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The Moscow Police Department, who have yet to make much headway investigating the murder of four University of Idaho students, have said they will now crack down on internet sleuths.Â
As last month’s brutal stabbings captured the nation’s attention, sleuths on the internet began posting popular theories about the murders to fill the void from the Idaho police, who have been criticized for sharing little and repeatedly contradicting themselves.Â
Speaking on Friday, Moscow Police Chief James Fry condemned the high volume of speculations and rumors surrounding the case, saying police have the sole authority to discuss the facts of the case.Â
‘We want people to pay attention to what we’re putting out there because that is accurate information, and anything that comes from other sources is either rumor or speculation,’ Fry said.Â
Following his statement, the police department said:Â ‘Anyone engaging in threats or harassment whether in person, online or otherwise needs to understand that they could be subjecting themselves to criminal charges.Â
‘Moscow Police Department cautions the public not to rely on rumors and remains committed to keeping the public informed. We urge reliance on official channels for accurate information.’Â
Moscow Police Chief James Fry (above) condemned the high volume of speculations and rumors surrounding the murder of four University of Idaho students. The police have threatened criminal charges against those who harass others due to the spread of misinformationÂ
Few details and contradictions from police has led to widespread theories spreading across the internet over the murders . Those killed in the November slayings were (left to right) Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee’s shoulders), Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle
Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were all students at the University of Idaho. They were brutally attacked between 3am and 4am — and four weeks on, the killer has yet to be caught.
The fact that little remains to be known about the case has led to a flurry of theories surrounding the case, with Facebook and Reddit groups spearheading now-debunked and plausible ideas about the case.Â
While rumors spread, frustrations grew over the police department, which scarcely provided new information that could help crush the theories and misinformation.Â
Early on in the investigation, both Moscow Police Chief Fry and Latah County prosecutor Bill Thompson assured the public that the victims were targeted by the killer.Â
But then the police recanted their statements, saying they were not sure if the slain University of Idaho students were actually targeted. Â
A source close to the investigation also told OK! magazine that cops likely destroyed evidence due their negligence, or allowed it to be compromised with their sluggish response.
One of the key pieces of evidence early on in the investigation were a set of tire tracks located near the crime scene, where police waited six days before measuring. Â
‘The reality is this evidence was likely obliterated and if the cops had done things correct,’ the source said. ‘Those tire marks would have been photographed, measured, and preserved, on the day when the victims were found.’
‘The time that elapsed between when the bodies were found and forensics team returned to the crime scene allowed crucial evidence to be corrupted, by weather or other activity.’
‘With no suspect, no murder weapon and little to no leads, you have to ask the question: did police botch the investigation from the get-go?’ the source added.
Before Steve Goncalves said Wednesday that his daughter Kaylee died in the same bed as Maddie, this is where it was believed the college students had died
Kaylee and Madison were found on the top floor of the Moscow, Idaho home. College lovers Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were found in a second-floor bedroom while survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were sleeping on the first floor
Moscow Police recently said they’ve received such an influx of tips related to their search of a white sedan spotted near the crime scene that they’ve enlisted the help of an FBI call center.
It comes just days after the Moscow Police Department scaled back their probe and removed a quarter of the officers assigned to the case, while insisting it was still the lead agency.
Due to the amount of tips coming in, calls are now being directed to the FBI center to help process the information, according to the latest police update.
They are being backed by 48 FBI agents and at least 30 Idaho State Police officers plus a separate forensics unit.
But the department insists it is still the lead agency after it received $1million from the state to expand the manhunt — which now enters its fourth consecutive week without any suspects.
The latest tips flooded in after Police said a 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra was spotted ‘in the immediate area’ of the off-campus house where the students were stabbed to death in the early hours of November 13.Â
Police have been inundated with tips related to their search for a 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra sedan that was spotted near the off-campus house where four students were killed on Nov 13
Kaylee’s family (above) previously said they learned that her injuries were worse than the other victims’. The family say they are tired of waiting for answers from the cops in MoscowÂ
Speaking to DailyMail.com on Thursday at the city’s Christmas parade, Fry appeared unaware of the latest report that the front door of the house was allegedly wide open hours after the killings.Â
Fry could neither confirm nor deny whether the door was, in fact, left open. It was previously stated the house had no visible signs of any break-in.Â
‘I’m not even sure where that came from, to be quite honest,’ Fry said. Â
Meanwhile, tensions grew further between investigators and the families of the victims, who have spoken out in frustration about the failure to identify a suspect.
Kaylee’s father Steven previously told NewsNation’s Brian Entin that police had told him her injuries were worse than the other victims’, but he didn’t go into detail.Â
Moscow Police contradicted that remark in their new statement, saying: ‘With the active criminal investigation, law enforcement has not released additional facts to the family or the public.’Â
‘There have been statements and speculation about this case, victim injuries, cause of death, evidence collection and processing, and investigative techniques,’ the statement added.
‘However, we firmly believe speculation and unvetted information is a disservice to the victims, their families, and our community,’ it continued, echoing a refrain from prior statements as the small-town department leading the investigation has come under increasing criticism.Â
‘The Moscow Police Department is committed to providing information whenever possible but not at the expense of compromising the investigation and prosecution,’ the department said.
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