The top cop investigating the brutal slayings of four University of Idaho students revealed Thursday that his force had received nearly 20,000 tips — but still doesn’t have any suspects.
Moscow Police Chief James Fry said investigators have “received a lot more tips recently,” nearly seven weeks after the shocking Nov. 13 slayings at an off-campus home.
“We’ve received over 19,650 tips,” he said, detailing how 9,025 came via email, 4,575 through phone calls and another 6,050 through digital media submissions.
The flood of tips averaged almost 1,000 a day for the last 10 days, with the force having only said on Dec. 19 that it hit the 10,000 mark.
“We’re continuing to investigate those and follow up on those,” said Fry.
Moscow police separately said officers had “conducted over 300 interviews” in the case — but still “no suspect(s) has been identified.”
The department still believes that key clues are still being held back.
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“Investigators believe someone has information that adds context to what occurred on the night of the murders and continue requesting additional pictures, video, and social media content,” police said.
“Our focus remains on the investigation, not an individual’s activities displayed in the tip.”
A key focus is till finding a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra spotted in the immediate area when Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernoodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were stabbed to death.
Here’s the latest coverage on the brutal killings of four college friends:
“Investigators believe the occupant(s) may have critical information to share about this case,” the force again said Thursday, without elaborating if they were being sought as suspects or just key witnesses.
Some 90 white Hyundai Elantras registered to park at the school, Fox News said Wednesday, citing records. Moscow police previously said it would be looking into at least 22,000 vehicles meeting the description nationwide.