CRIMEBUSTER INVESTIGATON
MENTOR INVITATIONAL
CASE OF THE MISSING IPOD
The Crime:
Spencer, a student at Bestever Middle School, is working at the concession booth for the basketball game. He is a bright, athletic student and Captain of the football team. He brought his IPOD along to listen to on breaks. His friends, Tom, Mike, Chris and Bernadette are also working with him. Spencer, Tom and Chris were in charge of making the pizzas. Mike took care of making the pretzels and Bernadette kept the KoolAid container full. Their teacher, Mr. Parker, is also helping. Spencer finally gets a break from the booth. He turns around to grab his IPOD but it is gone. In its place is a note that says, “I took your IPOD. Maybe now you will understand what it is like to not always get what you want.” Next to the note is a half-empty can of pop and a spot of blood is on the edge of the can.
The Suspects:
Tom: He wanted to be Captain of the Football team. Instead they selected Spencer for this honor. He looked at his watch to see how much longer he had to stay and noticed the watch cover was missing.
Mike: He was supposed to be on a date tonight, for Valentine’s Day. His girlfriend was mad. Maybe his surprise gift would help. He was giving her a charm bracelet. He noticed that one of the charms was broken off.
Chris: He didn’t know that they would actually have to make the pizzas. Besides his band was practicing tonight and he needed to get to the music store for new strings and pics before they closed. The broken pic in his pocket would never last through practice. He was mad at himself for volunteering to help.
Bernadette: She was supposed to be out on a date with Mike. She wasn’t that crazy about the other people working in the booth and she was the only girl. She wrote her initials and Mike’s on a piece of paper with a pen with a broken cap.
Mr. Parker: He was filling in for the regular teacher/advisor who at the last minute got tickets to a Cavs game to see LeBron James play. Just then his phone rang. It startled him and he dropped it, breaking off a piece of its case. Just his luck.
Evidence:
You have been asked to help school security find the perpetrator of the missing IPOD. Evidence gathered at the scene includes:
- Powder residues found in and around the chair where the missing IPOD was originally placed
- Fingerprints located on a can of pop left on the chair with the note
- Ink from a note found at the scene
- Small broken object on the floor at the scene
- DNA evidence from the spot of blood
- Pens from each suspect
- Fingerprints from each suspect
- DNA chromatograms from each suspect
Crimebusters: Case of the Missing IPOD
****Important****
Attach paper chromatography slips to this sheet when your work is completed.
Name: ______
School:______
Team Letter/Number ______
A. Qualitative Analysis: Identify the substances.
#1______#7 ______
#2 ______#8 ______
#3 ______#9 ______
#4 ______#10 ______
#5 ______#11 ______
#6 ______#12 ______
______
Unknowns 3 and 7 were found at the crime scene. Unknowns 6 and 12 are mixtures.
B. Polymer
#13 ______
#14 ______
#15 ______
Unknown 13 was at the crime scene.
C. Paper Chromatography:
Whose pen was used to write the note?
D. Fingerprint Analysis:
Whose fingerprints were found at the scene?
Whose DNA was left at the crime scene?
E. Written Analysis:
Based on the evidence gathered, discuss the evidence, identify which suspect committed the crime and explain how you came to that conclusion.
SCORING SHEET (120 points total)
Crimebusters: Case of the Missing IPOD
****Important****
Attach paper chromatography slips to this sheet when your work is completed
Name:______
School: ______
Team Letter/Number ______
A. Qualitative Analysis: Identify the substances. (5 points each)
#1 Sodium acetate #7 Salt
#2 Vitanim C #8 Gelatin
#3 Flour#9 Aluminum
#4 Iron#10 Calcium Carbonate (limestone)
#5 Ammonia#11 Alcohol
#6 Sand / Baking soda#12 Corn starch / sugar
Unknowns 3 and 7 were found at the crime scene.
Unknowns 6 and 12 are mixtures.
B. Polymer/metal testing (4 points each)
# 13 HDPE (Type 2, high density polyethylene)
# 14 LDPE (Type 4, low density polyethylene)
# 15 PP (Type 5, polypropylene)
C. Paper Chromotography:
Was chromatograph attached? (3 points)
Whose pen was used to write the note? Chris or Tom (both matched)
(1.5 points each/3 points total)
D. Fingerprint Analysis:
Whose fingerprints were found at the scene? Chris
(6 points)
Whose DNA was left at the crime scene? Chris
(6 points)
E. Written Analysis:
Based on the evidence gathered, discuss the evidence,, identify which suspect committed the crime and explain how you came to that conclusion.
(10 points for identification, 20 points for discussion)
Chris
- Chris: Fingerprints, pen and DNA matched. Worked with flour for pizza crust. Guitar pick was plastic and could have been dropped.
- Tom: Access to flour and pen matched but no DNA or fingerprints. Plastic could have been watch cover.
- Mike: Access to salt, but no other connections. Plastic could have been charm.
- Bernadette: No real connections. Plastic could have been pen cap.
- Mr. Parker: No real connections. Plastic could have been phone case.