The spouse of James Curtis Leonard, 39, of Moscow, Idaho, pictured, says he’s now being harassed for the killing of 4 College of Idaho college students
A convicted killer was arrested earlier this week for allegedly beating his spouse and stalking her with a knife, however he is now being harassed for the killing of 4 College of Idaho college students, his spouse completely advised DailyMail.com.
‘There’s a whole lot of loopy stuff occurring, however my husband had nothing to do with what occurred up there,’ the spouse of James Curtis Leonard stated Friday in an interview outdoors their trailer residence in Moscow, only a mile from the scene of the quadruple murder. ‘It isn’t linked in any respect. That is actually p***ing me off.’
Her husband, 39, is being held on $100,000 bail for Tuesday’s alleged assault. Police have since declared that Leonard had nothing to do with the latest killings.
However that hasn’t stopped the hypothesis.
Leonard’s spouse advised DailyMail.com that her household remains to be dealing with on-line harassment, together with from a YouTube character who speculated about her husband’s involvement in a video headlined: ‘James Curtis Leonard! SUSPECT. Moscow Idaho,’ which has garnered 19,000 views since Thursday.
‘Individuals on the web try to pin the murders on him,’ she advised DailyMail.com. ‘I needed to get off that social media s**t.’
Police this week even stated this week they’d threaten web sleuths with ‘felony fees’ in the event that they engaged in harassment fueled by the spreading of misinformation.
Leonard’s spouse stated she was residence along with her husband on the time of the November 13 pre-dawn bloodbath, and that he left for work at 7am that day.
She advised police concerning the harassment on Friday when officers stopped by their trailer residence Friday to comply with up on Tuesday’s home incident.
Leonard’s arrest comes on the heels of the unsolved murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20, which occurred in November
‘I advised police that we’re uninterested in all of the threats, harassment and allegations,’ she advised DailyMail.com. ‘Our household has been at risk due to all these false statements being made on the web.’
Talking on Friday, Moscow Police Chief James Fry introduced his division will crack down on web sleuths who’ve been posting theories concerning the murders.
‘Anybody participating in threats or harassment whether or not in individual, on-line or in any other case wants to grasp that they might be subjecting themselves to felony fees,’ the division later added.
The spouse stated it is also unfair that her husband is dealing with recent scrutiny for his manslaughter case from 2007, when he shot and killed Tyler Lee outdoors his home in Genesee.
He reportedly claimed it was self-defense and advised police that Lee had beforehand threatened him with ‘bats, machetes and different issues.’
Police have stated that they imagine the murders occurred between 3am and 4am on the morning of November 13
In February 2009, Leonard took a plea deal – admitting to involuntary manslaughter in alternate for a five- to 15-year sentence, in response to courtroom paperwork. The courtroom suspended his sentence in Might 2009 and he was positioned on 15 years probation.
Police arrived on the residence on Palouse River Drive to seek out Leonard’s spouse with blood on her nostril and mouth. When Leonard was ordered to come back out of a again room, he had blood on his palms and huge reduce on his forearm.
‘Dispatch suggested an intoxicated husband punched his spouse within the head and struck his daughter,’ in response to a felony grievance.
His spouse advised police that he had drank ‘half a bottle of gin’ and have become closely intoxicated, {accused} her of dishonest on him and yelled at her in entrance of her two youngsters, 20 and 15, her daughter’s 21-year-old boyfriend and a 1-year-old grandchild.
The grievance alleges that Leonard then went into his room and commenced slicing himself. When his spouse checked on him, he allegedly punched her. He additionally allegedly beat up the 15-year-old, who was later discovered with a concussion.
Leonard was additionally {accused} of stalking his spouse round the home with a knife after which slashed his personal arm whereas she was on the telephone with 911.
‘They’re throwing it again out, calling him a assassin,’ the spouse stated. ‘This was 2007 that that occurred. He was younger and silly on the time, and he’ll be the primary to confess it.
‘He isn’t the identical individual now,’ she continued, and known as Tuesday’s alleged beating a one-off.
‘That is the primary time something like this has ever occurred,’ she stated.
‘He was depressed the opposite evening, drank a bit greater than he ought to have, and did not take his anti-depressants, and I believe that is what triggered him. The entire evening was only a large mess. It should not have ever occurred.’
Leonard’s arrest and subsequent harassment comes as the faculty city of Moscow stays centered on the unsolved murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin.
Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, each 21, had been murdered on the highest flooring of the home
The Moscow Police Division probed the actions of victims Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle (collectively above), who visited Ethan’s fraternity home hours earlier than the murders
On Saturday, Idaho cops sparked fears the assassin might strike once more as they warned kids attending a graduation ceremony to remain in teams.
Moscow Police advised guests to town to keep up a correspondence with their family and friends and keep vigilant throughout the celebration on Saturday.
The graduation ceremony marks an ‘vital weekend’ for town and can see a big inflow of tourists coming into Moscow from out of city.
However Police Chief James Fry supplied some reassurance his division is deploying extra officers to the streets and college for the occasion.
‘With graduation this weekend, there might be an inflow of individuals coming in from out of city. Moscow Police Division and Idaho State Police will present protection on campus and within the Moscow space,’ police stated in an announcement.
‘As all the time, we need to remind the general public to remain vigilant, journey in teams, and talk with household and associates as you journey.’
Moscow police stated on Saturday morning that they’d greater than ten investigators wanting into the murders and that almost 50 FBI brokers are working to crack the case, together with a quantity in Moscow itself.
We’re working regular on the investigation nonetheless,’ stated Fry. ‘We’re nonetheless pushing ahead.’
Moscow Police Chief James Fry (pictured) stated that there might be loads of police round throughout the busy graduation weekend
On Thursday Moscow Police stated they had been searching for the occupant or occupants of a white 2011 to 2013 Hyundai Elantra that was seen close to the crime scene. The division obtained so many ideas, they’ve enlisted in an FBI name heart for assist.
‘Your info, whether or not you imagine it’s vital or not, could be the piece of the puzzle that helps investigators remedy these murders,’ police stated in an announcement.
Police have stated that they imagine the murders occurred between 3am and 4am on the morning of November 13.
A neighbor stated that the entrance door, which supplies entry to the ground the place two of the victims’ roommates had been staying – was open at 8:30 a.m. on November 13.
However chatting with DailyMail.com this week on the metropolis’s Christmas parade, police chief James Frye stated the report – by which a neighbor seen the door extensive open 8:30am the morning after – was information to him.
Police imagine Ethan and Xana visited the Sigma Chi home from about 9pm on November 12 till round 1.45am, after they returned to Xana’s off-campus residence, only a transient stroll away, the place the murders passed off.
Ethan and Xana, 20-year-olds who had been courting, had been stabbed to loss of life together with Xana’s roommates Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, each 21, within the residence they shared, doubtless whereas they had been sleeping. Police nonetheless haven’t any suspects and no homicide weapon.
Kaylee and Madison had been discovered on the highest flooring of the Moscow, Idaho residence. Faculty lovers Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle had been present in a second-floor bed room whereas survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke had been sleeping on the primary flooring
Earlier appeals to the general public had centered on Kaylee and Madison’s actions on the evening of the murders, which concerned stops at a sports activities bar and a meals truck.
In the meantime, tensions grew additional between investigators and the households of the victims, who’ve spoken out in frustration concerning the failure to establish a suspect.
Kaylee’s father Steven beforehand advised NewsNation’s Brian Entin that police had advised him her accidents had been worse than the opposite victims’, however he did not go into element.
Moscow Police contradicted that comment of their new assertion, saying: ‘With the energetic felony investigation, legislation enforcement has not launched further info to the household or the general public.’
Kaylee’s household (above) beforehand stated they discovered that her accidents had been worse than the opposite victims’. The household say they’re uninterested in ready for solutions from the cops in Moscow
Police downsized the investigation this week after officers had been capable of take away the victims’ private belongings from their King Avenue residence, which stays an ‘energetic crime scene’
Weeks after the grisly murders, few solutions have come out and authorities have but to call a suspect or perhaps a individual of curiosity within the case.
Autopsies decided the 4 college students had been stabbed to loss of life, doubtless with a fixed-blade knife, and investigators checked with native shops to see if any had bought military-style knives just lately.
Kaylee and Madison had been sleeping on the third flooring, and Xana and Ethan had been on the second flooring. Cops stated the killer entered the home by a sliding glass door on the second flooring, which was degree with the yard.
Two different roommates had been in the home however had been unhurt and unaware the assault occurred. They had been sleeping on the primary flooring.
‘We imagine somebody has info that can add context to the image investigators are creating of what occurred that night,’ Moscow police stated in an announcement on Monday.
‘Our focus is the investigation, not the actions. Your info, whether or not you imagine it’s vital or not, could be one of many puzzle items that assist remedy these murders.’
