MOSCOW, Idaho – As investigators skipped Thanksgiving celebrations to continue their search for a suspect in the unsolved murders of four University of Idaho students, a third unsolved stabbing in the Pacific Northwest has resurfaced with uncanny similarities.
Reporters at a news conference Wednesday questioned Moscow police about the possible connection between the student murders and a second unsolved stabbing, which 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.
Travis Juetten, 26, fought back but succumbed to his injuries. His wife, now 26, survived 19 stab wounds.
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Map showing a series of murders in the Washington-Idaho-Oregon region
(Fox Digital News)
“We are looking at all avenues, and we have other agencies contacting us with other cases, things we will follow up on,” Moscow Police Chief James Fry said Wednesday. He said his office was aware of the case and was investigating it, but no official connection between the two cases has been established.
The next morning, the Idaho Tribune reported that a third attack nearby shared similar characteristics.
Sandra Ladd, 71, was found dead at her home in Washougal, Washington, on June 14, 2020, 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 two attacks occurred 14 months apart, but within 70 miles of each other. The locations are approximately a five-hour drive west of Moscow, Idaho.
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University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were stabbed to death in their sleep on November 13, 2022 between 3 and 4 a.m. in a home rental close to campus. , according to the police.
Like the attack on the Juettens, the incident occurred between 3 and 4 am on the 13th of the month.
Victims of the November 13 massacre at the University of Idaho.
(Instagram @xanakernodle / @maddiemogen / @kayleegoncalves)
Details about the timing of Ladd’s death were not immediately clear. His body was discovered at 4:30 p.m., in his bed, the Oregonian reported at the time.
In all three cases, no suspects have been identified.
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Aaron Snell, director of communications for the Idaho State Police, told Fox News Digital on Thursday that investigators would look into any possible connection between the cases.
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)
“Unequivocally, even without asking anyone, our detectives will be aware of that,” he said. “They’ll look into the possibility of their being linked…anything that’s a long shot as a connection is something we’ll consider.”
He said investigators “had not ruled out any ideas or concepts” but that it was too soon to say definitively if any of the three cases shared a connection.
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Two other roommates in the house, who were sleeping downstairs, were not attacked, according to police.
They have been ruled out as suspects, along with several other people who met some of the victims the night before their murders.
An aerial map released by the Moscow City Police Department on November 18 shows the final movements of Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Kaylee Goncalves before they were brutally murdered in their home on November 13. In the box, a photo of the victims.
(Moscow City Police Department)
Moscow police have said they believe the student killings were “targeted” but declined to elaborate.
No murder weapon has been recovered and investigators are asking anyone with surveillance video from the surrounding area to submit it.
They were also investigating reports that Goncalves had a stalker before the attack.
Mourners have left notes at makeshift memorials around town and on campus for the four slain University of Idaho students.
(Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)
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“Kaylee mentioned that she had a stalker, but detectives have not been able to corroborate the statement,” police said in a statement. “Investigators are asking anyone with information on a possible stalker, or unusual cases, to contact the tip line.”
Anyone with information about the case should call the tip line at 208-883-7180 Or email tipline@ci.moscow.id.us.
