| CRIME SCENE MYSTERIES |
| A pile of old moldy bones has been found in a secret tunnel below the 8th grade science lab at Hille Middle School... Who is it? What happened? Can you help us find the answers? Follow the steps below to start your investigation: 1. Was the victim a male or female? Was it a student or a teacher? Find out what bones can tell us at the Forensic Anthropology website. 2. A bullet hole in the science room window has a smaller diameter on the inside and a larger diameter on the outside. Mrs. Law figures that juvenile delinquents shot at the school for a prank. What do you think? 3. Investigators suspect the victim was shot because two firearms are found in the tunnel. One was well-maintained and clean as if it was recently handled. However, its barrel was coated with rust inside. The other gun also contained rust but it is found only around the first few centimeters of the muzzle. Which of these was most likely to have been involved in the shooting? Read about the science of ballistics on the Firearms Tutorial Page (warning: The Ballistics Patterns of Tissue Lab is pretty gross with pictures so if you are squeemish, don't go there!) 4. Footprints were found leading into the tunnel and some were good enough to cast for details. Why do you think experts pour the casting mix OUTSIDE the print area? The soil is quite sandy in the tunnel. What can the investigators use to bind it together for a better cast? When you're done making the cast of the print, why is it a bad idea to brush off the dirt & twigs that stick to it? How would footprints left in snow be treated any different? Find out on the Shoe Print Examination Resource Page. (Look under the "Instructions" at the right.) 5. What could investigators learn from the tire tracks found at the scene? Check out the Tire Track Examination Page to get a good idea. 6. Try this Fingerprint Game to see if you have what it takes to analyze those common identifiers. 7. Luckily, a sample of DNA has been obtained from the bones found at the crime scene. Visit NOVA's CREATE A DNA FINGERPRINT page to check out a cool Shockwave animation about how DNA testing can help us in our investigation. 8. Particle analysis of the crime scene has come up with several items that need clarification. The Discovery Channel Photo Gallery can let you see microscopic evidence to help you answer the question, "Is this a Human Hair?" Good Luck! With your help, we'll solve this mystery and all feel a little safer! |
 |
 |
 |
| Hair found at scene |
| DNA found at scene |
| Skull on the right found at scene |
| .................................................................... |