Idaho Police Hit Back at Accusations by Kaylee Goncalves' Family About Case

The chief of the Moscow Police Department has hit back after questions were raised about the capability of the department to solve the murders of four University of Idaho students.

Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were found dead in an off-campus rental house on November 13. More than five weeks on, police have not identified a suspect or made any arrests.

Shanon Gray, a lawyer representing the Goncalves family, has spoken of their frustration at the lack of answers from authorities. This week, Gray also suggested the Moscow Police Department may not be able to handle such a complex investigation.

"I'm not sure they're capable of handling a quadruple murder," Gray told the Today show. "If they are in over their heads, then acknowledge that and turn the investigation over to someone who is more versed in handling these types of matters."

According to Gray, the main investigator on the case has just two years of experience with the Moscow Police Department. Gray sent the department an email requesting the officer's credentials and asking why he is the lead, but did not receive a response, NewsNation's Brian Entin reported.

Moscow Police Chief James Fry responded to those concerns with a statement and a video that stressed the investigation would continue to be led by the Moscow Police Department.

"There have been numerous questions about leadership in this investigation," Fry said in a statement that was included in a Tuesday news release from the department.

"Let me be clear, this is the Moscow Police Department's investigation, and I am the Chief of Police. The decisions are mine and mine alone."

Fry said he has "an excellent Command Staff, with over 90 years of combined experience, overseeing the investigation's daily operation, and I select who runs the investigative teams."

He noted that the department is being supported by "highly trained and experienced personnel" from the Idaho State Police and the FBI whose "continued resources and knowledge are vital to our success."

According to the department, six local detectives and five support staff as well as a communications team are working on the case along with 60 FBI personnel, two investigators with the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit and 13 investigators from the Idaho State Police.

"Our investigative units work under a unified structure and have the autonomy to move forward and solve this case," Fry said. "Despite statements about my team, we remain focused on solving the murder of four students to seek justice for them, their families and to help our community heal."

In a video, Fry said his team has "94 years of experience between us and we're going to continue to work this case" to its conclusion.

"Be assured that this investigation is the Moscow Police Department's and I am the chief and we're going to follow through with this and just know that from the very beginning of this, we've been a unified group and we make decisions together... but those ultimately, I stand behind at the end," he said.

Robert McDonald, a criminal justice lecturer at the University of New Haven and a former Secret Service agent, told Newsweek that "it is never a good thing for an investigating agency to receive negative comments in the media from victims' families.

"It indicates a dissatisfaction with the way the investigation is going in the eyes of the victims' families and that the need for a fresh leading agency may be necessary."

But McDonald added that both Fry and the Moscow Police Department "are fatigued" and "want dearly to solve this crime—for the victims' families, the community and the university."

Newsweek has contacted Shanon Gray for further comment.