An unidentified murderer who stabbed four college students who slept in their beds may have had military training, according to a leading criminal profiler, who says the public “should be on their guard”.
Police and FBI investigators continue to review evidence following the quadruple murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
The four students were murdered around 3 a.m. on November 13 while sleeping in their beds — a crime that has shocked America.
The mass murderer remains at large and police have yet to name a suspect or motive, although they have reversed their description of a “targeted attack”.
John Kelly, a criminal profiler and psychotherapist, told Express.nl other students at the university should be “on guard” with the killer on the loose.
Mr Kelly said: “This person knows what they were doing that’s why I’m not shutting down the military here one way or another. If you’ve got someone who knows what they’re doing. They came into the house knowing they their hand over each student’s mouth and start stabbing them.
“They had to quietly bring them out without waking the other two students in the house.”
Mr. Kelly also pointed out that there is a military base nearby, just a six-minute walk from the University of Idaho – where all four students studied.
He noted that there are no known reports of screams coming from the building.
Mr Kelly said: “It seems to me that the person knew what they were doing as they would not allow any shouting that we are familiar with.
READ MORE: Terror grips the university after four dead as the killer walks free
“I think this guy has some knowledge. I don’t know where he got it from, but it was a military grade knife, one used by Marines. I’m not saying he’s in the service, but he learned how you have to use this knife somewhere.”
He added: “We don’t know where the killer would be. We can’t say they’re on campus, but we can’t say they’re not on campus either.
“I think it’s very important for the students to be on their toes at the university until this person is identified. We don’t know if this person has quenched their bloodlust.”
Scott Jutte, general manager at Moscow Building Supply, previously told the local press that police visited the store to ask if they sell KA-BAR-style combat knives.
Students returned to campus after Thanksgiving break earlier this week, some deeply concerned that the killer could still be found in the area.
Mr Kelly, who has worked on more than 100 serial murder cases, said: “You wonder where the killer is going. It’s a scary situation. You wonder if they got their revenge or if they’re still running around extremely angry.”
Police have been dealing with an influx of calls from students and others in the community fearing for their safety.
One student told the student newspaper Argonaut, “Nothing like this has ever happened in the four years I’ve been here and part of the reason I chose this campus was because it’s in a small, relatively safe town.
“It was surreal to hear that something so terrible could happen a stone’s throw from my student house.”
Moscow police have been contacted for comment. Express.nl has also contacted military bases in the area.