Four University of Idaho students found dead in a rental home Sunday were stabbed to death in their beds and were likely asleep, a county medical examiner told a cable news channel. Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt also told NewsNation on Thursday that each victim suffered multiple stab wounds from a “fairly large knife.” “Somebody has to be very angry to stab four people to death,” Mabbutt told NewsNation. The victims were stabbed in the chest and upper body, the coroner said. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Mabbutt by phone Friday were directed to an Idaho State Police spokesman, who did not immediately return messages. Mabbutt’s comments expanded on autopsy reports released Thursday, which concluded the four students were stabbed to death. The killings shocked Moscow, an Idaho Panhandle city of 25,000 that last experienced a homicide about five years ago. The leafy college town is about 80 miles (130 kilometers) south of Spokane, Washington. Officers have not identified a suspect or found a weapon, Moscow Police Chief James Fry said. All four victims were members of fraternities and sororities: seniors Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho. junior Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Idaho; and freshman Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington. The women were roommates. The bodies were found around noon on Sunday. The Moscow Police Department released a map on Friday showing a rough timeline of the events leading up to the deaths and asked the public to provide tips or information. The map showed that Ethan and Xana attended a party at the Sigma Chi fraternity house between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday’s. The map said the two were back at Xana’s rental house by 1:45 a.m. Sunday. Meanwhile, Kaylee and Maddie went to the Corner Club, a popular bar in downtown Moscow, from 10 p.m. Saturday to 1:30 a.m. Sunday. They then visited a food truck on Main Street and were back home by 1:45 a.m. Surveillance video from the food truck shows Mogen and Goncalves ordering at the window, taking pictures on their phones and chatting with friends in about a 10-minute segment. The map did not say how police knew all four victims were at home until 1:45 a.m. Police said evidence at the scene led them to believe the students were targeted, though they have not released details. Investigators say nothing appears to have been stolen from the victims or the home. After initially saying there was no danger, police backtracked on Wednesday. “We can’t say there’s no threat to the community,” Fry said. “We still believe it’s a targeted attack. But the reality is there’s still one person out there who committed four very horrific, horrific crimes.” Two other people were found in the sprawling home, unharmed. Fry declined to say whether they were able to provide a description of the killings or clarify who called 911. There was no sign of forced entry, according to the chief, and a door was found open by the first officers to arrive.
