The Idaho police chief speaks out after a sinister new lead emerges in a student homicide case that has sleuths baffled

MOSCOW Police Chief James Fry spoke out on Tuesday after a sinister new lead emerged in the case of four college students murdered last month.

Fry defended his department’s investigation into the November 13 murders after criticizing police for not charging any suspects.

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Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, both 20, and roommates Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21, were brutally stabbed to death at their home off campus in Moscow, Idaho.

“There were numerous questions about leadership in this investigation. Let me be clear, this is the investigation of the Moscow police departments and I am the police chief,” Fry said in a statement.

“The decisions are mine alone. I have an outstanding senior management team with over 90 years of combined experience overseeing the day-to-day running of the investigations and I choose who leads the investigative teams.”

He continued, “We are supported by highly trained and experienced Idaho State Police and FBI personnel. Their ongoing resources and knowledge are critical to our success. Our investigative units work under a unified structure and have the autonomy to move forward and solve this case. Despite statements about my team, our focus remains on solving the murder of four students to bring justice to them and their families and help our community heal.”

Shanon Gray, who represents Kaylee Goncalves’ family, told Fox News on Monday that when police are “not in a position to handle a quadruple homicide, when they’re overwhelmed, acknowledge that and hand the investigation over to someone who who is skilled in handling these matters.”

He added that the family is confident that the MPD, with the help of the FBI and Idaho State Police, will thoroughly investigate the mysterious killings.

FIND THE CAR

Police were alerted to the discovery of a white Hyundai Elantra about 500 miles from Moscow.

Authorities have been looking for a vehicle with the same description that may have been at or near the crime scene on November 13.

A police officer in Eugene, Oregon, told TMZ that an 911 call was made over the weekend about a person sleeping in a white Hyundai Elantra.

Contact was made with the person in the car but no complaint was made.

“We are working with the local jurisdiction to determine if the vehicle is related to our case,” the MPD said in a statement.

Corresponding Brian Entinlocal authorities say “they have no evidence of this.”

SECURITY RECORDINGS

MPD also confirmed video footage early November 13th showed Madison and Kaylee walking downtown and talking about a man named “Adam.”

Police say “Adam” is cooperating with their investigation.

Several people who had contact with the two girls that night have been ruled out as suspects, police said.

These include a man Madison and Kaylee spoke to when they ordered food from a food truck, the private party that drove them home that evening, a man Kaylee called numerous times early on November 13, and their two survivors Roommate.

No motive for the killings was released by police at this time.

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