Earlier this week, online sleuths posted images of an abandoned white Hyundai Elantra seen in Eugene, Oregon, that looked similar to the photos released by police in Moscow, Idaho. Investigators believe the occupants may have information on the fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students.
A spokesperson for the Eugene Police Department told Newsweek on Monday night that officers are aware of the abandoned vehicle and have sent its information to Moscow. The spokesperson informed Newsweek that the car was reported to police at 5:19 a.m. local time on December 17 at W. 7th Place and Seneca Road.
In an updated statement on Tuesday afternoon, the Eugene Police Department told Newsweek, “We have no information to indicate the vehicle is related to the Moscow, Idaho, case. However, they were sent the vehicle information so they have it to review.”
“Investigators are aware of the vehicle and are currently working on it,” a spokesperson for the Moscow Police Department told Newsweek on Tuesday morning.
The new information from Eugene comes amid the ongoing investigation into the four homicides that occurred at an off-campus residence over one month ago. The four victims, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, and Xana Kernodle, 20, were all found fatally stabbed in their residence located at 1122 King Road on November 13.
The Moscow Police Department previously said that the local coroner determined that they were all asleep when the stabbings occurred and some had defensive wounds. “There was no sign of sexual assault,” police said.
As of Tuesday, December 19, police have not been able to identify a suspect or person of interest in the crime.
As the investigation has continued, police have released limited information to the public. The information released about the car earlier this month was one of the largest pieces of possible evidence released thus far.
“Detectives are interested in speaking with the occupant(s) of a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra, with an unknown license plate,” police said in a previous press release. “Tips and leads have led investigators to look for additional information about a vehicle being in the immediate area of the King Street residence during the early morning hours of November 13th. Investigators believe the occupant(s) of this vehicle may have critical information to share regarding this case.”
Following the photos of the car found in Eugene, many social media users on Reddit speculated that it could be connected to the four fatal stabbings; however, this has not been confirmed by police.
While speaking with Newsweek on Tuesday, former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer said she thinks the new information about a similar vehicle being found in Oregon is “something [police] have to follow up on.”
Coffindaffer also said that police in Eugene saying that they have sent the vehicle information to Moscow “tells me that they’re taking it as a legitimate possible lead that has to be looked into.”
Kenneth Mains, a former law enforcement official and founder of the American Investigative Society of Cold Cases (AISOCC) also told Newsweek, “If it is the car in question, a quick check of the VIN number will give the investigators their biggest lead. Even if it would come back as stolen, at least that would give you a starting point in tracking down a suspect or potential witness.”
Updated: 12/20/22 3:25 p.m. EST. This story has been updated to include a new response from the Eugene Police Department.
