This morning we continue to follow the
murder of four University of Idaho students.
We've been following this case for days now,
and now almost a week later,
we are still learning new information.
So let's break down three things to
know right now #1 the Latah County
coroner's autopsy report shows that
all four students, Ethan Chapin,
Kaylee can solves, Xanax Kernodle,
and Madison Mogan were stabbed #2 we know
police have not recovered the weapon.
Investigators also confirmed the victims.
Were not the only ones in the
House when the bodies were found.
Two other roommates were home at the time.
Police say they were not hurt and they are
not considered as suspects at this time.
Police also say there were no signs of
forced entry into the home and at this
hour they are still searching for a suspect.
And #3, we also learned that the FBI's
Behavioral Analysis Unit is helping
with the case through crime analysis and
creating profiles of unknown offenders.
And as we mentioned,
the Latok County coroner released
the autopsy report.
So let's dive deeper into that report
and take a look at this new information.
Here, law enforcement pronounced Ethan,
Kaylee, Zanna,
and Madison dead at noon on Sunday.
The cause of death is listed as
murder by stabbing.
This autopsy report confirms this
is now a murder investigation.
So there is a lot that we still
don't know based on this report,
such as if the victims fought back when
they were found and who called 911.
These are all questions we continue
to ask the Moscow Police Department.
Officers say they are keeping many
details private, though,
to make sure they're not
compromising the investigation.
So we also received a statement from
U Vice President Scott Green following
the release of the autopsy report.
He says there will be an increased
security presence throughout the weekend.
We also, he also went on to say,
quote,
we need to remain flexible this
week and grant our students and
colleagues room to process these
unprecedented events in their own ways.
Students,
you are encouraged to do what
is right for you.
The university will be updating students
over e-mail on any new information on
the investigation over the fall break.
Well,
as we work to bring you more to every story,
we wanted to get more insight into
how a smaller department like Moscow
PD is working such a big case.
So our Whitney Ward turned to the
Police Department in nearby Pollman
to understand how big crimes in these
smaller college communities are investigated.
Anytime that you're
investigating a a homicide.
Where you have substantial community
impacts, there is a tendency
to want to rush to judgment,
but you must be patient and allow the
investigators to to do their jobs and
to come to the logical conclusion
of where the evidence leads them.
What's happening behind the scenes
in say, the 1st 72 hours after a
big crime or a big case like a
murder. In 2021, we investigated
a homicide in that case.
Is still ongoing.
Those cases require hundreds of
man hours of of time and dozens
of officers and investigators to
really put the cases together.
And that could be a kind of a painstakingly
slow process sometimes, right?
It can be we had evidence that
was submitted to the Washington
State Patrol Crime Laboratory that
took almost a year to return.
Is it more difficult when you know that the
case has gotten some national attention?
Or knowing that the whole world,
and certainly the whole community is
watching and waiting for information. Our
jobs as investigators is to try to keep
our our eyes on what's important and.
Even though there could be outside.
Interest in what's happening.
We really need to be professional
and focus on the task at hand.
And the Pullman Police Department
wanted to be very clear that
they're fully supporting the Moscow
Police Department right now.
They are, we are told, rather,
they have offered assistance and the
commander tells us they will do anything
they can to help in this investigation.
Meanwhile, Moscow police are appealing
to the public For more information.
They set up a tip line for people to
call if they have any information
about this investigation.
That number there is on your screen. It is
208-883-7180. The Idaho State
Police say that they have seen an
increase in tips since the press
conference earlier this week.