CONFIDENTIAL
March 16, 2010
Dear Detective,
There’s been a theft here in Chicago, and it’s up to you to solve it!
Chicago fifth-grader Angel Brown’s bracelet has been stolen right out of her desk. The chief suspect at this time is Angel’s classmate Mattie Mae Benson, but something about that strong, intelligent young woman makes me hope it wasn’t her. Can you solve the case and clear Mattie’s name?
Look back through the evidence provided by Candy Dawson Boyd in chapter 9 of Circle of Gold, and choose three more suspects who could have committed the crime. You need to accumulate information on the following for each suspect:
Motive: Would this suspect have a reason to steal the bracelet?
Opportunity: Did the suspect have a chance to hide the bracelet during the time of the crime?
Alibi: Can the suspect prove that they were somewhere else when the crime was committed?
If a suspect had a motive and an opportunity to commit the crime, and no alibi, she or he may be the criminal! Was it another fifth grader? Was it the teacher, Mr. Ashby? Or was it all a plot by the victim herself, Angel Brown? Only you can find out!
I’ve already started a suspect file on Mattie Benson, but I still want your detective’s perspective on her as a suspect. Did she have a strong enough motive to steal the bracelet? Did she have an opportunity? Do you believe her story?
I expect your case files to be complete and ready to present on Monday, March 22. With your hard work, we can crack the case!
Best of luck,
Chief Sohl
Facts of the Case
Crime: Theft, gold and pearl bracelet
Scene of the crime: ______
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Time of the crime: ______
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Description of the crime: ______
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Witnesses: None
Suspects:
Mattie Mae Benson
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Suspect #1
Name: Mattie Mae Benson Age: 11
Physical Description: Thin brown face; large, dark brown eyes showing caution and intelligence; “copper-colored angles” (5)
Known Associates: Matt Benson (twin brother), Mrs. “Mama” Benson (mother), Toni Douglas (best friend)
Motive: Mattie hates Angel Brown, who bullies her constantly. Recently it seems as though Angel has been leaving Mattie threatening notes (68). Mattie could also use the money she would get from selling the bracelet to buy her mother the pin she wants to give her for Mother’s Day.
Opportunity: Mattie had a perfect opportunity to steal the bracelet when she was alone in the classroom during lunch time (79). Angel also says Mattie saw where she hid the bracelet (79).
Alibi?
Mattie has no alibi for the time of the crime. Toni left her to eat lunch by herself, then she went to the playground alone, and finally she was alone in the classroom (79)! No one would have seen her take the bracelet.
Detective’s Perspective
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Suspect #2
Name: ______Age: ____
Physical Description: ______
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Known Associates: ______
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Motive: ______
Opportunity: ______
Alibi?
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Detective’s Perspective
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Final Theory
What do you think, detective? Was the bracelet really stolen? Who is the criminal, and what was his or her motive?
Detective’s Notepad
This is the place to take notes on the case.
These notes are for your use only, and can be as organized or disorganized as you like.