UPDATE: Full Moscow University of Idaho Student Murder Timeline — Authorities Continue Searching for Evidence as Investigation Reaches Week 2

What We Know

On Sunday, November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were murdered while they slept in their off-campus Moscow, Idaho apartment house. There has since been little information divulged to the public regarding the events that took place that morning. Below, we will provide a timeline of events, and dispel any rumors that may have taken hold.

VICTIMS:

EC = Ethan Chapin [IG / FB], a 20-year-old from Conway, Washington, freshman: he was a second year student though still classified as a Freshman likely due to his credit hours], member of Sigma Chi fraternity majoring in recreation, sport and tourism management in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. School indicates hometown was Mount Vernon, WA; one of triplets that all attended UofI; staying overnight with his girlfriend XK (“lived with” XK according to XK’s family [56])FAMILY INTERVIEW: NOV 15

XK = Xana Kernodle [IG / TikTok / FB], 20, from Avondale, Arizona; junior from Post Falls majoring in marketing in the College of Business and Economics, member of Pi Beta Phi sorority; dating EC, worked as server at Mad Greek restaurant [36]

MM = Madison Mogen [IG / TikTok / FB], a 21-year-old from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; senior majoring in marketing in the College of Business and Economics, member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority; worked as server at Mad Greek restaurant; planned to move to Boise after graduation in spring [53]FAMILY has asked Goncalves family to speak on their behalf.

KG = Kaylee Goncalves [IG / TikTok / FB], 21, from Rathdrum, Idaho; senior majoring in general studies in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, member of the Alpha Phi sorority; middle of five children, owner of a dog named Murphy, was going to start a new tech job in TX in Jan; had recently purchased a 2016 Range Rover; planned to travel to Europe next year. FAMILY INTERVIEWS: NOV 15 | NOV 16 | NOV 19 | NOV 20 (transcribed by @Allabouttrial HERE)

SURVIVING ROOMMATES: BF & DM

TIMELINE

LATE 2021

EC and XK begin a relationship. (“about a year, give or take”)

AUGUST

AUG 16 MM posts a “meet the roommates” image on Instagram.

AUG 22 MM posts a “first day of school” image on Instagram.

September

SEP 12 POSSIBLY UNRELATED: man threatened students on University of Idaho campus with a knife; students were walking to Greek Row, non-student flashed a knife to threaten students, turned self into law enforcement; cannot say whether it is connected.

SEP KG supposedly complained to a friend about a stalker

October

POLICE SAY UNREALTED: Moscow resident’s mini Australian shepherd discovered killed and skinned shortly after 2AM; skinned rabbit had been found days prior.

OCT 29 XK’s final IG post, wishing EC a happy birthday.

November

Early November: KG had been home with family.

Saturday November 12 – The Day Before

• ~3PM – KG’s final phone call with mother – intended to return home on Tuesday.

• PM – neighbors hear loud music from somewhere “in the neighborhood”; did NOT hear screaming or gunshots.

• PM – neighbors report “hearing noise from the house Saturday evening but said it sounded like a party rather than an altercation.”; Rumor debunked: Moscow PD states there is no indication of party at the residence.

• 8PM-9PM – EC & XK attend party at Sigma Chi house (735 Nez Perce Dr).

• 10PM – 1:30AM – MM & KG at The Corner Club bar downtown; took an Uber to get there.

Sunday NOV 13 – DEATH OF VICTIMS, BODIES DISCOVERED – Day 1 of investigation at residence.

• 12 AM – XK talks to dad on phone

• 1 AM – surviving roommates BF & DM each arrive home from separate locations.

• 1:33 AM – 1:53 AM – MM & KG seen on Twitch video from Grub Truck food truck – located at 318 S. Main Street, where they order pasta; manager states they were “slightly intoxicated”

• ~1:45AM – EC & XK arrived home from Sigma Chi party

• after 1:45 AM (1:59 AM, according to KG’s family) – MM & KG arrived home from a bar; MM & KG took Uber (or “private party”) home, let dog out, locked house up.

• ISP stated (Nov 17) that they believe suspect came in through sliding glass door.

• 2:26 AM – 2:44 AM – KG phones “Jack” six times – (family clarifies that “Jack” is KG’s ex bf, KG had wanted Jack to come over, family does not believe he is involved, that they were going to get back together).

• 2:44 AM-2:52 AM – MM phones KG’s “Jack” three times

• 2:52 AM – KG phones “Jack” a final time

• 2 AM – 5 AM – updated estimated TIME OF DEATH (3AM-4AM – estimated time of death)

• EC’s mother states that “roommates heard something” but did not get into details

• [TIME?] – BODIES DISCOVERED – a surviving roommate summoned friends to residence bc they “believed one of the second-floor victims had passed out and was not waking up”; according to EC’s mother, bodies were found by “a friend” who does not live in the house

• 11:58 AM – 911 CALL – LE respond to “a report of an unconscious person” (later verified to be one of the deceased); multiple people spoke with dispatch before LE arrival

• [TIME?] – FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVE – First responders “discovered four individuals who were deceased” – EC was found on floor of second level; two victims found on 2nd floor; two on 3rd floor; officers describe a bloody crime scene, “especially on upper floors of the house”; fire and EMS were also on scene but did not go into residence or transport anyone out

• ~12PM – coroner informed of 4 homicides

• 2:16 PM – UofI FB post advises students to shelter in place due to investigation of homicide on King St

• 2:51 PM – UofI FB post lifts shelter-in-place, states that LE are still investigating death of 4 people but do not believe there is an active threat

• ~5 PM – 5:30 PM – coroner arrives on scene

• 5:25 PM – U of I FB post states that LE is still investigating, but there is no ongoing threat

• 9:17 PM – University president posts on FB about deaths, cancels class for M Nov 14, offers counseling resources

• PM – neighbors state they saw police, “group of women crying while draped in emergency blankets”

Monday Nov 14 – DECLARED A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION – Day 2 of investigation at residence

• Online and in-person classes at University canceled.

• [TIME?] LE questioned manager of Moscow Building Supply about whether they carry KA-BAR knives, which they do not.

• 12:50 PM – MSM reports that 4 students found dead near campus.

• 12:21 PM – UofI FB posts identities of victims, states “Moscow police do not believe there is an ongoing community risk based on information gathered during the preliminary investigation.”

• 1:31 PM – search dogs at scene.

• 1:49 PM – MSM reports that it is being treated as homicide investigation.

• PM – Rumor debunked: LE verifies that none of the deceased students are believed to be responsible for the deaths. Rumor debunked: county coroner verifies it was NOT a murder-suicide.

• 5:56 PM – Mayor refuses to confirm NYT’s “crime of passion” description , states it is one possibility.

• PM – media tries to canvas neighbors, who decline to make a comment, “most” stating that they didn’t really know the victims; state that police had previously canvassed neighborhood as well.

Tuesday Nov 15 – PRELIMINARY CAUSE OF DEATH RELEASED: STABBING – Day 3 of investigation at residence

• Moscow PD release statement – “Evidence indicates that this was a targeted attack.”

• Some students, feeling unsafe, leave early for Thanksgiving break.

• Coroner calls the scene “gruesome” (comment possibly taken out of context); does not believe toxicology report will be relevant; did not know timeframe of death; declines to comment on where bodies were found.

• DailyMail (TABLOID) posts image they claim is blood “oozing” out of residence; state that scene was “the worst [police] had ever seen; “there was blood everywhere;” “have never seen anything like this”; trash taken to garbage depot .

• KG’s family interview states that door had a keypad code.

• 8:36 AM – Vigil postponed until after Thanksgiving

• 11:24 AM – LE press release states they are still searching for “an edged weapon such as a knife” that was used in attack.

• 2:07 PM – LE stop garbage truck from leaving residence, as they have not recovered weapon.

• 2:40PM – bodies in Spokane County, autopsies to take place on Wed; preliminary findings show stabbing as cause of death; “a lot of blood.”

• Rumor debunked: no indication of substance use.

• 4:25PM – confirmed that FBI is working with local LE.

• 6:36PM – county prosecutor states there is a sealed warrant issued at residence; “a handful of other warrants” in the works.

• 7:11PM – Families of MM & KG release statement calling for justice.

Wednesday Nov 16 – PRESS CONFERENCE – Day 4 of investigation at residence

• AM – Video shared online of MM & KG at Grub Truck food truck.

• Parents speak out against LE & school for “lack of information

• Manager of Moscow Building Supply states that LE questioned them “more than once” about whether they carry KA-BAR knives, including on Monday, Nov 14; he states they do not.

• 3:30 PM – news conference planned by ISP & Moscow PD – transcribed by @Allabouttrial HERE

  • Moscow PD chief speaks

    • victims arrived home after 1:45 AM from party (EC & XK) and bar (MM & KG) – cf Su Nov 13

    • no sign of forced entry – no damage to anything; door was open when LE arrived

    • autopsies taking place today

    • reviewing crime scene evidence, video, etc

    • do not have a suspect, weapon, or clothing of suspect at this time – cannot say there is no threat to community

    • Rumor debunked: no indication of party at the residence – cf Sa Nov 12

    • there were (“we believe 2”) other people (roommates) home at the time of the attack; was not a hostage situation and were not injured; they were present at residence when LE arrived; declines to comment on what they have stated

    • declines to comment on who the 911 caller was

    • has not identified anything missing/stolen from the residence

    • declines to comment on location of bodies within the residence

    • Sep 12 incident – students were walking to Greek Row, non-student flashed a knife to threaten students, turned self into law enforcement; cannot say whether it is connected cf Sep 12

• 5 PM – Vigil held in Coeur d’ Alene, ID

• 5 PM – Vigil planned on University’s Administration Lawn – Vigil postponed as of Tuesday Nov 15 rescheduled to NOV 30

Thursday Nov 17 – AUTOPSY PERFORMED & CAUSE AND MANNER OF DEATH CONFIRMED – Day 5 of investigation at residence

• Rumor debunked: KTVB reporter verifies that there have been no record of KG calling police between Jan 1 – Nov 13.

• ISP patrolling near Moscow schools Th & Fri; “no need to be alarmed.”

• Increased LE activity noted at residence; increased number of tips coming in; LE confirms they are canvassing area for fixed-blade weapon purchases.

• Phones of victims still being held as evidence.

• KG’s dog Murphy has been returned to secondary owner.

• ISP stated that they believe suspect came in through sliding glass door- cf Su Nov 13

• [TIME?] autopsies completed and bodies released to victims’ families.

• PM – Coroner’s report released confirming official cause of death: homicide-murder / manner of death: stabbing with “large knife”; DNA samples (including those on “bedding”) still being tested; some wounds may have been defensive.

• PM – Family states XK had “bruises, torn by the knife” that would indicate that she fought back.

• PM – Other source cites same coroner stating that “They have not yet determined whether there were defensive wounds”; each victim stabbed multiple times; no indication of sexual assault.

Friday Nov 18

• Moscow PD press release

  • states that four victims were “likely asleep” at time of attack; some had defensive wounds

  • Rumor debunked: LE do not believe man at Grub Hub truck is involved

  • Rumor debunked: LE do not believe surviving roommates are involved

  • Rumor debunked: victims were not tied or gagged

  • no suspects in custody, no weapon found

Saturday Nov 19

Sunday Nov 20

• 3PM – Moscow PD press conference – transcribed by @Allabouttrial HERE

  • received 646 tips, done over 90 interviews

  • 911 call originated within residence from a surviving roommate’s phone

  • two victims found on 2nd floor; two on 3rd floor

  • Rumor debunked: LE do not believe the “private party” who drove MM & KG home is involved

  • Rumor debunked: LE do not believe the 911 caller is involved

  • LE seized contents of three dumpsters on King St but did not find anything of note

  • LE verifies that 911 caller was one of roommates’ “other friends that had arrived at the location; not sure how many of these other friends were there

  • no suspects in custody, no weapon found

• 8 PM – Moscow police release social media update stating on S Nov 13, a surviving roommate summoned friends to residence bc they “believed one of the second-floor victims had passed out and was not waking up” – cf S NOV 13

• KG’s family states in interview that “this person was sloppy… he made a mess”

• KG & MM’s families met together

• DailyMail (TABLOID) reports on attack on dog Oct 21 near university campus cf Oct 21

Monday Nov 21

• Possibly unrelated: Two young women in Moscow, Idaho were chased by a man. The description is an overweight white man in a yellow shirt with dirty blonde to brown hair and a scruffy beard.

• Moscow Police Department Release:

  • Send digital tips to fi.gov/moscowidaho

  • Rumor control: Police are aware of an incident of report of a skinned dog. Have determined it is unrelated.

  • Rumor control: Police are aware of deceased animals left on a resident’s property. This was determined to be wildlife activity.

  • On the night of the incident, officers located a dog at the residence. The dog was unharmed.

This timeline of events was compiled by a third party. If you would like to follow that conversation, please click here as the investigation is ongoing.

We will continue to provide updates as they are made available.