The “Magic” Case

Investigating a Dognapping

MYSTERY SYNOPSIS:Liz is a neighborhood teenager hired by the Jeffersons to watch their dog, Magic, while they go away on vacation. Normally, the Jeffersons take their dog with them, but because Magic is sick, they decide they must leave him at home. The Jeffersons give Liz strict instructions to check on Magic at least four times a day, monitor his diet, and contact the veterinarian immediately if there are any problems. One afternoon Liz checks on Magic a little earlier than she usually does, and she is surprised to find the spare key in the door. She wonders if she accidentally left it there earlier that day. She is also concerned when she enters the house and sees a small, cloudy-looking puddle on the kitchen floor. Liz assumes that Magic must have had an accident. A noise upstairs startles her, but when she calls to him, Magic comes downstairs and seems fine. Liz decides against calling the vet, but because Magic’s illness is related to his kidneys, she collects some of the liquid in case the vet needs to analyze it. As she cleans up, Liz also notices a piece of paper in the otherwise empty trash can. The paper has the words "I have taken" written on it. After calling her father to take a quick look through the house, Liz is careful to lock up on her way out. But when she returns to check on Magic later that afternoon, he is gone. A typed ransom note left on the kitchen table reveals that Magic has been dog napped and that the perpetrators demand money for the safe return of the dog. Liz notifies the Jeffersons and the officials. You will launch an investigation to determine who took Magic. You must consider various characters who provide clues or who could be persons of interest. Then examine the physical evidence left at the scene to determine if the dog napper can be identified.

• Magic was a purebred Pomeranian – one of those little dogs with poofy reddish/blonde hair. He was like a child to Mrs. Jefferson. Magic barks at any one he doesn’t know.

• The Jeffersons were vacationing 3-hours away • Liz had been going to the Jeffersons’ house four times a day for the past four days• The Jeffersons had a fire-ant problem and also had Liz pouring bleach water over the

ant hills.• Magic had been sick with kidney trouble and would potentially need expensive

surgery in the near future.• Mr. Jefferson was an extremely frugal man, who sometimes referred to Magic as

“that mutt”.• Sally Jefferson is a calligrapher. A purple hand-painted calligraphy pen is missing

from her supplies.• At the time Liz called the Jeffersons, Hal was unreachable at a golf outing.• The partial ransom note was written with a calligraphy pen.• Otis Nixon and Melinda Johnson were neighbors of the Jeffersons.• Melinda was jealous of Liz because people always hired Liz over her.• Melinda had been at an amusement park all day – but her fair skin showed no signs

of being in the sun.• Otis is a private eye (that was 25 and lived at home with his parents) and made sure

to point out Magic’s “worth” to the Detective interviewing Liz.• Otis noticed a white van (w/no windows in the back, and no license plate) that

seemed to be out of place.• Otis had a purple pen (that looked like a calligraphy pen) in the glove box of his truck.

He claimed to have found it on the sidewalk and picked it up.• Otis had reddish/blonde hairs all over his charcoal grey pants. He has no pets of his

own.

Important Information for analyzing evidence…

• pH: Acids tend to be sour while bases are bitter– It is not correct procedure to EVER taste a liquid

found at the scene– When mixed with water acids yield an _____ ion and

bases yield _____ ions.– Acidity is determined by number of H+ ions present

and is measured using the pH scale– Litmus paper will turn _____ in the presence of an

acid and ______ in the presence of a base.– When using pH indicator paper refer to the pH

indicator color chart– Urine has a pH of around 6

H+OH-

redblue

pH of several common substances

Testing the physical evidence…Step 1 – Liquid Analysis

• Obtain two samples of the liquid found at the scene.– Record the results of using the litmus paper and the

pH paper• Answer the following Questions:

– According to the litmus paper, is the unknown liquid an acid or a base?

– According to the pH paper, is the unknown liquid and acid or a base?

– What is the pH of the unknown liquid?– What could be the source of the unknown liquid? (use

the previous slide to help)– How does this information relate to the investigation?

Can you narrow your list of suspects?

• Compare the partial handwriting note to the other samples recording observations.

• Use the handwriting analysis background worksheet to help you out.

• Answer the following questions:– Which handwriting sample most closely matches the

writing on the partial ransom note?– What characteristics did you examine to make this

conclusion?– Is QD analysis conclusive proof? Why/Why not?– Describe a situation in which a person’s handwriting

could be distorted.– How does handwriting analysis relate to the current

investigation. Can you narrow your list of suspects?

Testing the physical evidence…Step 2 – Handwriting Analysis

• Follow instructions on lab hand out. • Record all observations and answers to

questions on a separate sheet of paper.• Calculate the Rf for each ink and compare with

that from the partial ransom note – record.(Rf=distance band travels/distance solvent travels)• Include thoughts on how the results of this test

relate to the investigation. Is the data conclusive? Why/Why not? Can you narrow down your suspect list?

Testing the physical evidence…Step 3 – Chromotography

• Hairs collected from Otis’ truck need to be analyzed to determine if they are human or canine. Remember, Otis claims there has never been a dog in his truck.

• Use the Hair Analysis Information Sheet and following lab instructions to determine what hair was found in Otis’ truck.

• The hairs have been mounted on a slide and set up already on microscopes (40x) on the demo station

• Record all data, observations, and answers to questions on a separate sheet of paper.

• Don’t worry about the conclusion.

Testing the physical evidence…Step 4 – Handwriting Analysis