Wednesday night, when hundreds of students gathered in the stadium at the University of Idaho to mourn the deaths of four classmates, the families of the deceased asked the students to focus on love and the future.
Steve Goncalves, the father of Kaylee Goncalves, told the crowd assembled at the vigil, “The only remedy for grief is love; it’s the only thing that will heal us; it’s the only thing that will heal you.” That will make a difference, and it’s something they can see from where they are right now: that you’ve become a little bit nicer and kinder.
Some in the throng comforted one another and wiped away tears as they recalled Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Idaho; and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington. The four were stabbed to death on November 13 at a rented property near campus in the peaceful university town of Moscow, Idaho, and authorities have yet to identify a suspect in the case. Fears that the killer may attack again have driven many students to complete the semester by attending online classes from their hometowns, where they feel safer.
Maddie Mogen was one of four University of Idaho students slain on November 13, 2022. Her father, Ben Mogen, talks during a memorial for the four students in Moscow, Idaho, on November 30, 2022. AP/Ted S. Warren
Multiple communities organized simultaneous candlelight vigils, resulting in a recurrence of such events across the state. Several hundred individuals clasped their hands around candle flames in front of a University of Idaho building in downtown Boise. In several areas, high schools illuminated their sporting fields as a symbol of unity. As a show of support, homeowners were asked to leave their porch lights on.
Madison’s father, Ben Mogen, told the Moscow crowd that because she was their only child, “anything she ever accomplished was such a huge deal.” Mogen stated that talking about “Maddie” was his source of pride and that the two enjoyed attending concerts together.
“When people would ask me to tell them about myself, the first thing I would say is, ‘I have this kid – here’s a photo of her, she’s on the dean’s list at college, she works hard, and she has all these pals at her sorority,’” Mogen explained.
Madison’s closest companion was Kaylee. Kaylee’s father Goncalves informed the audience that the girls met in sixth grade and became inseparable from that point on.
Steve Goncalves speaks about his daughter Kaylee Goncalves on November 30, 2022, in Moscow, Idaho, at a vigil. AP/Ted S. Warren
“They attended high school together, then began searching for universities, and arrived here together. Eventually, they moved into the same apartment “Steve Goncalves said. “In the end, they both passed away in the same room, on the same bed.”
He stated, “It’s a tragedy and it hurts, but the beauty of the two always being together consoles us.”
The family of Xana Kernodle was unable to attend the vigil.
Stacy Chapin, the mother of Ethan Chapin, fought back tears as she described being present with her husband and Ethan’s twin siblings.
The Chapin family, like other families, attempted to have supper together whenever possible and spent many hours transporting their young children to various athletic activities. She stated that the triplets selected the University of Idaho because they want a small town and a beautiful campus with an active Greek system.
Chapin stated that despite the tragic circumstances surrounding Ethan’s death, the family is eternally thankful for the time spent with him.
Chapin stated, “This is the most essential lesson we have for you and your families: spend as much time as possible with your loved ones, since time is precious and cannot be reclaimed.”
The investigation into the murders has yielded no fresh information, and no suspect has been found. According to the county coroner, the four were most likely sleeping when they were assaulted. The investigators have not yet discovered the fixed-blade knife used in the murders.
Ben Mogen, father of victim Madison Mogen, talks at a vigil at the University of Idaho for four students discovered dead in their apartment on November 13, 2022, in Moscow, Idaho, U.S. LINDSEY WASSON / REUTERS
On Tuesday, police said that detectives had transferred five automobiles from the murder scene to a storage facility where they will continue to investigate and analyse the evidence. Fox News published a video of snow-covered vehicles being taken away.
The probe will get up to $1 million in state emergency funding, as stated by the governor last week. The FBI has deployed 44 individuals to the investigation, with half of them stationed in Moscow. The Idaho State Police has 15 troopers assisting with neighborhood patrols and 20 investigators working on the investigation.
There has been an increase in calls to local law enforcement organizations reporting suspicious activities.
The Moscow Police Department wrote on November 27: “We realize there is a sense of fear in our community.” Since the murders, the number of people requesting welfare checks, in which an officer is dispatched to check on a person’s well-being, has increased by a factor of two.
Dean of Students Blaine Eckles reported earlier on Wednesday that there has been an increase in the number of people calling the university’s “Vandal Care” hotline to report that they or someone they were concerned about was struggling with an issue.
“While I am confident that the police will solve (the deaths),” he said, “until that occurs, no one can rest easy.” “We do not know who is responsible for the deaths of four of our Vandals, but they exist. We have no idea where they are.”
Former FBI agent discusses crucial evidence in the student murders at the University of Idaho. 07:37 Current Events
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