Police in Moscow, Idaho, have discovered an incident that they believe could be what led to one of the four murdered students at the University of Idaho telling her parents that she believed that she had a stalker.
It’s been more than two weeks since Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Madison Mogen, 21, were murdered in their off-campus residence — and police still have not named any suspects or found the murder weapon.
NewsNation Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin reported Monday that police say an incident at a local business may have led Goncalves to tell her parents that she had a stalker.
“Police say in mid-October, two males were seen inside a local business; they parted ways, and one male appeared to follow Kaylee inside the business and as she exited to walk toward her car,” Entin said. “The male turned away, and it did not appear he made any contact with her.”
“Detectives contacted both males and learned the two were attempting to meet women at the business, this was corroborated through additional investigation,” Entin continued. “Based on available information, detectives believe this was an isolated incident and not an ongoing pattern of stalking.”
3/4 Detectives contacted both males and learned the two were attempting to meet women at the business, this was corroborated through additional investigation. Based on available information, detectives believe this was an isolated incident and not an ongoing pattern of stalking.
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) December 5, 2022
Entin added that police indicated that they do not have any evidence connecting the two men to the murders.
Authorities have also said they do not believe that the two surviving roommates — who apparently did not hear the murders take place — are involved in the crimes. They also do not believe a man observed in surveillance video outside a food truck visited by Goncalves and Mogen the night of the murders was involved, nor was a driver who drove the women home.
One week after the slayings, law enforcement provided more information and asked the public for “context to the events and people involved in these murders.”
“Anyone who observed notable behavior, has video surveillance, or can provide relevant information is asked to call the Tip Line,” the police said in a press release.
Police are looking for any outside surveillance video taken between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. on November 13 — the morning of the murders — from local businesses and residences in the area. They’ve requested all videos, even if there doesn’t appear to be any motion in them. Police are also asking for any tips or surveillance video about “any observed suspicious behavior” on the night of the murders, particularly in the areas where the students had been.
Police still contend that the attack was “targeted” but do not know whether “the target was the residence or if it was the occupants.”
Ashe Schow contributed to this report.