ID - 4 University of Idaho Students Murdered - Moscow # 26

[Zella]

Seeing these new 'investigators' (not sure if that's what they are technically) show up is quite interesting. I'm sure it's been discussed some here but I missed it. They look and walk like US Marshals in my view. Is it confirmed who they belong to?

If they are US Marshals, it makes me wonder if there is a thought that the perp may be a serial offender the govt is aware of and has been chasing (the Marshal's jurisdiction) and they are there simply to evaluate whether or not it could be their guy (assuming they belong to a task force or similar tracking a specific individual down).

AFAIK marshals don't really investigate. They primarily transport prisoners, arrest fugitives, and operate witness protection. I would be really surprised if they'd show up at a crime scene like those guys did. MOO

 

[SkylarSid]

[…]

A study reported in 2016 was careful to make a distinction between indoor and outdoor crime committed in 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in 2014.

The authors found no link between lunar phases and total crime or indoor crime.

But they did find the intensity of moonlight to have a substantive positive effect on outdoor criminal activity. As moon illumination increased, they saw an escalation in criminal activity.

One explanation for this finding is what is referred to as the "illumination hypothesis"—suggesting that criminals like enough light to ply their trade, but not so much as to increase their chance of apprehension.

It may also be that there is greater movement of people during lighter nights, thus providing a bigger pool of victims.

Why do some people still cling to the belief that the Moon causes criminal or other antisocial behaviour? The answer most likely lies in human cognition and our tendency to focus on that which we expect or predict to be true.

[…]

Do Crime Rates Really Rise With a Full Moon?

Beliefs in the Moon's behavioral effects date back to ancient times. But what evidence is there that the Moon has an impact on crime?

www.newsweek.com

First time I’ve looked up any studies on this, but have always heard about the increase in crime and ER visits during full moon.
Having been a bartender for 40-something years, I definitely know it affects people’s behavior!
JMO

As a high school teacher for decades, I can say I definitely notice a pattern of escalating behaviors that correspond to the moon cycles. This observation is an anecdotal note and not a scientific claim.

 

[WildWest]

I worked at a long-term rehabilitation clinic for 3 years and I can say that full moons ALWAYS had more paperwork. We had to document everything. (Some clients are furloughed from prison). I remember coming back in the morning after a full moon and having the overnight hand me a stack of notes and say, “sorry, it’s going to take you forever to catch up on what’s happened here”.
I had shifts on the suicide hotline and even that went bonkers on full moons. We came to just expect it.

Even at a humane society I worked at a long time would schedule an extra ACO on shift the day after a full moon.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

I live several floors up with windows all around, and on full moon nights, it's very bright. I can walk through without lights on easily. I actually don't close the blinds to sleep, but because of the location of my place, there's no way for anyone to see in, but I would NEVER ever sleep with my bedroom door open. EVER. Esp in a house with other people, but regardless. NEVER.

Experts say the best safety device a person can have is … drum roll… an alarmed door wedge! Or even just a regular door wedge. For the room you sleep in wherever you are. For your closed door obv! This is due to the prevalence of horrific things that happen to people in bed at home, staying over in others homes or in hotels and B&Bs domestic or overseas.

 

[pmondrian2020]

I would expect that LE would soon have a pretty good idea who the Elantra might belong to. According to estimates here, there were approximately 600,000 white Elantras sold in the US in that time range. Not all would still be on the road. Wouldn't LE be able to run a DMV check and know the owners of the white Elantras in Idaho and neighboring states. That would be a good place to start.

 

[10ofRods]

[…]

A study reported in 2016 was careful to make a distinction between indoor and outdoor crime committed in 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in 2014.

The authors found no link between lunar phases and total crime or indoor crime.

But they did find the intensity of moonlight to have a substantive positive effect on outdoor criminal activity. As moon illumination increased, they saw an escalation in criminal activity.

One explanation for this finding is what is referred to as the "illumination hypothesis"—suggesting that criminals like enough light to ply their trade, but not so much as to increase their chance of apprehension.

It may also be that there is greater movement of people during lighter nights, thus providing a bigger pool of victims.

Why do some people still cling to the belief that the Moon causes criminal or other antisocial behaviour? The answer most likely lies in human cognition and our tendency to focus on that which we expect or predict to be true.

[…]

Do Crime Rates Really Rise With a Full Moon?

Beliefs in the Moon's behavioral effects date back to ancient times. But what evidence is there that the Moon has an impact on crime?

www.newsweek.com

First time I’ve looked up any studies on this, but have always heard about the increase in crime and ER visits during full moon.
Having been a bartender for 40-something years, I definitely know it affects people’s behavior!
JMO

Since studies of people-in-general who show up at ER's or psych units do not show any pattern of this kind, it's possible that a particular type of person (perhaps bar-goers) enjoy the glow of the full moon and the outside activities it permits.

At any rate, I'll go with the careful studies on this one. Have been interested in the topic for years, have never found reputable evidence that the full moon theory is true (although...I'd like to see it more narrowly studied, as to domestic violence or intimate partner violence).

 

[seemstome]

I mentioned this in the previous thread, but found it interesting the home next to these steps/trail has been on the market and was just sold within the last couple of days. Granted, this doesn’t indicate the home was vacant, which is my intent.

These steps appear to run from Shetland Ct all the way to Walenta/Ridge, which is just a stone’s throw away from 1122; particularly leading to the rear of the house.

There doesn’t appear to be an entrance from Palouse River to 1122 except if using a W route or 95 to the E as well.

Obviously this is nothing, but it’s interesting trying to speculate where a vehicle may have been parked.

AFAIK marshals don't really investigate. They primarily transport prisoners, arrest fugitives, and operate witness protection. I would be really surprised if they'd show up at a crime scene like those guys did. MOO

Seeing these new 'investigators' (not sure if that's what they are technically) show up is quite interesting. I'm sure it's been discussed some here but I missed it. They look and walk like US Marshals in my view. Is it confirmed who they belong to?

If they are US Marshals, it makes me wonder if there is a thought that the perp may be a serial offender the govt is aware of and has been chasing (the Marshal's jurisdiction) and they are there simply to evaluate whether or not it could be their guy (assuming they belong to a task force or similar tracking a specific individual down).

Maybe they were there to collect DNA evidence of the family/friends who had been there the day before collecting personal items. Just my guess and opinion.

 

[10ofRods]

I would expect that LE would soon have a pretty good idea who the Elantra might belong to. According to estimates here, there were approximately 600,000 white Elantras sold in the US in that time range. Not all would still be on the road. Wouldn't LE be able to run a DMV check and know the owners of the white Elantras in Idaho and neighboring states. That would be a good place to start.

What if one of those owners does not any longer appear to have an Elantra at their house and is not willing to answer phone calls or come to the door when police knock? What then?

 

[PolarButterflie]

Keep in mind, the killer managed to kill in PAIRS, which would require killing TWO almost simultaneously. Initially attacking the first victim would almost certainly awaken the one lying next to them (even if drunk). ALL THIS, without alerting the subsequent PAIR on a different floor! I find this scenario almost impossible to accomplish without an extended attack, yet it was apparently done very swiftly and efficiently...covering TWO separate rooms.

Has LE ever confirmed that M & K were killed in the same room? I know that K's dad says they were, but has it ever been corroborated?

 

[ReyInVA]

Seeing these new 'investigators' (not sure if that's what they are technically) show up is quite interesting. I'm sure it's been discussed some here but I missed it. They look and walk like US Marshals in my view. Is it confirmed who they belong to?

If they are US Marshals, it makes me wonder if there is a thought that the perp may be a serial offender the govt is aware of and has been chasing (the Marshal's jurisdiction) and they are there simply to evaluate whether or not it could be their guy (assuming they belong to a task force or similar tracking a specific individual down).

US Marshalls wouldn’t be investigating a homicide.

 

[Honest Abraham]

okay

 

[10ofRods]

Maybe they were there to collect DNA evidence of the family/friends who had been there the day before collecting personal items. Just my guess and opinion.

This is a highly technical specialty, down to which swab to use for what and how to sample a complex crime scene. The people who do this do nothing else but collect DNA samples in crime scenes (they aren't even the ones who process them).

I've never heard of a US Marshal doing such a job or anything close to it, frankly. At least, I've never seen evidence of them having the training to do this - and I hope they aren't doing it. This crime scene would make even an experienced expert DNA analyst worry if they were up to it. I'd want to call in more than one expert crime scene analyst - not a Marshal.

Has LE ever confirmed that M & K were killed in the same room? I know that K's dad says they were, but has it ever been corroborated?

Coroner says (and I just posted the link upthread) that all were "in their beds." K's parents say they were in the same bed, as do many news articles. Apparently, K had moved out of the bedroom next door to M's and taken her stuff (IMO) and so was sleeping in M's room.

 

[IceCreamSundae]

Maybe they were there to collect DNA evidence of the family/friends who had been there the day before collecting personal items. Just my guess and opinion.

There were no family/friends in the house. LE removed belongings and put them in storage for owners/families to retrieve.

 

[Sister Golden Hair]

What if instead of suiting up he suited down. Removed his clothes, committed this atrocious act, showered after and redressed in say a jumpsuit type garment and stuffed his bloody sock in his pocket.

I thought of that, but all that skin flaking, hair shedding, sweat, etc. plus, danger to appendages. I'm definitely sticking with my homemade shark-proof wetsuit which turns out really is a thing. ALL jmo of course, but I'd totally try to seal me and my DNA in, protect myself from cuts, and still be agile and waterproof. ixnay on getting oodblay on myself. Right gloves and booties, mask and eyes, and I'd be good to go. I could casually wipe myself down with a towel and head out dressed in black.

<modsnip - video is not approved for WS>

 

[csa29]

I read the rules so i think it’s okay to ask, but did the girls have decent social media following before this? (that we know of) Or do we think the followers grew since the murders?

I only ask cause i wonder if it could’ve been someone who knew them through social media? Just wondering.

 

[Forgotten Credentials]

US Marshalls wouldn’t be investigating a homicide.

I realize that, but they would be tracking a known criminal entity if that were indeed the case. And I have to imagine if the person they are tracking down commits or is suspected of committing a crime while on the run, that the US Marshals assigned to find them would spend some time on the scene. That's why I put '' around investigators, as I don't believe they really are. JMO only.

 

[WildWest]

I agree that whatever is on the side of the house isn't heating oil. It is not even close to clear, though. The attached article has a good pic of heating oil next to diesel. Clearly red in color. Looks just like every off road diesel or heating oil I have purchased since the law went into effect.

What Is Red Diesel

Explaining what red diesel fuel is.

www.motortrend.com

There isn't heating oil out west.

 

[10ofRods]

I live several floors up with windows all around, and on full moon nights, it's very bright. I can walk through without lights on easily. I actually don't close the blinds to sleep, but because of the location of my place, there's no way for anyone to see in, but I would NEVER ever sleep with my bedroom door open. EVER. Esp in a house with other people, but regardless. NEVER.

But it wasn't a full moon - it was at 77%. Would love to hear how that affects lighting in your situation (we live in a regular singular story house). Your higher floor would mean more light, for sure (if your window faced the moon). I need to look up moonrise and house orientation for this house, because the lighting factor is driving me nuts.

We sleep with our door closed too (and two other doors in between that door and any regular point of entry to our house. However, I can see where people sleeping as roomies in one room might keep the door open for quietude when having to get up at night. These sets of people were on three different floors and probably had some expectation of privacy on their own floor.

In this case, people could certainly see in at Level 2 (kitchen/dining room area) but I'm thinking all the lights were turned off - and the killer had to know where the bedrooms were, unless he spent time opening doors and peeking in - and spending the multiple seconds it would take to figure out who was where.

Okay - so it appears to me that the windows in the bedrooms in both the second and third floors face north (so less light from the moon - but I do need to check moonrise time).

 

[Zella]

if the person they are tracking down commits or is suspected of committing a crime while on the run, that the US Marshals assigned to find them would spend some time on the scene. T

Hunting down a fugitive does not require them to spend time at the crime scene. If anything, that would be a distraction from their job of actually apprehending the guy. MOO

 

[PolarButterflie]

Coroner says (and I just posted the link upthread) that all were "in their beds." K's parents say they were in the same bed, as do many news articles. Apparently, K had moved out of the bedroom next door to M's and taken her stuff (IMO) and so was sleeping in M's room.

Her bed was still there (according to SG) and her computer was still there based on photos shown from Daily Mail and Fox News. I don't think she had entirely moved out of her room yet.

And I believe the news outlets were reporting based on what SG said.

While I believe the two girls were most likely in the same bed, it still hasn't been 100% confirmed in my mind.

Thank you for answering though =)