Idaho Murders

The savage killer/killers of 4 Idaho college students spared the life of a dog at the house where the frenzied attack unfolded.

The Moscow Police Department released a statement Monday night, explaining the pooch was found uninjured the night the University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed with a combat knife. The dog was initially placed in the care of Animal Services, and then handed over to a "responsible party." Further details about the canine were not disclosed.

Meanwhile, police dismissed media reports theorizing that the quadruple homicide might have a connection to the recent killing -- and skinning -- of a mini Australian shepherd named Buddy, miles from the crime scene.

Dead animals were also discovered on another residential property, but they were victims of "wildlife activity," cops said.

Moscow PD investigators have been working with the FBI and Idaho State Police to identify the still-at-large assailant/assailants. They opened an FBI tip line requesting anyone with information on the slayings to contact them immediately.

As we reported, police found the bodies of the students inside the home after responding to a 911 call on November 13. Two surviving roommates were also present, but they were apparently asleep and not involved in the attack.

They later called friends to the house because they thought one of the victims had fallen unconscious and wouldn't wake up. Multiple people inside the house spoke with the 911 operator, using one of the roommates' cell phones.

A couple living in the area where the University of Idaho student slaughter says their dog was brutally killed -- skinned from head to tail -- just weeks before the 4 students were massacred.

Buddy, a 12-year-old mini Australian Shepherd, was killed in October ... according to owners Pam and Jim Colbert, who told DailyMail they let the pup outside before heading to bed -- and he was soon found dead.

They say the only fur left on the dog was on its paws and head ... they believe someone might've been waiting for them to let Buddy outside.

Police reportedly haven't made the connection between the death of Buddy and the college students' murders ... but it's clear the Moscow community has all the more reason to stay on high alert.

As we reported, investigators believe the attack was targeted, but have not pinpointed an exact motive. They've been searching high and low for the murder weapon -- a combat knife similar to the one used by Sylvester Stallone's character, Rambo.

Moscow PD recently acknowledged the 911 call came from one of the surviving roommates' phones ... but wouldn't say exactly who called the police.

Moscow PD Chief James Fry said in a press conference there were 'other friends' in the residence when the 911 call was made.

Fry also confirmed that the killer did not make the 911 call.

Turns out the 911 call that reported the slaughter of 4 University of Idaho students came from the cell phone of one of the surviving roommates ... but police aren't saying who called.

The City of Moscow PD clarified its prior statements late Saturday, acknowledging the phone that was used to make the call, but adding, "the identity of the caller has not been released."

It's unclear why cops don't want the ID known, but they have gone back and forth about whether the community is safe, given that the killer/killers are still on the loose.

Police have said they don't believe the surviving roommates were involved in the stabbings. What's puzzling ... authorities believe the murders occurred sometime around 3 AM, but the 911 call wasn't made until noon -- 9 hours later.

Weirdly, the 911 call -- logged at 11:58 AM, November 13 -- requested assistance for an unconscious person ... yet police say it was a bloodbath inside, with blood seeping through the walls onto the exterior of the house.

A big clue seems to be a series of calls made shortly after the victims returned home ... one of them called a guy named Jack a total of 7 times while another tried 3 times, but police offered no further information.

Detectives are on the hunt for surveillance video from 3 AM to 6 AM Sunday, November 13. They're looking at nearby businesses and homes in the area.

It appears some of the victims put up a fight, given they had defensive wounds. Police believe the victims were asleep when the attack began. Police said early on this was a "targeted" attack.

Cops have not found the murder weapon, although they have checked local businesses to see if a Rambo-like knife had been recently sold.

Two of the slain University of Idaho students made a series of frantic phone calls to their friend just before all 4 victims were massacred, this according to one of their relatives.

Kaylee Goncalves, 21, was found butchered with Madison Mogen, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, and his girlfriend, Xana Kernodle, 20, following Sunday's savage attack inside an off campus residence in Moscow, Idaho. The killer/killers have not been identified and are still at large.

Kaylee’s sister, Alivea, sat down Friday with "Inside Edition" and revealed her sibling initially placed 6 CALLS to a pal named “Jack" between 2:26 AM and 2:44 AM. Then Madison phoned Jack 3 times before Kaylee gave it one more shot. Jack apparently never answered.

Also Friday, the Moscow Police Department and Latah County Coroner released new details on the probe ... the victims were each stabbed several times as they awoke from their sleep. Some of them had defensive wounds. None were sexually assaulted.

Police believe the two surviving roommates did not participate in the slayings and were also sleeping at the time. Luckily, the pair escaped unharmed, but they did not call 911 for whatever reason. The name of the 911 caller -- who phoned police 9 hours AFTER the murders -- has not been publicly released.

One of the 4 college students found slaughtered inside an Idaho home fought with her knife-wielding attacker to the bitter end, this according to her father.

Jeffrey Kernodle was interviewed Thursday by a CBS affiliate in Arizona, revealing the body of his daughter, Xana, underwent an autopsy that proved one thing for sure ... she had "bruises" consistent with her furious battle to save her own life.

Jeffrey also described 20-year-old Xana as a "tough kid" who could succeed at "whatever she wanted to do."

As we reported ... Xana was among 4 University of Idaho students butchered inside an off-campus house with lurid images of blood leaking through the walls. 2 other roommates were inside the house but unharmed during last Sunday's attack, but they didn't call 911 for 9 hours.

The victims were identified as Xana's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21 and Kaylee Goncalves, 21.

Jeffrey told the news outlet he last heard from his daughter around midnight just before the attack and everything seemed fine. Jeffrey noted a number code is required to enter the residence through the front, speculating the killer was aware of that and went around back to find an open sliding door. A friend of the students who were killed has said a number of people had the code.

Police in Idaho are reportedly on the hunt for a Rambo-like knife in the ongoing investigation of the killing of 4 college students ... and the department's now saying they've learned 2 other roommates were in the home during the attack ... yet no one called 911 for hours.

Cops in Moscow, ID are looking into a very specific type of knife ... according to the Idaho Statesman. The owner of a building supply store says officers showed up several times this week, asking about the sale of a KA-BAR brand combat knife.

Scott Jutte reportedly told them his shop doesn't sell the specific type of knife they're looking for ... but described it as a blade used by Marines in the 1940s. It looks similar to the one Sylvester Stallone used in "Rambo."

Police Chief James Fry also gave an update on the horrific events Wednesday ... 2 roommates of the slain students were also inside the home at the time of the attack. Cops say the victims were murdered in the early morning hours Sunday, yet no one called 911 until noon.

The roommates were unharmed and cooperating with investigators, according to a spokesperson for the department.

4 University of Idaho students, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves were all found dead in their 6-bedroom home over the weekend ... and Fry calls the killings the "worst they've ever seen." It appears there was no forced entry.