🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
Police in Moscow, Idaho, have heightened their presence as large numbers of visitors come to town for commencement festivities almost a month after four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death.
Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Kernodle's boyfriend Ethan Chapin were found dead in an off-campus rental house on November 13. Almost a month on, the Moscow Police Department has not yet named a suspect, made any arrests, or found a weapon.
In a news release on Saturday, the police department said: "With commencement this weekend, there will be an influx of people coming in from out of town. Moscow Police Department and Idaho State Police will provide coverage on campus and in the Moscow area."
With the students' killer still at large, the department also urged people to remain vigilant and take precautions when moving around.
"As always, we want to remind the public to stay vigilant, travel in groups, and communicate with family and friends as you travel," the department said.
In a video posted on YouTube on Saturday, Moscow Police Chief James Fry said: "This is a very important weekend for the university. It's our commencement weekend, and we're gonna have a lot of officers around.
"We're gonna have a lot of Idaho State Police around. You'll see us both at the commencement as well as just around town providing safety."
Fry did not provide any details about how close police may be to making an arrest, but said investigators are "working steady" on solving the students' murders.
"We're still receiving tips. We're still receiving items in from, you know, down at the lab. Things are continuing. We're still pushing forward."
Earlier this week, police asked for help finding the occupant or occupants of a white Hyundai Elantra made between 2011 and 2013 that was seen near the house in the early morning hours of November 13, saying that person could have "critical information" about the case.
"Investigators would like to thank the community and public for recent information provided about the vehicle and the spike in tips," the police department said in Saturday's news release.
"The FBI is prioritizing and vetting those tips for use in the investigation. The public is asked to continue to use the Tip Line to report any information about the vehicle."
Anyone who knows of or owns a vehicle matching the description, or knows of anyone who may have been driving this vehicle on the days preceding or the day of the murders is urged to contact the tip line at 08-883-7180. They can also email tipline@ci.moscow.id.us or visit fbi.gov/moscowidaho.
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