Police in the Idaho college town where four university students were slain in their off-campus home will begin the grim task of removing the victim's personal belongings from the house on Wednesday.
Moscow Police Chief James Fry said that he will personally join department members in boxing up and removing items from the home where four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed on November 13, likely as they slept.
'We're going to be getting those items back to the families. It's time for us to get those things back that really mean something to those families, and hopefully to help with some of their healing,' said Fry.
'I'm a dad, so I understand the meaning behind some of those things,' added the chief, whose department has come under withering criticism from the victims' families over perceived missteps and delays in the investigation.
Three weeks after the grisly killings, police still have no suspects and no murder weapon, but Fry insisted that the case has not gone cold.
Slain in the home invasion were roommates Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21 (together left); Xana Kernodle, 20; and Xana's boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20 (together right)
On Wednesday, police will box up and remove personal items from the home (above) where four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed on November 13
'We're at that point in the investigation where we're still gathering information, we're still gathering tips, we're still gathering evidence,' Fry said in a video statement released by the department.
'But there also comes a point in time where the family needs to have those belongings back, the ones that we can get them back,' he added. 'They've asked for some of those things back, so we're ready to take care of that for them.'
The Moscow Police Department, a tiny 36-member force that is leading the complex investigation, said in a statement that personal items from the home will be transported to a secure storage location, where family members can view and retrieve them.
'The house remains an active crime scene, and progress continues to be made in the investigation,' the department insisted.
'Moscow Police and investigative partners continue to work with the victim’s families on the investigation and ongoing developments,' the statement added.
Slain in the November 13 home invasion were roommates Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Xana's boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20.
'We're at that point in the investigation where we're still gathering information, we're still gathering tips, we're still gathering evidence,' said Police Chief James Fry
Two roommates in the home's first-floor unit were unharmed, while those on the connected upper floors were all killed
Kaylee and Madison had spent the evening visiting a sports bar and food truck, while Xana and Ethan has visited Ethan's fraternity house just a short walk away from Xana's home
Survivors Dylan Mortensen (left) and Bethany Funke (right), and victims Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders), Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle
The victims are believed to have been killed in their sleep after returning home following a Saturday night out.
Kaylee and Madison had spent the evening visiting a sports bar and food truck, while Xana and Ethan has visited Ethan's fraternity house just a short walk away from Xana's home, where they were killed.
Three weeks after the slayings, police have not identified a suspect or the murder weapon, and the families of the victims have been left with more questions than answers.
Kaylee's father Steven has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the Moscow Police Department's investigation, which he said has 'messed up a million times' in a recent interview with Fox News.
He said he hoped a personal attorney will be able to force the hand of investigators to release evidence they have to the public.
'There are things that we can request and things we can do to get to the truth faster,' he said. 'You have to fill out forms to get this evidence released to you. I don't know how to do that.'
'There seems to be confusion everywhere you look. It's just absurd the kind of stuff that's going on right now.'
Steven Goncalves, the father of 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves, said he's grown frustrated with the Moscow, Idaho, police department's minimal transparency in the case
Steven Goncalves with his daughter Kaylee, 21, who was stabbed to death in her bed
Among his frustrations with the department's lack of transparency was their refusal to reveal the alibis of certain people they say they've cleared of suspicion.
'If you don't share your alibi, then you're scared your alibi isn't strong enough to share with the community because that gives them a chance to peer review it,' Goncalves said.
He also expressed frustration that investigators wouldn't explain why they thought there was no connection between stabbings that recently occurred in both Washington and Oregon.
'Don't treat us like we're a bunch of little kids,' he said. 'You're saying it's not related. Then tell us why it's not related.'
'They've messed up a million times. But I don't get to say that because what experience does Steve have?' he added. 'He doesn't know. He's just a dad who woke up one day and had his life turned upside down.'
Speaking with Fox, Chief Fry insisted that his department was still rigorously investigating the murders.
'This case is not going cold. We have tips coming in, we have investigators out every day interviewing people. We're still reviewing evidence, we're still looking at all aspects of this,' he said.' I said early on that no stone will go unturned, and I mean that. We are going to continue. This case is not going cold.'
Fry fought back tears as he explained the toll the investigation took on the officers involved.
'I'm a dad with daughters, and it's tough,' Fry said. 'We're human. We don't go to these and just turn it off. It affects us. But we have a job to do, and we're going to continue to do that job, going to continue to push forward.'
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