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Father Of University Of Idaho Murder Victim Demands Justice, Says Students Died From A 'Brutal Weapon'
Steve Goncalves, the father of one of the four University of Idaho students found murdered, says they died from a brutal weapon.
The father of one of four University of Idaho students found murdered in their off-campus apartment is revealing chilling new details about the crime as he pleads with the public to help find his daughter’s killer.
Steve Goncalves, the father of Kaylee Goncalves, told ABC News during an interview that his daughter and the other victims were stabbed with a “brutal weapon" and suffered “large punctures."
"The detective said this weapon is probably something [the killer] paid money for and something that they're proud of," he said.
As previously reported by Oxygen.com, three roommates: Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, and Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, were all found murdered on Nov. 13. Two other roommates were at home but managed to get away. They are not considered suspects, according to multiple media reports.
Goncalves told ABC News that the students died quickly and did not suffer.
"Nobody suffered and nobody felt like that kind of pain," Goncalves said.
Police have not revealed a suspect or recovered the fixed-blade knife that's believed to have been used to kill the victims.
Goncalves told Fox News in an earlier interview that the killer “made a mess” at the crime scene.
"They're telling us that there's so much evidence that it's going to take a lot of time to process it all," Goncalves told Fox News. "This wasn’t like a pinpoint crime. This person was sloppy."
The murders stunned and saddened the close-knit Moscow community. Goncalves is overwhelmed with grief.
"You can't imagine sending your girl to college and they come back ... in an urn," Goncalves told ABC. "You're numb ... you can't absorb that amount of pain and agony."
Goncalves also admitted to feeling “a little defeated” about the lack of transparency from police about the case.
"I have to assume and hope that this is all part of their plan and ... they've got this all figured out," he told ABC News. "I know that there's some really good, hard-working guys and girls that are on this case that I've met. And they looked me in the eyes, and they told me straight-out that they're working and they're doing everything in their power."
He also said that he and his wife have delayed the funeral because they fear the killer might attend.
"My wife's biggest fear, part of the reason we didn't have a funeral, is because she couldn't be guaranteed that that monster was going to not be there,” he said.
Goncalves said that the family is tormented by the fact that her killer is “having a great life out there – and you’re just left in shambles.”
Kaylee was slated to graduate in December and was heading to Texas. Chicago was once a possibility but was ruled out after her parents decided it was not safe enough, according to ABC News.
"She was going places. She was highly motivated," Goncalves said. "I hope people understand how all these kids ... were doing everything right and they were going to be the type of people that you want to be your neighbor."
Kaylee and Mogen were lifelong best friends. The Goncalves viewed Mogen as a “bonus child,” ABC News reported.
"When you're sick and you're down and you're out, you want to have that one great friend that's always there for you — and that's what they had," Goncalves said. "There is no Kaylee without Maddie."
A vigil is planned for the victims on Wednesday night.
"I have to have my justice. These families deserve that," Goncalves told ABC News. "We just have to come together as a community. Submit all those pieces of evidence ... and get this guy off the streets."
