The University of Idaho has announced that the house where four college students were tragically murdered last November will not be demolished until October. This decision comes after outrage from some of the victims’ family members who opposed the planned demolition. President Scott Green, in an email to students and employees, explained that the university had reversed its initial decision to tear down the rental house on King Road in Moscow, Idaho. The house, where Madison “Maddie” Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin lost their lives, will remain standing until after the murder trial.
The university initially intended to demolish the house this spring, with the consent of both the prosecution and defense teams for the trial. However, the Goncalves family, along with other victims’ relatives, objected to the demolition. They believed that the house held significant evidentiary value and should be preserved until after the trial concluded. The university agreed to honor the families’ wishes and postponed the demolition, but still plans to demolish the house in the future.
Speaking on behalf of the Goncalves family, their attorney, Shanon Gray, expressed gratitude to the university for respecting the families’ wishes. Gray criticized the university for disregarding the families’ opinions despite seeking their input on the matter. The Mogen and Kernodle families also supported the postponement of the house’s demolition until after the trial.
Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson argued that the house had been altered significantly since the time of the homicides, making a jury view of the scene inappropriate. This led to the prosecution’s opposition to preserving the house for trial purposes. However, the defense emphasized the house’s evidentiary value and the need to retain it as one of the most crucial pieces of evidence in the case.
President Green acknowledged the emotional responses from grieving families and individuals who feared the impact of the house’s demolition on the court case. He acknowledged the difficulty of the decision and assured families that personal items from the residents would be removed and returned to them discreetly and respectfully.
The house, which has become a source of unwanted attention from media and others, will be subject to the removal of hazardous materials before any further action is taken. The university remains committed to the greater good of the institution while considering the emotional and legal implications of the house’s future.
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