‘We just want this person found’: Moscow murder victim’s family fears video evidence is disappearing

SPOKANE, Wash. — Moscow Police say they are sorting through 22,000 registered 2011 to 2013 Hyundai Elantras. Police believe the car was in the area of the home where four University of Idaho students were killed on the morning the murders occurred.

“We are confident the occupants or occupant of that vehicle have information that’s critical to this investigation,” Moscow Police Department Capt. Roger Lanier said.

Police are also looking into a surveillance photo of a white car taken at a nearby gas station around the same time the murders took place.

Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle were stabbed to death in their off-campus home in the early morning hours of November 13.

“I think this person went in and was very methodical. I think he really thought it out. I think he was quick. I think he was quick and he got in and he got out,” said Kristi Goncalves, Kaylee’s mother.

The Goncalves family is concerned that critical video evidence could be disappearing as more time goes by with the case unsolved.

“There’s a 24-hour mark on a lot of those little video cams, there’s a seven days, a week, one month, and we are hitting one month. And if the key part of the evidence is outside of that residence, then we are losing it,” Kristi and Steven Goncalves said.

The question over where and who the killer is looms over the victims families and the Moscow community.

“We just want this person found. So bad, everyday,” Kristi Goncalves said.

“Especially, when it’s the community that can help, so we really feel like that’s a technology savvy generation in that town– all those college students. That’s an asset, and to not take advantage of, that asset seems pretty naive,” Steve Goncalves said.

The Goncalves family says they want to do anything to help the investigation but believe investigators could be missing the mark.

“Imagine you’re a parent and you have pertinent information to this like the dog, and you’re asking me to just shut up. It’s not going to happen. I’m going to find a microphone, and I’m going to talk to it and tell people this is important. Whether it helps solve the case or not. How can you eat that? How can you suppress that? Something you know can help your child? And everyone in that house find justice. But you can’t force them to ask you the question,” Steven Goncalves said.

The family says investigators have not asked them “interview style questions” about Kaylee or her dog’s behavior. Police won’t say if the dog was barking, but say the dog was found in a room other than where the murders were committed and “there was no indication the animal had entered the crime scene.”

Kaylee’s mother says the dog usually didn’t bark but believed would’ve been barking if he was locked up by the suspect.

She says the dog was very social and would run around the house and usually slept with Maddie or Kaylee.

The Goncalves family says they have not been in contact with the surviving roommates and are unsure if that has anything to do with the investigation but believe they have been instructed to.

“They’re victims as well and I’m sure they’re terrified. This person hasn’t been caught. So I’m sure they’re scared,” Kristi Goncalves said.

Kaylee was set to graduate last weekend. Her degree will be given posthumously in the spring along with Maddie.

The family will have a celebration of life on Dec. 30 at the Lake City Church in Coeur d’ Alene.

You can submit information to police through the tip line at (208) 883-7180. You can also email to tipline@ci.moscow.id.us, and submit any potential digital evidence to fbi.gov/moscowidaho

READ: Moscow PD believes white vehicle they’re looking for was in the area during murders

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