How to play
Every case has four suspects, their alibis and three pieces of evidence, each worked in its own lab. DNA: compare a degraded swab with each suspect's reference and give each a verdict. Time of death: set the cooling bench to match the scene report and post the estimate. Spatter: measure the stains on the wall and report where they came from. Then name the culprit.
The right suspect scores 50, a time of death within an hour 25 (less the further off it is), and the right spatter height 25.
Online: pick Play online, share the room code on a call, and the evidence is dealt round the room so each player has their own lab to work. Findings go up on the team board for everyone; then everyone votes. The case closes when all have voted, or when the host closes it.
Tips
- The DNA sample is degraded, so only some loci give a result. A brother or sister can match a partial profile as well as the culprit can.
- Check each suspect's alibi against the whole time-of-death range, not just its middle.
- Pick the clothing factor that fits the scene report best; it moves the estimate by hours.
Questions
Are the methods real? Yes, simplified: STR profiles at the 20 CODIS loci, Henssge's cooling formula and the string method for bloodstains. Each has its own lab to play with: DNA Lab, Time of Death and Bloodstain Lab. The cases and people are made up.
Is my case saved? The case in progress and your scores are kept in this browser, on this device.