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The killer of four University of Idaho students had anger that "boiled over" on the night of the slayings, according to a former FBI agent.
Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle's boyfriend Ethan Chapin were found dead in an off-campus rental house in the small town of Moscow on November 13. The women lived in the house with two surviving roommates, while Chapin was visiting.
Autopsies determined the four were stabbed to death and were likely asleep when they were attacked. Some had defensive wounds and each had been stabbed multiple times, authorities said.
More than five weeks on, relatively few details have been released about the murders and police have yet to identify a suspect or make any arrests. Police have also not located a murder weapon, but have said they were looking for a fixed-bladed knife.
Police have said they believe the murders were targeted but have not concluded if the target was the residence or its occupants.
Jennifer Coffindaffer, a former FBI agent and law enforcement analyst, believes the attack was motivated by the killer's anger but was also planned to some degree.
"I do believe someone was angry and that it boiled over that night, but [it] was planned to the degree they committed these murders aware their victims were asleep," Coffindaffer told Newsweek.
The killer was "generally aware of the house layout, unaware who resided in what rooms and had an entry and exit plan."
While police have not revealed if they believe the killer is thought to be a male or female, Coffindaffer has concluded it was a man.
Coffindaffer told Newsweek that it was also possible that the suspect wore protective gear while carrying out the murders.
"I am not sure of 'protective' clothing other than possibly gloves, but not ruling it out," she said. "While the murderer's clothes would have likely been quite bloody, we don't know what the evidence shows in regard to his movements inside."
In a news release on Tuesday, the Moscow Police Department said it is working through almost 12,00 email and phone tips as well as more than 4,500 digital media submissions.
Investigators are also still looking for any information about a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra that is thought to have been "in the immediate area" of the house where the students were killed in the early morning hours of November 13.
Police on Tuesday confirmed that a Hyundai Elantra that was located in Eugene, Oregon, is not believed to be connected to the murder investigation.
"The vehicle was involved in a collision and subsequently impounded," police said.
"The vehicle is registered out of Colorado and the female owner is not believed to have any relation to any property in Moscow, Idaho, or the ongoing murder investigations. The public is asked to stop contacting the owner."
About the writer
Khaleda Rahman is Newsweek's National Correspondent based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on education and national news. Khaleda ... Read more