Surviving Roommates Share First Comments Since Four University of Idaho Students Were Stabbed to Death in November

On November 13th, four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death on the second and third floors of their off-campus residence. Two other roommates where in the home at the time of the murders, but were on the first floor of the residence and slept through the attack – they’re not listed as suspects. 

The investigation is ongoing and while the Moscow Police Department has doubled down on their belief that this was a targeted attack, they’re unsure of who the target was. The bodies were discovered by the two surviving roommates early the next morning. The news continues to shake the Idaho community. 

A memorial for the four victims – Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20 – was held on Friday in Post Falls, Idaho, about 15 minutes from the University of Idaho. The two surviving roommates penned letters for the memorial, which were read by the pastor. 

RELATED: New Details Emerge in Stabbing of 4 University of Idaho Students

According to Dylan Mortenson, one of the two surviving roommates, Xana Kernodle was the ‘life of the party’ with a ‘sweet and loving’ boyfriend, Ethan Chapin – who was more like an older brother to Mortenson. She also added that Xana was a ‘strong, intelligent, hardworking and a beautiful person.’ 

As for Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, they were an ‘inseparable duo’ – according to Dylan. “I know it will be hard to not have the four of them in our lives, but I know Xana, Ethan, Maddie and Kaylee would want us to live life and be happy and they would want us to celebrate their lives,” she wrote. 

Bethany Fulke, the second surviving roommate, recounted how perfect a pair Chapin and Kernodle were for each other, adding that they ‘made people believe in true love.’ She praised Chapin for having ‘the brightest most fun personality’ and Kernodle for her “loving, fun, energetic, funny, passionate” attitude.

Fulke also praised Goncalves as one of the funniest people she has ever met, while Mogen was someone she could turn to for help or advice on any subject. The memorial reminded us how some lives can be taken way too soon – without notice, without warning, and, at least for now, without an explanation. 

Authorities Continue Search for University of Idaho Murderer

It has been nearly one full month since the four University of Idaho students were killed in their sleep. While investigators are finally starting to receive forensic results from the crime scene, police officials have yet to find the murder weapon – believed to be a fixed-blade knife – and are still without a suspect. 

The investigation is ongoing, but the Moscow Police Department offered an update on Saturday. They’ve received more than 2,640 emails about potential tips or leads, more than 2,770 phone calls of the same sort, and another 1,000 submissions to the FBI. They also have 110 pieces of evidence and 4,000 photos.

At this point in the investigation, the investigators are ruling the two surviving roommates – as well as a sixth roommate, who wasn’t home at the time of the murders – as suspects. The two surviving roommates were allegedly sleeping when the murders took place and were the ones who discovered the slain bodies. 

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Considering this was a targeted attack, the 26,000 residents of Moscow, Idaho are eagerly waiting for a suspect to be named and taken into custody. If you have any information that might help the investigation, the Moscow Police Department is asking that you call 208-883-7180 or email [email protected].