Police clear professor accused in Idaho killings

Greater than six weeks after 4 College of Idaho college students had been discovered fatally stabbed within the off-campus rental home they shared, police have nonetheless not recognized a suspect. They, nonetheless, dominated out a professor who has been the topic of movies posted on TikTok by a self-proclaimed sleuth. 

The Metropolis of Moscow Police Division launched a press release Tuesday once more urging individuals to return ahead with any data that is likely to be useful in its investigation into the Nov. 13 killings of Ethan Chapin, 20; Kaylee Gonclaves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Madison Mogen, 21.

“Investigators imagine somebody has data that provides context to what occurred on the night time of the murders and proceed requesting further photos, video, and social media content material,” the assertion mentioned. “Our focus stays on the investigation, not a person’s actions displayed within the tip. Whether or not you imagine it’s important or not, your data is likely to be one of many puzzle items that assist clear up these murders.”

Police mentioned Tuesday they’re nonetheless looking for a 2011-13 Hyundai Elantra that was believed to be within the rapid space across the time of the killings. Investigators are making progress after figuring out greater than 22,000 autos that could possibly be the one they’re on the lookout for.

Police mentioned they don’t imagine Rebecca Scofield, the chair of the College of Idaho historical past division, had any involvement within the killings. A TikTok persona and tarot card reader, Ashley Guillard, has repeatedly accused Scofield of working with Gonclaves’ ex-boyfriend, Jack DuCoeur, to plan the murders. Guillard has claimed Scofield, too, was romantically concerned with Gonclaves.

Police have dominated out DuCoeur as a suspect.

Scofield final week filed a defamation lawsuit in opposition to Guillard, in Idaho’s U.S. district court docket.

The lawsuit says Scofield not solely by no means had a relationship with Gonclaves however had by no means met or taught of any of the victims. She additionally has by no means met DuCoeur, in line with the lawsuit.

“Ashley Guillard—a purported web sleuth—determined to make use of the neighborhood’s ache for her on-line self-promotion,” the lawsuit says.

Guillard has posted dozens of movies since Nov. 22 accusing Scofield of ordering the murders. The movies have been seen tens of millions of occasions, “amplifying Guillard’s on-line status on the expense of Professor Scofield’s status,” the lawsuit says.

“They’ve brought about her important emotional misery,” the lawsuit says. “She fears for her life and for the lives of her relations. She has incurred prices, together with to put in a safety system and safety cameras at her residence.”

Earlier than being served with the lawsuit however conscious of it final week, Guillard mentioned on TikTok that she was “really gleaming with pleasure.”

“I’m going to right away begin planning as a result of I can’t wait to current my concepts in court docket relating to Rebecca Scofield and her function within the homicide of the 4 College of Idaho college students,” Guillard mentioned.

In a separate video earlier this week, she claimed to have “bodily proof in opposition to Rebecca Scofield that validates every little thing that I’ve mentioned about her.”