U Of Idaho Stabbings: Suspect Reportedly In Custody After FBI Pennsylvania Arrest

The Moscow Police Department is organizing a news conference for Friday afternoon at 4 PM ET.

BYHayley Hynes
Link Copied to Clipboard!
2.9K Views
Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters building

Some were certain that 2022 would end without any answers regarding the tragic University of Idaho stabbings. However, they were proven wrong on Friday (December 30), as a suspect has finally been taken into custody regarding the tragic slayings. According to CNN, the FBI made an arrest hours ago, and the Moscow Police Department is preparing for a news conference later this afternoon.

The new reports say that authorities tracked down the person of interest in northeastern Pennsylvania. Descriptions say he's a man in his 20s, though no other information about potential motives or relations to the victims has been made public at this time.

The arrest follows yesterday's (December 29) update from police, who say they've had upwards of 20,000 tips sent their way. These came in the form of 9,025 emails, 4,575 phone calls, and 6,050 digital media submissions. Additionally, they conducted upwards of 300 interviews regarding their investigations.

21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen may have been sleeping during the attack. However, previous reports reveal that they made several calls to an ex-boyfriend, Jack, around the time of the murders. The two other victims, Xana Kernodle and her 20-year-old boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, were in her room.

The shocking stabbings are the first of its kind to rock the small college down in seven years.

"Investigators believe someone has information that adds context to what occurred on the night of the murders and continue requesting additional pictures, video, and social media content. Our focus remains on the investigation, not an individual’s activities displayed in the tip," a recent update from authorities said.

The off-campus residence where the victims live remains an active crime scene, although cleaners will visit. Moscow Police have worked with property management services to get rid of "potential biohazards and other harmful substances used to collect evidence."

Check back in with HNHH later for any updates on the University of Idaho killings.

[Via]

  • Link Copied to Clipboard!
About The Author
Hayley Hynes is the former Weekend Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop, she stepped down after two years in 2024 to pursue other creative opportunities but remains on staff part-time to cover music, gossip, and pop culture news. Currently, she contributes similar content on Blavity and 21Ninety, as well as on her personal blog where she also offers tarot/astrology services. Hayley resides on the western side of Canada, previously spending a year in Vancouver to study Fashion Marketing at Blanche Macdonald Centre and Journalism at Mount Royal University in Calgary before that. She's passionate about helping others heal through storytelling, and shares much more about her life on Instagram @hayleyhynes.