MOSCOW, Idaho (KLEW) — Police in Idaho are addressing speculation and misinformation on social media platforms surrounding the recent stabbing deaths of four college students, saying it's detrimental to the case as they work to identify the killer.
The four victims, who wee discovered dead last Sunday in an apartment, were students at the University of Idaho: seniors Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho; junior Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Idaho; and freshman Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington. The women were roommates.
One of the first rumors that began circulating on social media was that the killer tied up and gagged the victims and held them captive. Moscow Police Chief James Fry quashed that during the first press conference on Nov. 16, but false information continues to spread.
Fry said police do not believe the two other roommates – who shared the apartment with three of the victims – are suspects.
Moscow Police said they have received over 600 tips and completed 90 interviews so far since the students were found. Other people were at the off-campus apartment around the time the 911 call came in, but officials don’t believe the killer called 911.
The identity of the 911 caller and the 911 call itself have not been released, more unanswered questions that are fueling the social media rumor mill.
A lot of people have expressed their desire to help and the best thing that most of the people can do to help is to stop the rumors and just seek official information that comes out of the Moscow Police Department,” said Col. Kedrick Wills with Idaho State Police.Investigators are asking the public to be patient as they work to bring the killer to justice.
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