if the FBI had evidence that an individual who committed the crime also crossed state lines, the FBI could take jurisdiction, Gilliam said.
The belongings of victims of the University of Idaho quadruple homicide are removed from the home in Moscow, Idaho, on December 7, 2022.
(Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Although the FBI has a presence in Moscow, Idaho, for the homicide investigation, Gilliam says they are not overstepping the bounds.
“When the FBI is following the lead of a local police department and they’re invited, they can’t cross their boundaries. They can say this and that. But the reality is that the FBI has no jurisdiction.” Gilliam said.
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Flores form a makeshift memorial at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, on November 21, 2022, for four of its students who were killed on November 13.
(Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
As of December 19, officials say there are 60 FBI staff members “in Moscow and located throughout the United States,” as well as two investigators from the agency’s behavior analysis unit.
Earlier, police said the victims were stabbed multiple times, adding that the attacker used a “fixed blade knife.”
Before the killings, police say the four victims were at various locations in Moscow before returning to the King Road home at 1:56 a.m.
Investigators search the area behind the house in Moscow, Idaho, on November 23, 2022, where a quadruple homicide occurred on November 13.
(Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Kernodle and Chapin were at a Sigma Chi fraternity party on campus on the night of November 12, and did not return home until 1:45 a.m. on November 13.
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Mogen and Goncalves were seen in a Twitch stream at Moscow’s Grub Wandering Kitchen food truck at 1:40 a.m. The couple arrived at the King Road home at 1:56 a.m. after being transported by a “party private”, which the police do not know. consider a suspect.
Investigators are looking for a target 2011-2013 Hyundai who was seen near the crime scene in the early morning of November 13.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Moscow police at 208-883-7054 or email tipline@ci.moscow.id.us.
