A veteran FBI agent told The Post that the Moscow Police Department should transfer leadership of the University of Idaho murder investigation as the one-month anniversary of the slayings approaches with the culprit still at free.
“The Moscow Police Department appears to be in over its head. Pete Yachmetz, a security expert and former FBI agent, told The Post, “I believe they are drowning.” They lack the resources necessary to effectively combat this form of crime.
The investigation is still being led by the small police department, which in 2019 had only 37 sworn officers and approximately 60 staff members. However, the department has failed to produce a suspect, release a profile of the killer, or provide more than basic information about the case, drawing criticism from some victim’s families.
Six detectives are supported by 46 FBI investigators, 13 Idaho State Police investigators, and 15 uniformed personnel.
Yachetz stated, “I believe it may be time for them to renounce the designation of lead agency.” “The lead agency is responsible for all decisions about the investigation’s progression.
The former FBI agent stated, “Of course, given my expertise, I believe the Bureau may have superior resources to solve this issue.”
In the early hours of November 13, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were stabbed to death.
Kaylee’s father, Steve Goncalves, has repeatedly criticized the police’s handling of the investigation and recently referred to them as “cowards” for not disclosing more information to the public.
“I was upset that they didn’t just come out and say whether this was a male or a woman because they should have known just on the level of force required to inflict the injuries,” Goncalves recently told Fox, adding, “They’re just being cowards. There are girls walking down the street who should be aware that they should be on the lookout for a sadistic male.”
Madison Mogen, 21, top left, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, bottom left, Ethan Chapin, 20, center, and Xana Kernodle, 20, right, are shown only hours before their sad deaths.
Four weeks after the horrible killings, the public’s confidence is eroding despite the police’s repeated assertions that the lack of public information is intentional and will safeguard the case’s integrity.
Still, the close-knit community near Moscow was made even more tense when police warned residents ahead of mid-year graduation that the killer could attack again.
Yachmetz stated that the statements made by officers over the weekend were inappropriate.
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