More than two weeks after four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death at his off-campus residence, police have yet to identify a suspect or locate a murder weapon.
Forensic psychologist Kris Mohandie said the brutal nature of the murders, combined with the victims’ appearance as popular students on campus, leads him to believe law enforcement should keep a close eye on the suspect who could be an “incel.” .
Incel, which is short for involuntary celibacy, refers to a misogynistic subculture of romantically frustrated men who frequently share their anger online over not being able to find a partner.
“There is a lot of hate and anger that is evident in these crimes – the level of violence, the determination, the obvious hostility in such a personal manual attack,” Mohandie told Fox News Digital. “That is a lot of intensity. So it’s not incompatible with someone who might have that kind of motivation. There’s something full of hate and rage about it.”
Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21, were stabbed to death between 3:00 and 4:00 am on November 13.
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Authorities believe the attack was “targeted” but have not identified who was targeted or why they believe that was the case. Additionally, Goncalves made statements before the murders that she “may have had a stalker”, but authorities have been unable to substantiate those claims.
“These are children, grown children, living their lives, experiencing happiness, being spontaneous and carefree. And that will stimulate someone who felt entitled to have a relationship with one or more of them,” Mohandie said.
“For people sitting on the outside looking in… that will create envy and hate.”
Sarah Daly, a criminology researcher at Saint Vincent College who has studied the involuntary celibate subculture, said it would be premature to say the killer in this case came from the incel community, but the circumstances of the killings could provide clues.
“I can certainly see how people might suspect an ‘incel killer’ in this case, particularly since all four victims are young and attractive, which fits with the ‘Chad’ and ‘Stacy’ reference that incels often use. on their forums,” Daly said. Fox News Digital.
Daly noted that most men who identify as incels are likely more at risk of suicide than homicide, but there have been a few instances of real-world violence from the community.
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Shortly before Alek Minassian, 25, killed 10 people in April 2018 by running them over with a rental van in Toronto, Canada, he posted on Facebook that the “Incel Rebellion has already started.”
In that Facebook post, Minassian referenced Elliot Rodger, a 22-year-old man who murdered six people during a riot in 2014 in Isla Vista, California, including two women outside a sorority house. In the months leading up to that attack, he he wrote about his hatred for women in a 137-page manifesto, according to the Associated Press.
James Fitzgerald, a former FBI criminal profiler, said detectives are likely already looking into the suspect as a possible incel.
“While most of them, the vast majority are not violent, some have violent ideas and want to carry out threats and take action against people,” Fitzgerald told Fox News on Friday.
“Could they have seen the young women here as ‘Stacys?’ That’s the nickname for attractive women. Or young Ethan, as a ‘Chad’. That’s something I know profilers and behaviorists are looking into.”
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Detectives have received more than 1,000 leads and Moscow Police Chief James Fry said last week that they are “pursuing all avenues” during the investigation.