A lawyer for the devastated family of Idaho murder victim Kaylee Goncalves stated that police may need to consider transferring the investigation to a more seasoned agency.
Shanon Gray, who represents the Goncalves family, told Fox News Digital, "If they are unable of managing a triple murder, if they are in over their heads, then they should accept that and pass the case on to someone who is more experienced in handling these things."
Lawyer Doubts Moscow Police's Capability of Handling Quadruple Murder
Gray stated that the family is optimistic that the Moscow Police Department, with the assistance of the FBI and the Idaho State Police, is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the mysterious deaths of four University of Idaho students.
Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, and Xana Kernodle, 20, were stabbed to death at a rented property near campus between 3 and 4 a.m. on November 13.
Kaylee's father, Steve Goncalves, previously told Fox News Digital that the family engaged Gray because of worry that local police lacked the expertise to handle the killings' complexity. According to Gray, the Goncalves family met with police and the Latah County prosecutor last week to share their complaints and urge officials to better connect with the victims' families.
According to the attorney, the family is devastated by the death of their daughter. The families of Kaylee Goncalves and Mogen, who were closest friends, will celebrate the student's life on December 30 at 3 p.m. at Lake City Church in Coeur d'Alene.
Since last week, the Moscow Police Department has reported that more FBI agents have been assigned to the unresolved case. Authorities have not officially identified a suspect, and they have not found the fixed-blade knife they say was used in the attack.
More than six weeks have passed since the murders of Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin at an off-campus rental property in Moscow on November 13, yet the perpetrator has not been apprehended. No murder weapon has been discovered, and authorities have not identified any suspects, The Independent reported.
The Gonclaves family has previously expressed their dissatisfaction with what they have described as a lack of communication between Moscow police and the families of the victims, claiming that they have learned about developments in the investigation through press releases rather than from the force directly.
Moscow Police requested assistance from Idaho State Police and the FBI in the early aftermath of the inquiry, but the agency appears to have stayed in charge of the investigation. Authorities contend that the department "does have a great deal of material" that is being withheld to safeguard the investigation's integrity.
Steve Goncalves, Kaylee's father, rejected accusations that he labeled police "cowards" just days before Gray's statements. His family realizes that authorities "have their hands full" with the investigation, according to Goncalves. In the aftermath of the gruesome murders that shook the 25,000-person town, the Goncalves have expressed their unhappiness with the public's access to information or lack thereof.
Idaho College Murders Investigation Update
Meanwhile, police are currently sifting through bodycam footage that may have recorded a scream on the night of the murders. At 3:12 a.m., a Moscow police officer responding to an unrelated incident near the University of Idaho captured the high-pitched sound.
Some online sleuths believe the sound is a scream, whilst others say it is the sound of automobile tires detaching. Authorities believe that the noise, which appears to have occurred around the time the children were slain, may help investigators determine what transpired.
As per Daily Mail, police have uncovered no evidence of a sexual assault, and the victims' injuries indicate that they attempted to repel the offender. Initially, detectives stated they suspected all four were assaulted while they slept, with Goncalves father reporting she had the worst injuries from the event - suffering 'gouging wounds' and 'rips.'
However, Chief Fry has confessed that investigators do not fully comprehend how Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen seemed to sleep during the incident. According to reports, the police are also investigating "huge quantities" of digital information from local residences and businesses.
Captain Roger Lanier stated on Thursday that investigators had combed through a database of 22,000 registered white Hyundai Elantras that matched the description of the vehicle recovered at the murder site. Police have stated that the vehicle's license plate remains unclear and may have been deleted. Still, the public is encouraged to report information by calling 208-883-7180, emailing tipline@ci.moscow.id.us, or submitting digital material online.
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