Moscow, Idaho, Police Chief James Fry was asked about similarities between four murders in his city and a double stabbing in Salem, Oregon, last year. Fry said investigators received a tip relating to the Oregon case.
“Are investigators looking at any possible connection to an unsolved double stabbing in the Salem, Oregon area about a year ago,” an ABC News reporter asked during a Wednesday press conference. “Specifically, two people stabbed in their home in the middle of the night with a long knife, no suspect at this point.”
The police chief acknowledged the case had been compared with the tragic stabbing deaths in his community.
“We’re looking at every avenue and we have other agencies reaching out to us with other cases, stuff that we are going to follow up on,” Fry responded. No connection has been found between the two cases, he added.
Travis and Jamilyn Juetten were awakened while sleeping in their Salem, Oregon, home around 3 a.m. August 13, 2021, by an unknown assailant attacking them with a knife, according to a Fox News report. Travis fought off the attacker, but was pronounced dead at the scene, the report noted. Jamilyn reportedly suffered 19 stab wounds and other injuries but survived.
Latah County Sheriff’s deputies, Idaho State Police troopers and FBI agents have been providing resources to help local police investigate the November 13 massacre.
Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were at Corner Club, a club at 202 N. Main Street, in downtown Moscow, between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m., November 13, police said in a statement. Kaylee and Madison were seen on video at a local food vendor called the Grub Truck at 318 S. Main Street around 1:40 a.m.
They received a ride from a private party to their 1122 King Road home at 1:45 a.m., according to police.
Investigators determined Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were at the Sigma Chi house on the University of Idaho Campus at 735 Nez Perce Drive. They returned to the 1122 King Road residence around 1:45 a.m., also. Chapin did not reside at the home but stayed overnight with his girlfriend.
Detectives believe two surviving roommates had also been out in the Moscow community that night but not with the victims. They returned home by 1 a.m. November 13, police said, adding, the survivors did not wake up until later that morning.
The surviving roommates summoned friends to the residence because they believed one of the second-floor victims had passed out and was not waking up, police said in the statement.
“At 11:58 a.m., a 911 call requested aid for an unconscious person,” police said. “The call originated from inside the residence on one of the surviving roommates’ cell phone. Multiple people talked with the 911 dispatcher before a Moscow police officer arrived at the location. Officers entered the residence and found two victims on the second floor and two victims on the third floor.”
The Latah County Coroner confirmed the identity of the four murdered individuals and their cause and manner of death as homicide by stabbing after autopsies were performed November 17.
Coroner Cathy Mabbutt said the four victims were likely asleep, some had defensive wounds, and each was stabbed multiple times. There was no sign of sexual assault, she added.
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