The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy

While driving back to Moscow, Idaho, from the nearby state of Washington, Moscow police chief James Fry learns of the murders of four young people at 1122 King Road. Fry knows that this investigation will be too large for his department to handle and that they’ll likely need to call in the state and the FBI. He trusts that his captain, Tyson Berrett, is doing everything right at the crime scene. He confirms that Berrett has reached out to Bill Thompson, the county prosecutor.

Fry knows that his officers will need mental health support. He asks about Brett Payne, the department’s detective corporal, who will head the investigation. Driving home, Fry speaks to many others on the phone. These include Dr. Rand Walker, a local therapist, and Chief Gary Jenkins, head of the Washington State University police. Jenkins offers assistance, but Fry says it’s not needed at this time. Berrett shares with Fry that a sheath for a knife has been found at the crime scene.

Chief Fry dreads giving death notifications. Student deaths are not unusual—in 2013 he’d had to notify the parents of a college student, Joseph Wiederrick, who’d frozen to death outdoors while intoxicated—though murders are.