NewsBite

Two college roommates who miraculously survived brutal attack pictured

Two students who miraculously survived while their roommates were slaughtered have been pictured as the mystery surrounding the case deepens.

'Crime of passion': Four uni students killed

Two college students who miraculously survived while their roommates were stabbed to death in a frenzied attack have been pictured as the mystery surrounding the case deepens.

Earlier this week, news broke that four students from the University of Idaho in the US had been killed in off-campus accommodation in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The victims were Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21 and Xana Kernodle, 20, with police describing the crime scene as the “worst they’ve ever seen”.

Want to stream your news? Flash lets you stream 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer available for a limited time only >

Kaylee Goncalves, (left) and Madison Mogen were found dead in University of Idaho off-campus housing. Picture: Instagram
Kaylee Goncalves, (left) and Madison Mogen were found dead in University of Idaho off-campus housing. Picture: Instagram
Young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were also killed. Picture: Instagram
Young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were also killed. Picture: Instagram

It is understood the three female victims were roommates, while Mr Chapin, who was dating Ms Kernodle, lived nearby at the Sigma Chi fraternity house and was known to frequently visit the house.

Surviving roommates identified

Police later confirmed that two other roommates who were home at the time of the attack miraculously survived, and they have since been identified by the Daily Mail as Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke.

Bethany Funke survived the attack. Picture: Facebook
Bethany Funke survived the attack. Picture: Facebook
Dylan Mortensen was also home at the time. Picture: Facebook
Dylan Mortensen was also home at the time. Picture: Facebook

Both girls were also studying at the same university, and the five close-knit roommates would frequently post pictures of the group on their individual social media accounts.

Mystery over 911 call

Ms Mortensen and Ms Funke are both assisting police with their inquiries, but Idaho State Police spokesman Aaron Snell told the Daily Mail they were not suspects – although he said that possibility was still potentially being investigated.

He also refused to comment on how the pair survived or to confirm if either of the girls called 911 to report the murders.

His comments come after authorities revealed on Wednesday that the 911 call that triggered the gruesome discovery wasn’t made until hours after the four students were killed, but no reason for the delay has been given.

Police have also not confirmed who made the call.

The FBI has now joined the investigation into the murders as the killer or killers remain at large, leaving the community of Moscow, Idaho on edge.

Police described the crime scene as the “worst they’ve ever seen”. Picture: KXLY
Police described the crime scene as the “worst they’ve ever seen”. Picture: KXLY

Moscow Police Chief James Fry confirmed more than 25 investigators were working on the case, warning that the murderer is “still out here”.

During at appearance on the US Today show, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson said it “certainly is possible” there was more than one suspect.

At first, police announced they believed the slayings had been “targeted”, although they now appear to have backflipped on that theory.

Investigators are also now searching for the murder weapon, which is believed to be a “Rambo”-style knife.

Video of last moments emerges

Ms Goncalves and Ms Mogen spent the last night of their young lives at a bar, with video footage capturing them buying pasta from a food truck at around 1.45am, several hours before they were killed.

The tight-knit group regularly shared photos on social media. Picture: Instagram
The tight-knit group regularly shared photos on social media. Picture: Instagram
The surviving roommates are assisting police. Picture: Instagram
The surviving roommates are assisting police. Picture: Instagram

The video also showed them speaking to several men standing near them at the food truck before they left for the journey home.

Ms Kernodle and Mr Chapin were not with the pair that evening, and neither were the surviving roommates.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/two-college-roommates-who-miraculously-survived-brutal-attack-pictured/news-story/245fffd729d5eb4e22229d1b3e7ec314